I’d been aware of Hot-Headz, an online hot sauce vendor, for a while but had never ordered hot sauces online, preferring instead to pick up a bottle here and there when I was at markets or on my travels. I think I was of the impression that they only sold those crazy hot sauces but they’ve actually also got a good range of Mexican classics that I’ve been looking for.
I need to say this upfront but I wasn’t fond of their press release they sent out for Christmas: it was geared towards men, suggesting that men might enjoy receiving hot sauces in their stockings (wait, that’s not how it should sound…). Well, I will stand up for everyone, male or female, and say that anybody of any gender will enjoy hot sauces and do enjoy hot sauces! Anyway, Hot-Headz sent me five bottles to try and from first impressions, they ranged from very mild to incredibly terrifying.
With five bottles, I thought a little tasting was in order. This was set up in my office and well….here are the results. Comments from my colleagues are in bullet points.
Brother Bru-Bru’s Mild African Pepper Sauce
This was the mildest of the bunch and one of the tastiest too. Family friendly.
- More about taste rather than being hot – good.
- Tasty!
- Nice flavour.
Tapatío
Ah, a classic that I thought was made in Mexico but is actually American (and they export to Mexico). I slathered some on my burrito today.
- Very tasty.
- I can’t determine the taste. A bit sour? Not hot.
Pyromania!
Looks scarier than it is. I mean, a she-devil? Its name even sports an exclamation mark. Texturally, it’s lumpy, like one of those posh ketchups.
- Nice smoky flavour.
- Like barbecue sauce with a hint of spice.
Who Dares Burns Crushed Naga Bhut Jolokia Chilli Sauce
I originally thought this was going to be the hottest sauce as I’d read about the naga bhut jolokia – supposedly the hottest chilli in the world.
- Good amount of spice.
- It’s very hot!
- Still has flavour. It is hot but manageable.
Mad Dog 357 Hot Sauce
Oh geez, this hot sauce is not actually meant to be eaten, is it? Our tongues BURNED for a good long while after tasting it. It is stupidly hot and it incapacitated some of my colleagues. I picture it more as a sauce to add a bit of to a chilli con carne to give it heat or one just to buy if you feel you need to prove something.
- Owwww! My tongue! It delivers the desired effect.
- OMG! Crazy spicy.
- Well eating a healthy dose of this certainly changed the course of my morning for the worse.
- It has no flavour – it’s just hot.
- I thought the flavour was fire.
The five sent turned out to be a great range with four definitely usable sauces and one um… jokey one? I know it’s the Christmas season and you’d probably expect to hear that hot sauces are great as stocking fillers (each bottle is about £4 with the exception of the 357 which is about £7) and all that jazz but you know what, if I received a selection like this for my birthday (in the summer), I’d be quite thrilled!
Do you like hot sauces? What’s your favourite and what do you put it on or in?
Tamarind and Thyme 
Tue, 13 Dec, 2011 at 17:34
I love Thai sweet chilli sauce. It’s sweet rather than hot… But it goes well with chips, sausage/bacon sarnies or anything fried.
Tue, 13 Dec, 2011 at 20:36
Well, last year, a bar in Madrid served the brava-est ‘patatas bravas’ I’ve ever come across. The barman told me that their sauce recipe was a secret … but did reveal that it contained tabasco and some seriously hot chilis.
We call it ‘Salsa Sagrada’ he said
‘Holy Sauce’? Why?
Then, I dunked a chip in it, and took a bite.
‘Jesus Christ!’ I said.
That’s why! said the barman!
Wed, 14 Dec, 2011 at 00:39
the most spicy is tabasco for me…you are brave!
Wed, 14 Dec, 2011 at 07:53
LOL – very similar opinions to here at Cooksister HQ! With that 357 one we were kind of WTF?? LOVED the Brother Bru Bru mild! I am a chipotle fan, so anything with chipotle gets my vote 🙂
Wed, 14 Dec, 2011 at 14:57
Hey Su-Lin, I actually use Mad Dog’s Habanero extract for stuff….man, it’s very, very hot.
Wed, 14 Dec, 2011 at 17:17
I’m a huge fan of scotch bonnet based sauces, or with chipotle. I’ve not heard of these, will look out for them.
Wed, 14 Dec, 2011 at 18:24
Hey Su-Lin, I bought some mean chillies this morning at a street market in Brazil… I will ring some back for you. Hope you are well x Thanks for the best wishes too. x
Thu, 15 Dec, 2011 at 14:15
I use Sambal Asli at home but also like Encona hot sauce with my chicken and mushroom pot noodle.
Sun, 18 Dec, 2011 at 20:27
I’m a big fan of Dave’s Insanity sauce range – use very small amounts as it is seriously hot. The Naga Ghost Pepper one is amazing. Blairs Death sauce is another mind blower. I have no sense of smell and very little in the taste department, so I need serious sauces. Haven’t seen the Who Dares Burns Crushed Naga, but the 2nd Assault one is leathal!
Blairs Death sauce in a sandwich with mature cheese and Marmite…you have to give it a go!
Sun, 18 Dec, 2011 at 21:39
Robert: I used to eat a lot of that but now my pref is the extra hot Maggi chilli sauce. It’s not extra hot and it’s slightly sweet and it’s very good with chips.
travelrat: 😀 Well, if I ever go to Madrid, I’ll ask you for the name of this place!
kat: 😀 I even like the different varieties of Tabasco – the green one and the chipotle one, for example.
Jeanne: Yes, the mild ones were delicious – you could really taste the various ingredients.
Kirk: Whoa. What kind of stuff do you use it in?
hollowlegs: Ah, the fruity or smokey ones? I like smokey and sometimes sweet as well, especially for fried foods.
Rosana: Ah, you’re in Brazil? Hope you’re having a good time there!!!
sakura: I’m not familiar with sambal asli. Is there a particular brand you like?
Richard: Eeeeeeks! I am frightened! Agree that hot sauces are good with cheese sandwiches but I’m seriously terrified by the entire Blair’s Death range.
Mon, 19 Dec, 2011 at 10:29
It’s called ‘La Gasolinera’ and it’s in Barrio de la Concepcion … which you probably wouldn’t visit unless you were staying at the Travelodge Torrelaguna.
(I wonder if you’d get away with calling a bar ‘The Petrol Station’ at home? :D)