A green label with an orange, fire breathing lion hearkened the arrival of Conquering Lion: Mango sauce to my kitchen. It’s an attractive, eye catching label on a standard 5 oz bottle. The sauce is of the thin variety, with a plastic restrictor to keep it coming out in drops and not torrents. The smell of the sauce is an unrestrained stampede of smoke, smoke and more smoke. It almost smells as if you just stuck your head in a hickory fueled smoke house and took a big whiff. The smoke is so overpowering, I couldn’t find much else in there.
Ingredients: Smoked Tomatoes, Smoked Habanero Peppers, Smoked Cayenne Peppers, Mango, Water, Lime juice, Cane Vinegar, Spices, Sea Salt
One of my favorite uses for smokey sauces is on Macaroni and Cheese. So, I fired up a simple batch of Mac and Cheese, and shook on some Conquering Lion. As the smell foretold, there was smoke aplenty. It’s a good, flavorful and heavy smoke flavor. There’s some heat from the habaneros, but not overwhelming fire. A tiny ping of citrus pops through, as well. But, there’s virtually no mango to be found. Not much sweetness, and no fruit flavor that I could find. Now, maybe I should hold that against Conquering lion, since it’s supposed to be a mango sauce. But, since I love smokey flavor and only tolerate mango, I have no issues with it.
Conclusion: Conquering Lion Mango sauce is lacking in the mango department. However, it’s tasty, smokey character adds a welcome zip to food and is worth giving a spin. It’s great on Mac and Cheese, and would be a good addition to eggs or barbecue.
Packaging – Classy, timeless label. 8.9 out of 10.0
Aroma – Smoke, smoke and more smoke. 7.9 out of 10.0
Appearance – thin and red. 7.1 out of 10.0
Taste – Lots of smoke. Mango? We don’t need no stinkin’ mango! 7.8 out of 10.0
Heat – More than medium, but not a mind blower. 7.0 out of 10.0
Overall Rating: 7.6 out of 10.0
Written by John
Nick Lindauer founded Hot Sauce Blog in 2004, making it one of the internet's very first hot sauce review sites. After 20+ years of tasting, reviewing, and attending every major fiery foods event in the country, he's back behind the keyboard covering the hot sauce world he helped build.
43 responses to “Review: Conquering Lion Mango Hot Sauce”
Two great reviews in a row John! Also, its nice to see another reviewer use Mac N Cheese to test out Hot Sauce!!!!
I think with the right sauce it makes a great combo!
At least he showed a picture of the Mac and Cheese.!!!!!!!! And listed why he chose Mac and Cheese, plus his rating system made sense….
Good review I’ll agree with that though……
One question that I do have is why do so many Sauce makers use Mango when doing a fruit based sauce?
[Comment ID #72254 Quote]
Now, from my experience mango brings out the sweetness of the habanero peppers. They balance each other out wonderfully if done correctly. JMHO
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Thanks for the info Jodie, I like Mango it sticks well to winder’s…
[Comment ID #72258 Quote]
It does and it tastes great with the natural flavors of the winders! Especially if left for a few days.
[Comment ID #72259 Quote]
Kinda like a fruit roll-up…hmmmmmmmmm
[Comment ID #72254 Quote]
i think everybody knows what mac and cheese looks like. hot sauce just makes it red.
[Comment ID #72263 Quote]
Must be somebody’s friend…. 1 comment…hmmmm…
[Comment ID #72265 Quote
what is that got to do with how mac and cheese looks like?
[Comment ID #72265 Quote]
I can’t stop laughin…….. To funny!!!!!
[Comment ID #72267 Quote]
Mr. BLANE!!!!!!!!!
What’s up brother, how was Christmas my friend, did you spoil Luke!?!
[Comment ID #72268 Quote]
I need to build on for all his toys…. The best Christmas I have had, it was all about the little man and Family.
How was your Christmas brother, hope all went well. Has your worked slowed down yet?
[Comment ID #72266 Quote]
Welcome to the HSB (the real truth) are you a fire eater?
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It’s all about the family – especially the little ones.
[Comment ID #72269 Quote]
That’s great! Glad to hear you had a enjoyable/meaningful & special day. Please tell him his Auntie Wendy ( By Hot Sauce-Once Removed ) says hello and sends a Holiday kiss for him- not you!
Our was good, quiet and relaxfull. Santa hooked me up, which is a good thing.
Work has slowed down some, we’ll pick up as the week goes on closer to New Years- big shopping/party supplies days coming. Then the bottom falls out for awhile, thank God!!
[Comment ID #72271 Quote]
Whats up Brother Huv…. Have you recovered yet?
My wife’s Brother’s (3 of them) are arriving Thursday for the second round of Christmas…
Hope all is well with you
[Comment ID #72272 Quote]
Tell Wendy that luke misses her and wanted to tell you thanks for farting on his package….lol…. Great Card Vic….
65 days till NM
Do you think they will ever let me be a guest reviewer? I would bring something to it never seen before, a look behind the Helmet…. Sweet huh…
[Comment ID #72273 Quote]
All is good my friend…. took the week off to work on the house – redo the kids rooms and get the new babies room done. Going into to the big bad city tomorrow to catch a show with the family. Excellent Christmas.
[Comment ID #72274 Quote]
Ha Ha! Those cards were GREAT! Funniest ones we found in a while.
We are getting ready for round two ourselves, my folks are coming up this weekend and I am picking my son up for a week tomorrow, should be fun.
[Comment ID #72276 Quote]
Oh yeah… expect your “special” present real soon. got all the stuff I need tomorrow. I think you will like…. (as so will eveyone else once it’s ready)
[Comment ID #72277 Quote]
Round two…. my round one is still going 🙂
[Comment ID #72276 Quote]
How’s the wife doing? Man you must be excited and tired at the same time, Thanks for the card by the way, very cool.
[Comment ID #72275 Quote]
Heck ya, that would be great. Just get with Nick, it should be easy to do. I could even copy paste it into my WordPress ( Website we use to write the reviews ) and put you as the author, your info, etc..
We can do it, if there’s a will there’s a way, brother!!
[Comment ID #72278 Quote]
Huv I can’t wait to see what you have come up with….
[Comment ID #72282 Quote]
Yeah me too!! Hint Hint!! 😉 😉
[Comment ID #72281 Quote]
I like it, I have plenty on Mac and Cheese to try sauce out on….lol…
But really I think it would be a blast, but it would have to be on someone that has a good sense of humor….lol….
[Comment ID #72280 Quote]
Wife is doing great, thanks for asking. Another girl…. man am I out numbered!!!!!
[Comment ID #72278 Quote]
I’m going to have to move you to a bigger shelf….lol…
[Comment ID #72284 Quote]
Just do it – I did the Talon review cuz I absolutely loved the sauce. Still me favorite (Ok, almost after FKS) Shoot it to Nick – he will either post or not.
[Comment ID #72286 Quote]
LOL = I went all out on this one. Oh yeah, I have something else for you, will email.
[Comment ID #72288 Quote]
You at work or at home?
Good Night Guys!
Got to call it a night, pretty tired.
Have a good one & talk to you later.
[Comment ID #72287 Quote]
I think everyone would get akick out of it…. We will have to see…
[Comment ID #72289 Quote]
Work right now heading home in about 10 minutes, You have got to e-mail me the info Brother. Send it to both.
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Enjoy you time with your son and tell Wendy hi from us. Take care Vic good talking with you.
Good Night Brother
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night Vic. I’m out also. One quick email the BLANE then im out.
[Comment ID #72294 Quote]
Have a good one Huv, looking forward to the email.
TTYL
I think Santa brought me the flu for Christmas, I must have been bad this year.
[Comment ID #72260 Quote]
mmmmm FRUIT ROLL UP with the extra flavoring of a good ol’ short bus winder!
[Comment ID #72530 Quote]
OWWW! Stop yelling, my head hurts from last night!
Ok, the quote disappeared, please ignore previous comment. Lol.
Ill say it again def without yelling…Anthony please for the love of god focus on your reviews being better..rather than on the Truth.This is a new year maybe you can get it right this year