How much impact does packaging play when shopping? In this case, it’s the package that caught my attention when I picked up the bottle of Macarico Piri Piri Molho Hot Sauce a couple days ago. Granted I’ve heard ads on the radio for a Piri Piri chicken served by a popular restaurant and always wanted to give this a try. From what I read, piri piri is the name used in Portugal and the ex-Portuguese colonies (Angola and Mozambique) for African bird’s eye chilis (to be distinguished from thai or Asian bird’s eye), which register in the 100, 000-350,000 Scoville range. This is approximately the same as a scotch bonnet, but don’t expect scorching heat from this sauce, as it packs less of a punch than the average scotch bonnet sauce.
The Aroma.
I did this review in my back yard, so on opening it was a bit difficult to get a true smell as when I’m in my closed kitchen. However after closer attention I did get a bit of a musty scent, that reminded me of a “Malta” ( a sweet malt beverage from the Caribbean). Similar to the smell you’d get on a humid summer’s day when entering a closed room. Maybe this is from some sort of aging process?
The Taste.
WOW! This is immediately salty, almost as if anchovies were used in the preparation of this sauce. However the ingredients listed on the packaging included: Capsicums, Water, Salt, Vegetable oil, Spices, Acidity regulator E-330, preservative E-211, and thickner E-415. The heat is a bit mellow and takes a few seconds to really register and when it finally did it wasn’t anything special. The good thing is that it’s not overly acidic, so if you hate hot sauces that are acidic you may want to give this one a shot. I’m still debating if I could taste any of the “spices” listed in the ingredients list. maybe the sort of Malt/smokey taste is from the spices?
Texture.
Thick and well blended. With the use of the thickener mentioned in the ingredient list, they achieved a perfectly blended sauce that does not separate as so many that I’ve reviewed in the past. Very smooth, but with a slight (very slight) sort of grainy feel to it. Be sure to shake well before opening and with the help of the regulator the rate of pour is controlled perfectly.
Final Comments.
Besides the salty taste (that goes away when the heat kicks in) this Macarico Piri Piri Molho Hot Sauce is not bad and a good change from the Habanero based sauces I love so much. However if you’re looking for something “unique” or “ethnic” you may want to try a different brand of piri piri sauce as this one does not deliver anything really unique. The heat level I would put it at 2 out of 5 and overall I’d also rank the sauce at 2.5 out of 5. At under $5 a bottle, it’s worth testing for yourself… your taste buds may appreciate this more than mine did.
