Bottom Line: Trader Joe’s Habanero Hot Sauce delivers some notable burn and achieves that sweet spot where Fire meets Flavor.
Trader Joe’s has quite a number of items on their shelves that would delight lovers of spicy food, and this hot sauce in particular is one that I discovered several years back. I picked it up while shopping at the store one day and it helped me to realize that the TJ-branded products are the real deal. It is now a go-to hot sauce for me and one that I always have in the pantry at the ready.
It is a fairly simple sauce with a small amount of ingredients starting with water, habanero, and vinegar. It has a few additional seasonings beyond that which include garlic, onion, and sugar, and that’s it. The label claims that the sauce is “scaldingly, incendiarily hot”, which I was dubious about upon first reading it. I quickly learned, though, that sometimes there is some truth in advertising.
Upon first taste, this sauce delivers that distinct habanero flavor along with a nice sweetness and an immediate kick. I would swear that I taste carrots in there as well (often found in habanero sauces), but they are not included in the ingredients list. There is definitely some tang from the sauce, though not as much as those that have a higher proportion of vinegar. It also has some saltiness and a slight garlicky finish that rounds out the taste experience quite nicely. This is a thicker sauce than most, and you can see bits of habanero as well as seeds in the mix. Both of which add to the flavor.
Unlike some habanero sauces (and the chili itself), the heat is not a slow-burn with this one. You get that spicy kick right away, and it is oh so good! And because of that, the heat does not seem to build and build the more you eat. It remains at a fairly steady level. Would I call it “scalding” or “incendiary”? Probably not, but the average mortal might. I would put this one above the Hot on my scale and approaching Fiery. It definitely has a good burn to go along with its excellent taste and attains that sweet spot I am always looking for where fire meets flavor.
This is a sauce that I would add on top of something rather than mix it in because I would prefer that the taste complement what I am eating over possibly getting lost amidst multiple ingredients. It goes well with eggs, tacos, burgers, pizza, queso, and plenty more. And it is definitely going to amp up the heat of whatever you are eating. It is also very budget-friendly at under $3 per bottle. That’s a steal for something that I believe competes with many of the gourmet hot sauces out there. If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s near you, then you will be out of luck because they don’t do online ordering. But if there is one in your town, I recommend stopping by to pick this up and checking out their other tasty options on the shelves.
Trader Joe’s is a national grocery chain known for selling mostly products under its own label, though I am certain they outsource the production for many of those items. This sauce has “product of South Africa” on the label, and likely a local company there makes it for TJ’s (I tried to locate the source on the internet, but no luck). The fact that they source and brand their own products helps to keep costs down, and I am also a big fan of their Italian Bomba Sauce as well (read more about that one here). I always keep an eye out for new spicy offerings when I pay a visit and will report on those in future posts. (Note: I am not getting paid by TJ’s to write about their products. Though I will listen to offers . . . )
Nutrition Info:
Ingredients: Water, habanero chilies, vinegar, onion, sugar, garlic, salt, sunflower oil, and xantham gum.
Serving Size: 1 Teaspoon
Calories: 0
Fat: 0g
Protein: 0g
Carbs: 0g
Sodium: 35mg