Last month, I covered the news that Cholula was bringing eleven new products to shelves—ranging from taco sauce to chili crisp. Following the news piece, the nice people at Cholula asked if I wanted to try any of those new products; I responsibly said I wouldn’t be able to cover all eleven in a single piece, so we’d have to narrow it down a little. I decided to do Carnitas Tacos à la Cholula. One delicious dinner later, I’ve got the full report below. Here’s our official review of Cholula’s new pork seasoning, taco sauce, lime cremosa, and, of course, the Cholula chili crisp.
Pros: This new Cholula seasoning is exactly what you want if you’re looking to make carnitas at home. Remind me to pitch more reviews that involve seasoning; this experience was the polar opposite of those bland-ass Wendy’s patties I tried recently.
Cons: I followed the recipe written on the packet—and that wasn’t the right move for multiple reasons. I’d double up on the seasoning in the future (or add in the next ingredient as a simmer sauce).
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
Rating:
7/10
Sporks
Cholula Original Taco Topping & Cooking Sauce
Cholula Original Taco Topping & Cooking Sauce Review
Pros: This new Cholula sauce definitely added some necessary moisture to the pork loin we used for today’s dinner very hard work. It is on the thicker side of taco sauces I’ve had before. There’s a nice subtle heat (which you’d hope for, being a Cholula sauce and all). If you’re looking to bring in some spice without drowning your taco in multiple sauces, this is perfect.
Cons: This is described as a topping and cooking sauce, and let me tell you, the pork I cooked would have sung if I’d cooked it in this sauce instead of just using it as a topping.
Pros: This new creamy Cholula sauce is a perfect substitution for actual lime or cilantro—both ingredients taste fresh and mesh super well. There’s a surprising level of heat for a cremosa, which should make Cholula fans happy.
Cons: I’m not kidding about the heat level; be mindful of your portion. This creamy sauce is significantly hotter than the taco sauce.
Pros: Disclaimer: The lord did not bless me with a spice tolerance. I had the tip of a spoon’s worth of this chili crisp and immediately started coughing. That said, my spice-loving co-taste testers really dug this. According to them, Cholula’s Chili Crisp is fatty, spicy, salty, and adds a great texture. The heat is strong and persistent. If you’re a chili crisp fan, this is a must-buy.
Cons: Ow.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Which of these new Cholula products will you try first?
Griffin Parker is a writer, award-winning charity auctioneer, and "influencer in the beverage space" according to a few PR agencies. Please do not ask him about the cotton candy business he started right out of high school. When he's not contributing to Sporked or running the @SodaSeekers news pages, you can find Griffin espousing the virtues of Dayton-style pizza, Cincinnati-style chili, and Dolly Parton's Fabulously Fudgy Brownie Mix.
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