Before I go any further, I must say that I like this sauce. I believe it has specific applications, but that’s OK. Not every sauce is good on everything.
Labeling- California Habanero Blends has three sauces: Ginger Garlic, Habanero Garlic and Chipotle Sweet and Smokey. All three labels are almost identical, which is awesome for marketing or “shelf Appeal”. Imagine all three sauces lined up side by side, 10 deep in a grocer. At first glance, you will see these over anything else. The label is good. No gimmicks and actually lets you know what you can expect. There is no trans fats information on the nutrition label, so I assume the manufacturer still has a supply of old labels.
Ingredients- Sugar, Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice, Soy Sauce, Garlic, Habanero Peppers, Ginger, Key Lime Juice, Vinegar, Salt, Spices, Xanthan Gum.
Aroma- First and last impression, Awesome! Immediate hard hit of garlic married to the ginger and pure pineapple smell. No hint of vinegar. Even though the garlic and ginger are not listed as dominating ingredients, they are just stronger in nature and overpower other ingredients. I heated up a small sample and then and only then did I get a hint of soy. I missed the Key Lime aroma, but on flavor, it was the after taste. The best way to describe the aroma is to think of freshly stir fried General Tso’s chicken.
Consistancy- This sauce is thin, but not in a bad way. You’ll find many bits of Habanero seeds, garlic and bits of ginger floating around. Overall color is pineapple/orange. Xanthan gum provides just enough viscosity to make the sauce work. If you want to think “Duck Sauce” with attitude, then think California Habanero Blends Ginger Garlic.
Heat- Mild, just like the label says. It has a very small bite to it and only when you hit on a habanero seed. I would not hesitate letting your 3 year old try this.
Flavor- Now to the most important part.
California Habanero Blends Ginger Garlic was awesome on the grilled Tilapia Filets. Simply salt and peppered fish on a hot grill. I accompanied this dish with a mild Sedona Shrimp Salad with some Garlic Ginger sauce added for flavor.
This sauce provided a great sweet flavor on a very mild fish. I couldn’t tell where the garlic began or the ginger ended but the combination accented the fish without overpowering. Somewhere, I had the hint of peanuts, but this had to come from the ginger, garlic. Fresh and light. This dish has become my new “Thai Fish” recipe. In fact the flavors of this sauce would be killer on duck, any white fish, chicken or just about any dish that would call for a duck sauce.
Overall, I recommend this sauce to anyone and everyone. Definitely different, definitely good.
California Habanero Blends
www.californiablends.com
P.O. Box1134
Chico, CA 95927
530-228-6386