Hey, hot sauce enthusiasts! If you’re on the hunt for a flavor-packed, tongue-tingling experience, you’ve come to the right place. Today, I’m diving into the world of Out Of The Box Snacks, a Canadian sensation hailing from Kitchener, Ontario, and their exceptional creation – the Cucumber Habanero hot sauce.
Picture this: a delightful blend of fresh cucumbers, zesty onions, and fiery habanero peppers, all coming together to create a symphony of taste sensations. It’s like taking a bite of a crisp pickle and then being hit with a pleasantly sharp and spicy kick from the habaneros. This unique concoction has piqued my interest, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts with you in this review.
Introducing: Cucumber Habanero by Out Of The Box
Out Of The Box Snacks, a branch of Dots Snacks Co. based in Kitchener, Ontario, may have slowed down a bit recently, but their Cucumber Habanero hot sauce still shines. With a passion for fiery flavors, I chose this sauce, hoping for a pickle-inspired delight, and boy, was I right!
Unlike many mild pickle hot sauces, this one packs a serious punch with its smooth cucumber and onion base. The sharp fruity heat from habaneros adds that extra zing. When I cracked open the bottle, I couldn’t resist slathering it on my sandwich – it was that good. Plus, it’s gluten-free and vegan, making it accessible to a wider audience.
While it’s a bit challenging to find in stores right now, you can snag it online for $8-$12 CAD (check the link below).
So, if you’re a fan of pickles and crave some heat, give this sauce a shot – you won’t be disappointed! Enjoy the fresh and crisp flavors of cucumber, hot peppers, and spices. Spice up your meals with this aromatic burst of flavor, ideal for dishes like chicken, burgers, tacos, and more. It’s all-natural, vegan, gluten-free, and savory, with no preservatives – a spicy sensation that’s worth every drop.
Manufacturer: Out Of The Box Snacks
Made In: Ontario
Heat Rating: 5/10
Size: 148mL
Price Range: $8-$12
Buy at The Flaming Hoop Chilies
Ingredients: Cucumber, Vinegar, Onion, Garlic, Habanero Peppers, Sea Salt, Sugar
Appearance
The Cucumber Habanero hot sauce from Out Of The Box Snacks arrives in a classic 150mL woozy bottle, dressed in a captivating black and green label that hints at the flavorful adventure within.
The light green hue of the sauce immediately catches the eye, a telltale sign of the cucumbers at play.
As I unscrewed the cap, the texture of the sauce felt like a finely blended relish, thanks to the smooth base created by the onions and cucumbers, akin to a velvety smoothie. Within the sauce, you’ll find delightful chunks of peppers, cucumber skin, and garlic, adding both texture and character.
Pouring the sauce is a breeze, though it’s a tad on the watery side, causing a minor annoyance as it dribbles down the bottle’s side. But once that sauce hits your taste buds, any irritation vanishes in a burst of flavor.
Smell
The aroma of the Cucumber Habanero hot sauce offers a delightful surprise. The cucumbers themselves exude a mild, neutral scent, but when they mingle with the vinegar, it conjures up an enticing pickle-like aroma that’s missing only the dill and pickling spices to complete the picture.
The scent of the onions makes its presence known but doesn’t overwhelm the senses. There’s a tangy undertone from the vinegar that, when combined with these elements, results in a scent reminiscent of a zesty relish.
Curiously, there’s little to no hint of the impending heat or peppers when you take a whiff. Instead, it offers a delicious and appetizing fragrance that left me eagerly anticipating its addition to my meal.
Taste and Flavour
Cucumber Habanero hot sauce delivers an unexpectedly fantastic taste experience. While it may seem vague to say it tastes great, this sauce truly surprised me. Despite its mild and neutral appearance, it packs a flavorful punch that hits all the right notes.
The taste journey is led by the stars of onion, garlic, and habanero peppers, with the onion taking the forefront, followed by the garlicky goodness and the tropical essence of the habaneros. When sampled on its own, the vinegar can be a tad overpowering, but once it meets your meal, it finds the sweet spot of balance.
The texture of this sauce is a standout feature too – it’s delightfully chunky, teeming with flavorful bits of ingredients that burst with each bite. When poured over a dish, the brine gets absorbed, leaving you with delectable morsels of onion, cucumber, and habanero to savor and savor again.
Heat Level
When it comes to heat, I’d personally rate the Cucumber Habanero hot sauce at a solid
on my heat scale. As a fan of habaneros, this sauce was a real treat for my taste buds. Right from the first taste, the heat wastes no time in making its presence known. It’s sharp, with a somewhat intense kick that demands your attention. The clever combination of the onion and cucumber base carries this heat beautifully.
The sharpness of the heat left its mark, causing a bit of cheek-sweating, a tingling hairline, and a hint of a runny nose. The heat seemed to linger, enveloping my entire tongue in a sharp sting, which I found quite enjoyable. What’s remarkable is that the heat felt natural and genuine, not artificially enhanced.
As I continued to indulge in this sauce, the heat intensified and persisted for an extended, satisfying burn that added an exciting dimension to each bite.
Conclusion: Overall Thoughts
In conclusion, my journey with the Cucumber Habanero hot sauce from Out Of The Box Snacks was a delightful surprise from start to finish. Despite initial skepticism based on its appearance, this sauce proved me wrong in the best possible way.
From the moment I cracked the bottle open and inhaled its inviting aroma, I knew I was in for a treat. The sauce not only smelled great but also delivered an exceptional taste experience with a fantastic level of heat that left me reaching for it time and again. I found myself devouring half the bottle on a sandwich during my taste test, and then another quarter straight from a spoon while crafting this review – a true testament to its deliciousness.
The pickle-like flavor profile makes it a versatile companion for sausages, hot dogs, burgers, salads, and even tacos if you’re feeling adventurous. All in all, this hot sauce was a winner, and I sincerely hope that Out Of The Box continues to produce it because I’ll be adding it to my collection. If you stumble upon a bottle, don’t hesitate to grab it – you won’t be disappointed!
Cucumber Habanero by Out Of The Box
lass="uagb-rating__source-wrap">Summary
Tastes like a pickle and a habanero pepper all in one!