As you're probably aware (well, at least if you read sriracha news like I do, and I know you do), there has been quite a kerfuffle about "counterfeit sriracha". More on that here, and here, and here (yes, even Zagat is on this).
But I say - so what? Why does Huy Fong have a corner on the market? Is it true that Rooster is King? Turns out, everyone and their mother makes sriracha sauce. True, it was David Tran's version that sparked the Great Sriracha Revolution back in 2008/2009, but really, sriracha was inspired by Thai hot sauce that has been around for an undetermined amount of time. Don't believe me? In fact, what you know as rooster sauce is as American as apple pie, and tells of a classic immigrant success story.
Anyhow, I'm here to challenge the Power of the Rooster. Why not give the others a try? Why are people so upset to receive a "counterfeit" sriracha, when sriracha can be as general as ketchup?
We are still in the process of gathering all of the competitors, and so far, my list is up to 10. I still have to find a way to obtain them all, since eBay is not my friend financially. But some are easy to find - just check out what I found yesterday (Trader Joe's "Dragon Sauce"!). If you have any suggestions on alternative sriracha sauces to try, let us know and we will line them up!
The contest will have 2 rounds - first will be a blind line up of all the sauces, with a milk product in between to refresh and cool the pallet. The next round will have the sauce in a bite of food (yet to be determined) to avoid judgements of texture. We'll be rating on spice level, overall flavor, and aftertaste (and texture in the first round). Finally, we will attempt to identify the Rooster sauce. My judges are experts in the hot sauce field, so we will NOT disappoint.
Maybe we'll find the next secret Sriracha King!
Stay tuned, folks...
When I saw this sauce at my local TJ's I hoped this post would happen. Glad to see that the game is on!
ReplyDeleteThanks Erin! IT IS TIME. There are too many Huy Fong purists out there, and too many competitors, not to do this contest! Say tuned as the smackdown continues!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGood to have found this website. Much fun is here.
ReplyDeleteI tried the Trader Joe's and was not happy with it. When it showed up in the Chicago area it sold out really quick. So, that's a good sign for sriracha but not their brand. Here's my review.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4IuJfHmwiw
Good to have found this website. Much fun is here.
ReplyDeleteI tried the Trader Joe's and was not happy with it. When it showed up in the Chicago area it sold out really quick. So, that's a good sign for sriracha but not their brand. Here's my review.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4IuJfHmwiw
Thanks Oz! This is great! May I share this on the SFB facebook page? Since it will be awhile before all of our srirachas comes in anyhow... On the topic of the Saigon Sisters t-racha sauce, we are having a tough timing procuring this, especially being out here in Sacramento. You don't know if we can order it online, do you?
DeleteRachel, sure, please do share the video.
DeleteI'll check to see if Saigon Sisters t-racha can be ordered online. I went downtown and grabbed a bottle the day it debuted.
I'm looking forward to the smackdown! What other brands are you still hunting for?
Thanks Oz! Just ordered the Crying Tiger last night on a tip from a friend. Still waiting on HT Traders (Brian Meager of Hot Sauce Daily was so kind to ship it to us since it's only available in stores on the east coast), Flying Goose (being shipped from the UK), Lee Kum Kee, Pain is Good brand, the hot version of Shark Sauce (we have the mild), ABC brand, and Sriraja Panich.
DeleteWe're having some trouble with the Kame, we found some online, but with shipping it will be 30 bucks! I'm going to try and find it in stores this weekend before giving in. I want this contest to happen but my husband might divorce me when he sees the bill!
DeleteOh and we have Sky Valley of course, one of our judges is bringing that one from home.
DeleteDoesn't look like Saigon Sisters is available online (yet). They supposedly have a website "coming soon."
ReplyDeleteWhen is the smackdown scheduled? I may be able to help out by going to their restaurant downtown.
One thing that's startling about t-racha sauce is the price: $8 for a tiny bottle. It seems to be priced for people who don't use sriracha very often or in large amounts.
Sounds like you're rounding up quite an assortment. I wish I could participate.
I've loved spicy food all my life but never could deal with hotsauce. Recently I realized that the vinegar flavor is what killed my relationship with hotsauce. When sriracha showed up, OMG! I was in love. Spice, sweetness, very reduced vinegar flavor ... YES! YES! YES!
Ha! Sounds like Tabasco would be your enemy - same reason I never bought into hot sauces until sriracha! We actually don't have a scheduled date just yet, just waiting for a majority of the contestants to show up. I think we might aim for next weekend at this point - the judges are all busy until then. If you are able to get a bottle that would be great! You can email me at srirachafacebook@gmail.com, if you set up a paypal account or something I can cover the cost. If not, no worries, I think we have a lot. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteLet me see when I'll be downtown again. I'll see about grabbing some t-racha.
DeleteTabasco and I have never gotten along. Of the 4 srirachas I've tasted, they're all ones I would use. Can't say the same for traditional hotsauces.