Quick answer: Nick tried California Habanero Blends Chipotle Sweet & Smoky Hot Sauce while visiting California. It is definitely smoky, with a linger longer than average chipotle sauce, and he recommends it on chicken sandwiches or pulled pork rather than light seafood.
It seems only fitting that I review a California Blends Hot Sauce while in California. When this package first arrived I couldn’t be more excited, you see, California Blends comes out of Chico, CA – a town that I practically grew up in. My brother and I used to hit Chico for all sorts of mischievous activities, mostly hanging out in the Chico Mall or exploring Bidwell Park. So suffice to stay, the city of Chico is near and dear to my heart and I couldn’t be happier to review a hot sauce that hails from there.
The first in the California Blends product line up to bat was the Chipotle Sweet & Smoky Hot Sauce – and I’ll admit, I first tried this the day it arrived in NYC, I couldn’t wait until we got to California – but it did make the trip from NYC to LA with me.
Ingredients: Tomato puree, Sugar, Chipotle Peppers, Garlic, Spice, Habanero Peppers, Lime Juice, Molasses, Honey, Maple syrup, Vinegar, Salt & Liquid Smoke
Description from the bottle: Spice up your meals with some fresh California flavor! Use our smoky Chipotle Habanero Blend at your next BBQ for a fiery flavor that’s sweet with honey. Also great in pasta, sandwiches, sauces and dips. Shake it on and enjoy!
First off, this sauce is thicker the molasses that is in it. Trying to get it out of the bottle the first time was nearly impossible – but well worth the wait. While in NYC, I tried the sauce out on a “Mexican pizza” – basically an inside out quesadilla with extra jalapenos. The sauce was good on tacos but would have been better on some BBQ.
The smoke flavor of the sauce, paired with the sweetness of the molasses and maple syrup makes this sauce perfect for BBQ. In fact, it should be bottled in the larger 12oz. bottles and marketed as such – the little 5oz. bottles won’t work when you’re dealing with large amounts of BBQ. But it does work on just about anything that you’re looking to have massive amounts of Chipotle flavor on.
Heat wise, the habanero peppers sneak up behind the chipotle flavor and back it up with a habanero punch. It’s not too hot for the likes of the wife nor the beginner chilehead but it does linger a bit longer then your average chipotle sauce.
If this sauce is any indication of the caliber of sauces coming out of the California Blends crew, then chileheads be prepared for some great tasting hot sauces. But remember, this sauce is definitely smoky – so when pairing it with food make sure you take note of that. The smoke flavor would overpower a light dish, such as seafood, but would go well on a chicken sandwich or a pulled pork dish. And I can tell you now that their Habanero Garlic Key Lime sauce is also excellent, with a more detailed review to follow on that one as well.
California Habanero Blends
PO Box 1134
Chico, Ca. 95927
Phone: 530-228-6386
FAX: 530-343-5450
Frequently asked questions
Where is California Habanero Blends from?
Chico, California — a town Nick grew up visiting.
Is the Chipotle Sweet & Smoky very hot?
Hotter linger than average chipotle sauce, but the smoke is the main character.
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10 responses to “Review: California Habanero Blends – Chipotle Hot Sauce”
I first tried this the day it arrived in NYC, I couldn’t wait until we got to California – but it did make the trip from NYC to LA with me.
Hey Nick,
you are just trying to rub it in a bit, 🙄 arent you… 🙂
Wow – that looks like it would be great on Ribs too!!!
I think you should day a review a day while you are out there!
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I meant do a review a day!!!
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Well I didn’t mention that the first picture was taken from the balconey here at the house – that would be rubbing it in 🙂
Nick, One thing I tell anyone from out of town is to make sure and hit Catalina Island, but since you grew up in California you may already know that. It’s like Hawaii but only 26 miles away!
Also since your so close to Venice, That’s a must see on any weekend..LOL
First of that sauce looks good. But did anyone notice the Habenero with Chipotle written through it on the label? Does chipotle mean smoked jalepenos, or smoked chiles?
Secondly Nick, I dont quite remember it being that sunny outside this past week here in Cali. But sorry not jealous. Its just gratifying to know, you have to go back to cold snowy NY haha.
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It’s got habs in too tho. Maybe they wanted to use that angle rather than showing a smoked pepper, which probably don’t look as appealing.
Nice review Nick. It looks warmer there than where I am!! lol. I always wondered how odd it’d be to have christmas in a hot, sunny location
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Cold, snowy NY? It’s been in the 50’s and 60’s for the past month.
Hope you guys are having fun!
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Maybe, just a bit…
I was going to ask if you took that pic, but I really didnt want to know 😉