My first impression of Palmetto Pepper Potions Larynx Lava were the words “South Carolina Hot Sauce!” printed across the top. Since I love all things Carolina, I figured I must be in for a treat. Boy, was I right.

On First Taste
Larynx Lava opens up with a strong ginger bite. It’s one of the strongest pure ginger flavors I’ve found in a food in a long time, but the sweetness of the pineapple keeps the ginger from being overpowering. The citrus was not very noticeable to me, and for having so many ingredients, the flavor isn’t terribly complex. Mostly ginger and pineapple.

The heat comes on quickly, graces the palatte with a nice amount of heat balanced by sweetness, and lingers delicately for a minute or two. It’s hot enough to be a surprising kick for anyone who’s not accustomed to hot foods, but for the experienced chilihead it’s not much of a burner, with more heat than Tabasco, but nowhere near extract levels.

On Food
I decided to try Larynx Lava on fried chicken tenders. I put a decent amount on to start, and was extremely pleased with my choice. The sweetness and heat were perfect for the chicken, and I kept piling on the sauce. I ended up using half the bottle, and had a pretty nice burn going. This sauce gets hotter the more you apply, which is just as it should be.

On Food (Again)
I was so thrilled with Larynx Lava’s perform ace on the chicken tenders that I heated up a few spring rolls to try it on. And again, it excelled. I think that it’d go well with virtually any mild food I can think of. I think it would be exceptional on duck.

In fact, the brilliant combination of ginger and pineapple inspired me to go out and buy some fresh pineapple and ginger root, and make up some sockeye salmon using it. Hot sauce that tastes great, has a good heat level, and inspires culinary endeavors? Now that’s my idea of a good sauce!

Rating: 9.1 out of 10

The art in Chipotle joints across the world has often caught my eye while I wait in line for my shredded beef heat missle. Since it’s owned by McDonalds, I always thought the art pieces were just your average mass manufactured decor element.

Turns out, they are hand made by Mayatek Inc. Even in the weird art business, all you need is your big break (or to sell your soul to the man).