We all know of my hatred of the bovine species. As the creator of the Cowspiracy website detailing their plans for world domination I will not waiver in my stance. But occasionally, one must bend his resolve to what appears to be a sympathizer. Mad Cow Hot Sauce from Chili-Head Gourmet Foods (website under construction but can be purchased right here) is such a product.

Mad Cow Hot Sauce Ingredients: Water, vinegar, tomatoes, Bih Jolokia chili, onion, garlic, sesame oil, salt, spices, citric acid.

I’m iffy on the label (which he has recently updated to include the fact that it’s locally made here in Cleveland, Ohio, a very big draw for people like me). It funny but at the same time it’s a little gimmicky (read: biker sauce). A product of this quality deserves a high level label. I do appreciate the label’s stock though, thick and glossy.

Poured out on a spoon, this sauce is very evenly blended but not to the point of water, there are still some bumps of ingredients amongst the smooth, red/brown colored sauce. Now, for the taste! MMMMMMM!!!!!! This is really an amazing sauce! The slight sweetness of both the Jolokia and the tomatoes hit first. This quickly gives way to the garlic which really dominates this palate. It’s not bad (I a huge garlic fan) but it’s definitely quite noticeable. Next comes the slightly astringent taste of vinegar mixing with onion.

Following that is the salt, lightly enhancing all the flavors and wrapping them up for the slight side of the mouth grabbing citric acid finish. I do detect a small coating of tongue from the sesame oil but nothing I would call a negative. The heat is pretty good on this but not at the level I was expecting. Usually when the Jolokia is incorporated people are trying to blow your tongue away. But with Mad Cow, the emphasis seems to be on incorporating more of it’s flavor than it’s heat. Very nicely done. Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s got some bite and that signature searing, tongue numbing heat of the Jolokia, but it’s not all that hot.

This is Chili-Head Gourmet’s second venture into the fiery foods industry (10 years ago they were based out of Australia and then stopped production) and I must say, their sauce has impressed me. It’s amazing on steak (that’s called irony by the way), mixed into tomato paste and put on pizza or tacos, or dumped on eggs in the morning, the list goes on and on. If Mad Cow is any indication of the direction this company is headed with the taste of their sauces, then watch out world, because Mad Cow is going to become an epidemic!

Taste: 8.5, Heat: 7.15