Heinz makes way more than ketchup (we tasted and ranked 26 Heinz flavors, so we should know). And they just added three new sauces to the line-up—none of which have anything to do with ketchup.
Just a couple of weeks ago, Sporked’s own Griffin Parker reported on the new Heinz sauces, which were revealed during the CAGNY Conference. And now, we already have them in hand. I tasted each one of these sauces straight off a spoon and on chicken tenders. We’re nothing if not thorough here at Sporked. Here’s our official review of these new, internationally-inspired Heinz sauces.
Pros: It’s thick, creamy, and definitely tangy in a Tajin kind of way. And there is some corn flavor (albeit more of a canned corn flavor). If it was sold simply as a creamy Tajin sauce, I’d have no complaints and tell you to slather this on a fish sandwich.
Cons: It doesn’t deliver on its name. There’s simply not enough sweet corn flavor to balance out all that tang. And while I do get some canned corn flavor when I taste the sauce straight off a spoon, it’s lost entirely when paired with any other flavors. The chicken tenders we dipped into the sauce totally overpowered the sauce. I’m all for a corn-flavored sauce. But this ain’t it.
Credit: Liv Averett / Heinz
Rating:
6.5/10
Sporks
New Heinz Sauce!
Heinz Flavor Tour Korean Inspired Sweet & Tangy BBQ
Pros: This sauce is super thick—it is not going anywhere. No drips. It’s super savory and soy-forward with a touch of fruity tang. And it definitely has that gochujang funk. But it’s not too in your face. This stuff is like gochujang for beginners. I would love this Heinz sauce on fried tofu or crispy, roasted broccoli.
Cons: While it has some spice, it could have more. I’m quibbling, because I really like this stuff. But a touch more heat could elevate this Heinz sauce to true greatness.
Pros: This is my favorite out of all the new Heinz flavors. It tastes restaurant-level good. Maybe not, like, a fancy or super authentic Thai restaurant—but it’s definitely as good if not better than the stuff you get at a local, corner Thai spot. It’s fragrant and rich with tamarind flavor and I even caught a hint of lemongrass. It’s thick but not gloopy. And it’s just spicy enough. It’s certainly spicier than most of the sweet chili sauces I’ve ever had (and I had a lot for our sweet chili sauce ranking). This would be so good as a dip for calamari or crispy spring rolls.
Cons: I love this stuff. I really don’t have anything to complain about. Some folks might think it’s a little too sweet. But it’s sweet chili sauce, you straw man you! What did you expect?
Hi! I’m the editor-in-chief of Sporked. I will never turn down a fresh-shucked oyster but I’ll also leap at whatever new product Reese’s releases and I love a Tostitos Hint of Lime, even if there is no actual lime in the ingredients.
Why you should trust me: I have been writing about food and beverages for well over a decade and am an avid at-home cook and snacker. I began my career writing about fine dining and recipes, moved into cocktails and spirits, and now I talk about groceries. If you can eat it or drink it, I’ve probably written about it.
What I buy every week: Trader Joe’s dried okra. Appleton Farms prosciutto from Aldi. Some sort of Trader Joe’s cheese (I’m into the aged gouda at the moment). Frozen waffles (usually the Eggo Cinnamon Toast Minis). Spindrift water (loving the Cosmopolitan right now).
Favorite ranking: Smoked salmon. Imagine me as Scrooge McDuck but instead of coins I’m diving into a vault of slippery smoked salmon slices. Pure joy. I also found some real steals in that taste test!
Least favorite ranking: Canned oysters. I had such high hopes for this but it quickly became a chore. The kitchen smelled like an uncleaned aquarium.
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Justine Sterling
Joe Rumrill
Hebba Gouda
