for your reading pleasure…

The baobab’s bark, leaves, fruit, and trunk are all used. The bark of the baobab is used for cloth and rope, the leaves for condiments and medicines, while the gourd-like fruit, called “monkey bread”, is eaten. The leaves are also common as a leaf vegetable throughout the area of mainland African distribution, including Malawi, Zimbabwe, and the Sahel. They are eaten both fresh and in the form of a dry powder. In Nigeria, the leaves are locally known as kuka, and are used to make kuka soup. The dry pulp of the fruit, after separation from the seeds and fibers, is eaten directly or mixed into porridge or milk. The seeds are most used as a thickener for soups, but may also be fermented into a seasoning, roasted for direct consumption, or pounded to extract vegetable oil. The tree also provides a source of fiber, dye, and fuel. Sometimes people live inside of the huge trunks, and bush-babies live in the crown. Easy to grow, baobabs are suitable as bonsai or indoor plants, as well as outdoor plants in tropical or subtropical countries.

Great review Steve! I love the packaging on their products and their website is really nice too! Sounds like some tasty stuff.

The Zambezi Red was really good, not very hot though. Went through the bottle like it was ketchup!

generallee on 1/8/2008 at 11:06 am said:

for your reading pleasure…

The baobab’s bark, leaves, fruit, and trunk are all used. The bark of the baobab is used for cloth and rope, the leaves for condiments and medicines, while the gourd-like fruit, called “monkey bread”, is eaten. The leaves are also common as a leaf vegetable throughout the area of mainland African distribution, including Malawi, Zimbabwe, and the Sahel. They are eaten both fresh and in the form of a dry powder. In Nigeria, the leaves are locally known as kuka, and are used to make kuka soup. The dry pulp of the fruit, after separation from the seeds and fibers, is eaten directly or mixed into porridge or milk. The seeds are most used as a thickener for soups, but may also be fermented into a seasoning, roasted for direct consumption, or pounded to extract vegetable oil. The tree also provides a source of fiber, dye, and fuel. Sometimes people live inside of the huge trunks, and bush-babies live in the crown. Easy to grow, baobabs are suitable as bonsai or indoor plants, as well as outdoor plants in tropical or subtropical countries.

This is all very helpful info from Generallee, but be cautioned - if you think you want to live in a Baobab tree, first you might want to Google a picture of a Bush-Baby. Nighmarish looking things. I think they get the bug eyes from eating too much “monkey bread”!!!

Anthony on 1/8/2008 at 2:55 pm said:

The Zambezi Red was really good, not very hot though. Went through the bottle like it was ketchup!

That’s ’cause you’re a tough guy Anthony!

Gildo on 1/8/2008 at 5:01 pm said:

That’s ’cause you’re a tough guy Anthony!

Are you sure you have the right Anthony???

SteveM on 1/8/2008 at 4:14 pm said:

This is all very helpful info from Generallee, but be cautioned - if you think you want to live in a Baobab tree, first you might want to Google a picture of a Bush-Baby. Nighmarish looking things. I think they get the bug eyes from eating too much “monkey bread”!!!

Steve…
Great review!! I just saw a picture of that tree looks really cool.As for the picture of the Bushbaby..lol looks like a picture of chris k from the blog!!! after he tried really really hot sauce!!!!lol only playin chris you know i love ya.Well anyway another great review Steve

thetruth on 1/8/2008 at 5:56 pm said:

Are you sure you have the right Anthony???

Uhm, well…uhm?

Gildo on 1/9/2008 at 11:12 am said:

Uhm, well…uhm?

LOL!! only playin anthony

Long-time lurker, first-time commenter. Um, aside from all of the inane trash-talking that goes on here, why aren’t the reviews a little more standardized? Some guys claim they eat 14 oz. and “my nose was sweating a little bit” while others claim they drank a shot out of the bottle and it had no effect.

Yeah, personalities of the reviewers, yaya.

Here’s a tip. Get all the reviewers togther. Make a plan, e.g., one scrambled egg and 2 tbls. of sauce. Blah blah. See what I mean. You can’t be comparing 1/2 bottle of sauce in a pot roast with 2 tbls. on a piece of toast.

Make it a little more consistent and standardized, please. (And no, I’m not talking about the “blind review” thing — I LIKE it blind until the end.)

tim on 1/10/2008 at 2:21 am said:

Long-time lurker, first-time commenter. Um, aside from all of the inane trash-talking that goes on here, why aren’t the reviews a little more standardized? Some guys claim they eat 14 oz. and “my nose was sweating a little bit” while others claim they drank a shot out of the bottle and it had no effect.

Yeah, personalities of the reviewers, yaya.

Here’s a tip. Get all the reviewers togther. Make a plan, e.g., one scrambled egg and 2 tbls. of sauce. Blah blah. See what I mean. You can’t be comparing 1/2 bottle of sauce in a pot roast with 2 tbls. on a piece of toast.

Make it a little more consistent and standardized, please. (And no, I’m not talking about the “blind review” thing — I LIKE it blind until the end.)

Tim, I am a relatively new reviewer, but I bet this point has been debated before. The idea of having all the reviewers agree on a standard palette upon which to taste everything is one that I pondered when I first started visiting this site. But I quickly realized that to do so would take away some of the things that make this site “interesting”, namely that the reviewers have individual quirks and tastes that regular visitors seem to embrace (or take with a grain of salt, as the case may be) as they read the reviews.

That’s not to say we should not consider standardizing the tasting more than it is. A thought would be that reviewers could be required to first taste the product on its own, then put the product on a plain cracker or an egg, then they are free to put it on the dish they deem most appropriate and comment on that as well. This regimen would surely add to the length of the reviews and might dissuade some good reviewers from keeping up the volume of reviews that the readership demands.

If I had to choose, I probably favor the free-wheeling and less-regimented approach, just because I like to see what my fellow reviewers are cooking up. Anyway, thanks for stepping out of the shadows with a good comment. I hope we hear from others on this.

SM

tim on 1/10/2008 at 2:21 am said:

Long-time lurker, first-time commenter. Um, aside from all of the inane trash-talking that goes on here, why aren’t the reviews a little more standardized? Some guys claim they eat 14 oz. and “my nose was sweating a little bit” while others claim they drank a shot out of the bottle and it had no effect.

Yeah, personalities of the reviewers, yaya.

Here’s a tip. Get all the reviewers togther. Make a plan, e.g., one scrambled egg and 2 tbls. of sauce. Blah blah. See what I mean. You can’t be comparing 1/2 bottle of sauce in a pot roast with 2 tbls. on a piece of toast.

Make it a little more consistent and standardized, please. (And no, I’m not talking about the “blind review” thing — I LIKE it blind until the end.)

I’m a reviewer and I don’t like eggs. I like it the way it is. I agree with Steve. Maybe we should try sauces on Mac N Cheese?

tim on 1/10/2008 at 2:21 am said:

Long-time lurker, first-time commenter. Um, aside from all of the inane trash-talking that goes on here, why aren’t the reviews a little more standardized? Some guys claim they eat 14 oz. and “my nose was sweating a little bit” while others claim they drank a shot out of the bottle and it had no effect.

Yeah, personalities of the reviewers, yaya.

Here’s a tip. Get all the reviewers togther. Make a plan, e.g., one scrambled egg and 2 tbls. of sauce. Blah blah. See what I mean. You can’t be comparing 1/2 bottle of sauce in a pot roast with 2 tbls. on a piece of toast.

Make it a little more consistent and standardized, please. (And no, I’m not talking about the “blind review” thing — I LIKE it blind until the end.)

Thanks for the useless input!!!!

thetruth on 1/10/2008 at 5:21 pm said:

Thanks for the useless input!!!!

Truth, you’re going to scare Tim the Lurker back into hiding! He makes a credible point. My counter-point is simply that you have to decide between methodical (resulting in more fair reviews) and free-wheeling (resulting in more enjoyable reading) and I choose the latter in the interest of keeping things interesting.

Truth, you’re going to scare Tim the Lurker back into hiding! He makes a credible point.

But it’s not complimentary or in line with “popular” opinion, so it’s wrong and useless. Who needs him around here.

(yes that was sarcasm)

Tim, I applaud your honest opinion, keep it up.

DK on 1/10/2008 at 7:01 pm said:

Truth, you’re going to scare Tim the Lurker back into hiding! He makes a credible point.

But it’s not complimentary or in line with “popular” opinion, so it’s wrong and useless. Who needs him around here.

(yes that was sarcasm)

Tim, I applaud your honest opinion, keep it up.

TTF is calling you go back home………lol
(yes that was sarcasm)

tim on 1/10/2008 at 2:21 am said:

Long-time lurker, first-time commenter. Um, aside from all of the inane trash-talking that goes on here, why aren’t the reviews a little more standardized? Some guys claim they eat 14 oz. and “my nose was sweating a little bit” while others claim they drank a shot out of the bottle and it had no effect.

Yeah, personalities of the reviewers, yaya.

Here’s a tip. Get all the reviewers togther. Make a plan, e.g., one scrambled egg and 2 tbls. of sauce. Blah blah. See what I mean. You can’t be comparing 1/2 bottle of sauce in a pot roast with 2 tbls. on a piece of toast.

Make it a little more consistent and standardized, please. (And no, I’m not talking about the “blind review” thing — I LIKE it blind until the end.)

Tim, that would be great if every hot sauce complimented food the same. It would never work out though, because not all reviewers like the same foods. I’m not slamming the idea, CONSTRUCTIVE criticism is always good! I agree about the trash talkin, but it seems boys will be boys.

(no, I’m not calling anyone a child, men will be men doesn’t sound right)

All reviews should be done the same way. Sorry. you don’t see a wine review done two different ways. Could you see a nice red wine review over ice cream or pot roast. NO When Manf enter their products for awards they are done. PACKAGE,SMELL,LOOKS, TASTE. You write a real nice review with 4 basic points. THANK YOU OVER AND OUT. BBJJ

I think the reviews are done very well (as is). You cant “standardize” a review by putting all the different sauces on the same food. As a hot sauce manufacturer I know that certain hot sauces should NOT be paired with some foods.
Thats the great thing about hot sauce, through these reviews people find different things and ways to use them. The creativity of the reviewers is what keeps me reading them. Keep up the good work guys … and gals

Bret on 1/11/2008 at 7:55 am said:

All reviews should be done the same way. Sorry. you don’t see a wine review done two different ways. Could you see a nice red wine review over ice cream or pot roast. NO When Manf enter their products for awards they are done. PACKAGE,SMELL,LOOKS, TASTE. You write a real nice review with 4 basic points. THANK YOU OVER AND OUT. BBJJ

pairing could be done after.

Shows judge with NO food, a plastic spoon THATS IT!!! What fun is that? Although it is the most accurate for reviewing, I just dont see the fun in it…and after all isnt the blog and review process meant to be informative and entertaining?

Bret on 1/11/2008 at 7:55 am said:

All reviews should be done the same way. Sorry. you don’t see a wine review done two different ways. Could you see a nice red wine review over ice cream or pot roast. NO When Manf enter their products for awards they are done. PACKAGE,SMELL,LOOKS, TASTE. You write a real nice review with 4 basic points. THANK YOU OVER AND OUT. BBJJ

Umm…I’m not sure about how someone’s package, SMELLS, LOOKS, and TASTES” has any bearing on a hot sauce.
That’s a bit personal dontchathink there BB?

Uncle Big on 1/11/2008 at 11:54 am said:

Umm…I’m not sure about how someone’s package, SMELLS, LOOKS, and TASTES” has any bearing on a hot sauce.
That’s a bit personal dontchathink there BB?

He is useing Capital letters…..Look out!! and your point is ??????

Uncle Big on 1/11/2008 at 11:54 am said:

Umm…I’m not sure about how someone’s package, SMELLS, LOOKS, and TASTES” has any bearing on a hot sauce.
That’s a bit personal dontchathink there BB?

THAT WAS GOOD LOL

Lisa on 1/11/2008 at 10:14 am said:

Shows judge with NO food, a plastic spoon THATS IT!!! What fun is that? Although it is the most accurate for reviewing, I just dont see the fun in it…and after all isnt the blog and review process meant to be informative and entertaining?

It can be informative and entertaining. Do the food last. review the sauce the pair it.

Lisa on 1/11/2008 at 10:14 am said:

Shows judge with NO food, a plastic spoon THATS IT!!! What fun is that? Although it is the most accurate for reviewing, I just dont see the fun in it…and after all isnt the blog and review process meant to be informative and entertaining?

Yes, I agree Lisa. To judge a sauce accurately it should be by itself. That’s no fun though, and sauce is almost always used on, or in addition to something…Usually food. And how many of us actually eat just a sauce by itself? (not counting trying it, or to make a “tolerance” video)
This can be drilled down and debated till the end of time (or this blog). Now, each reviewer chooses what they want to put their “test” sauce on. What if it’s all the same? Say eggs (as mentioned above). Reviewer X might not feel the same about the sauce as reviewer Y did. Maybe because they share different tastes on the food being used. (eggs) I think leaving it up to the reviewer adds a bit of flair and individuality to their reviews. But, will some argue that it predisposes them to liking a certain sauce? I mean we had the discussion of “to review or not review a sauce category “(fruit based) you don’t like. So say we do reviews with sauce on eggs. If you don’t like eggs you might not like the sauce as much.
Again, my views on reviews are different then some. This isn’t for an award, it’s an opinion. It’s what some people feel about certain sauces and how they convey their findings that’s interesting. Also, blind reviews, do an excellent job or ruling out any sort of predisposition or favoritism to a sauce.
Reviewing sauce isn’t a difficult thing to do, putting it into words might be. But what is, is trying to please everyone’s view on the correct way to do it.

If someone gave me Heinz Ketchup on a spoon for my first test, I probably would never use it on anything. Yet, somewhere during my childhood it was slapped on a burger and I learned to dunk with fries and that is how I learned to love it. Having hot sauce on a spoon instead of where you would normally have it might have the same reaction on your tastebuds as Heinz does for me when I taste it plain.

Buddah on 1/11/2008 at 5:44 pm said:

If someone gave me Heinz Ketchup on a spoon for my first test, I probably would never use it on anything. Yet, somewhere during my childhood it was slapped on a burger and I learned to dunk with fries and that is how I learned to love it. Having hot sauce on a spoon instead of where you would normally have it might have the same reaction on your tastebuds as Heinz does for me when I taste it plain.

A very wise man told me a plastic spoon works best.

chrisk on 1/11/2008 at 12:41 pm said:

Yes, I agree Lisa. To judge a sauce accurately it should be by itself. That’s no fun though, and sauce is almost always used on, or in addition to something…Usually food. And how many of us actually eat just a sauce by itself? (not counting trying it, or to make a “tolerance” video)
This can be drilled down and debated till the end of time (or this blog). Now, each reviewer chooses what they want to put their “test” sauce on. What if it’s all the same? Say eggs (as mentioned above). Reviewer X might not feel the same about the sauce as reviewer Y did. Maybe because they share different tastes on the food being used. (eggs) I think leaving it up to the reviewer adds a bit of flair and individuality to their reviews. But, will some argue that it predisposes them to liking a certain sauce? I mean we had the discussion of “to review or not review a sauce category “(fruit based) you don’t like. So say we do reviews with sauce on eggs. If you don’t like eggs you might not like the sauce as much.
Again, my views on reviews are different then some. This isn’t for an award, it’s an opinion. It’s what some people feel about certain sauces and how they convey their findings that’s interesting. Also, blind reviews, do an excellent job or ruling out any sort of predisposition or favoritism to a sauce.
Reviewing sauce isn’t a difficult thing to do, putting it into words might be. But what is, is trying to please everyone’s view on the correct way to do it.

I agree 100%, that’s exactly the point I was trying to share.

Hi all,

Well, I didn’t mean to stir up a ruckus (although the ruckusi are pretty good around here). And I didn’t intend to sound like a noob just criticizing. I’ve been a lurker here because I love this site and I love (for the most part) the comments.

I can totally understand the points made about individuality and flair, style, etc. I guess I hadn’t considered those things as much — my original post was only about suggesting some sort of “common starting point” so that salivating readers might have some basis of comparison. That’s all — wasn’t meant as criticizing.

But again, I guess that’d be pretty hard to do! Guess I need to do more lurking and getting to “know” the individual reviewers a bit more — though, like I’ve said, I’ve been a long-time reader.

So thanks for the feedback and input here!

Oh, and by the way. . .thetruth? After a long time of getting to “know” you here, I’ve decided you’re a prick.

Thanks all — I won’t be scared away. Keep up all the great work.

tj

For standardization, all the reviews from now on will be done only by me. So send me all of your hot sauces. Cheffy, you send jerky.
Don’t go back into hiding, Tim. People on here are opinionated and cool, and that makes it fun. If anyone get’s too upset that’s their problem. Danny Cash Hot Sauce Rules!