Bottom Line: The Ghost Pepper Habanero Salsa from Pace has the taste you expect from the people who know how to make salsa, and it brings a good kick of heat.
Pace Picante Sauce has long been one of my go-to salsas among those put out by the major brands (more on that here). It is reliable and quite tasty and it is made right here in Texas by people who know what salsa should taste like, and it used to be that their Hot version really packed some heat. But when the company got bought up by Campbell’s Soup Company, they seemed to tone things down a bit. Just recently, though, Pace released a Ghost Pepper Habanero version of their salsa, and that puts the heat back into their jar.
This new variation is basically the same as their regular picante sauce recipe, but it is kicked up with ghost pepper and habanero extract and it is part of their “Trailblazers Series”. The jar has a warning label that reads “Caution: Extra Hot Salsa” which does not act as a deterrent to your average chilihead, more of a challenge.
This salsa has the tomatoey richness along with a nice bit of sweetness that you expect from Pace. There are chunks of the veggies which give it some good texture and reaffirm that this is coming from real ingredients. Basically, the taste is the same as their other salsas, and they are one of the best among the jarred sauces from the major brands. My only complaint is that there is a slightly acrid taste in the Ghost Pepper Habanero version that I can’t put my finger on. It may be from the ghost pepper and habanero extracts because those extracts can sometimes bring an odd flavor. It is a little bit off-putting, but it doesn’t dominate. That won’t keep me from buying more of this, but I am hoping it was specific to my jar.
The heat from this salsa kicks in right away and delivers a noticeable burn. After a bite or two, this is definitely approaching the Hot level on my scale and it lingers for a bit. This is actually the heat level I remember from the Hot Pace Picante of many years ago (now I would put that one closer to Medium), and it should satisfy those looking for some good burn. The average mortal will definitely struggle with it, but those of us who like the spicy stuff will gobble it down.
I have not seen an indication of whether this is a limited-time-only product or if they plan to make this a regular item on the shelves. My local HEB does not carry it yet, but I found a jar at Super Target and I am guessing Walmart stocks it as well. If I can’t easily find it again, then I will just resort to adding a couple of drops of Dave’s Insanity Sauce to a bowl of the Mild Pace Picante which works quite well. But if I see the Ghost Pepper Habanero version again, I will certainly pick it up.
Nutrition Info:
Ingredients: Crushed Tomatoes (Water, Crushed Tomato Concentrate), Diced Tomatoes In Tomato Juice, Jalapeno Peppers, Onions, Red Peppers, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Dried Onions, Water, Cayenne Pepper Sauce (Cayenne Peppers, Vinegar, Salt, Garlic), Crushed Red Pepper, Garlic, Natural Flavoring, Ghost Chili Pepper Extract, Habanero Pepper Extract.
Serving Size: 2 Tbsp (30 ml)
Calories: 10
Fat: 0g (0g Sat/0g Trans)
Protein: 0g
Carbs: 3g
Sodium: 230mg