Feb. 18--Sriracha sauce, that chili-garlic-sugar-vinegar condiment with roots in Thailand, has been dubbed the "new ketchup" by trend prognosticators and has become a kitchen staple for the 35-and-younger crowd. So it's no surprise that ketchup giant Heinz just entered the condiment market with Heinz Tomato Ketchup Blended with Sriracha Flavor. Try it with burgers, fries, hot dogs, chicken or eggs, they suggest in announcing the new flavor. A 14-ounce squeeze bottle will sell for $2.69. This Sriracha version joins a pair of spiced ketchups already in the line: Heinz Tomato Ketchup Blended with Real Jalapeno and Heinz Hot Spicy Ketchup Blended with Tabasco Brand Pepper Sauce.
So how does the new kid in the family fare in a blind tasting? Here's what our tasters found (scores from 1 to 9, with 9 the highest):
Heinz Ketchup Blended with Real Jalapeno
Score: 6.7
Ingredients: Tomato concentrate from red ripe tomatoes, distilled vinegar, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, salt, spice, natural flavors (bell pepper concentrate), onion powder, dehydrated jalapenos.
Nutritionals: 1 tablespoon = 20 calories, 160 mg sodium.
Comments: "Delayed heat that hit pretty well." "Dark red glossy, some tang." "Peppery chili heat coming on almost immediately, burns in 5 seconds with another burst of pepper." "Fairly tame but nice flavor, more heat in the aftertaste." "Somewhat thin, vinegary." "Darker with a faint sweet smell." "Rich taste with a surprising spicy kick."
Heinz Ketchup Blended with Sriracha Flavor
Score: 6.4
Ingredients: Tomato concentrate from red ripe tomatoes, distilled vinegar, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, salt, natural flavoring, paprika extractives.
Nutritionals: 1 tablespoon = 20 calories, 160 mg sodium.
Comments: "Good body, mellow, cayenne and spice." "Chili pepper in first take, some tomato sweetness, then a slow burn." "Spicy but not hot." "This would be great on meatloaf." "Like a tomato-y pizza sauce, a little heat at start, more at end." "Sun-dried tomato taste and a little spicy." "Like cocktail sauce rather muddled."
Heinz Hot Spicy Ketchup
Score: 5.4
Ingredients: Heinz tomato ketchup (tomato concentrate from red ripe tomatoes, distilled vinegar, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, salt, spice, onion powder, natural flavoring), Tabasco brand pepper sauce (distilled vinegar, red pepper, salt), natural flavoring.
Nutritionals: 1 tablespoon = 20 calories, 200 mg sodium.
Comments: "Musky and not that hot." "Least thick, aroma not a factor." "Chemically aftertaste." "Lots of heat, good with other foods." "Like regular ketchup at first, but then with a bite." "Overly sweet with interesting curry-ish aftertaste." "Tastes the most like red ketchup and a little tangy." "Bacony, but very sweet."
jhevrdejs@tribpub.com
