Sauce Shop Original Hot Sauce

Let’s dip in

Surprise, surprise. Another hot sauce and this one claims to be the original. After a quick google, I cannot confirm or deny, but it does appear to be the 2019 Great Taste Award Winner.

I am a little sceptical, it can be difficult to taste the different flavours of a ‘hot’ sauce while clawing at your throat, lathering your oral cavity with aloe vera, or glugging away at a gallon of ice-cold water to stop the burning.

BUT. Hot sauce specialist, I am not (yet, anyway).

Spice lovers are a different breed. Their palates evolved through years of enduring fiery condiments.

Anyhow.

Let’s get on with sizzling my saliva.

They like its moreish taste and describe it as tangy and fruity with a garlic edge.

It’s all in the taste

Starting with the branding, it’s quite simple but effective. With this design, they’ve clearly chosen a less is more approach. White text contrasted by a black background. The focus is very much on the contents – the thick ragu-like sauce.

Now, it’s time to take on the taste.

Diving in, I go for it…

AND…

Despite its bold ‘hot’ sauce claims, it’s not as strong as I expected. There’s definitely a steel toe-capped load of kick but it’s essentially korma to Nando’s XX Hot Peri Peri jalfrezi. There is also a garlicky and fruity taste to it. Not sure I like this combination. Garlic on its own? Excellent. Fruit? Love it. But together? It’s as likely a pairing as 99% of the Married at First Sight matches.

Team verdict

James and Mark are both lovers of the branding, its design isn’t retro, but it has a modern almost industrial simplicity with a homemade feel. Top scores given.

Next comes the taste. I am not sure it will be enough heat to satiate this spicy sauce loving pair, but they are both clearly big fans. They like its moreish taste and describe it as tangy and fruity with a garlic edge. Enjoyably hot is their verdict. Both love it.

Is it an AWESOMESAUCE?

I am overruled by Mark and James. They love this sauce. The design working perfectly to give this condiment a homemade feel and a mix of flavours that could pair perfectly with a number of dishes. It is an awesomesauce.