I love it when family recipes turn into commercial successes. In this case, Taufeek Shah took his mother Lola’s recipe and turned it into a multimillion-dollar company called Lola’s Fine Hot Sauce. I recently accepted an offer to try its signature hot sauce and salsas.
The namesake hot sauce comes in several flavors, including ghost pepper and Trinidad scorpion. I tried the original version ($5.99 for a 5-oz. bottle). The first thing to note is that it indeed has a self-described zing. The sauce is made from red jalapenos and habanero peppers, and while it’s hot, it’s at a level at which you can still enjoy the sweet and smoky flavor. I also liked the hint of lime in it.
Now onto the salsas ($5.99 for a 16-oz jar). Also smoky in flavor is the smoked bacon and sweet corn salsa. It contains a perfect amount of sweet corn, which adds a light sweetness. You might not feel it at first, but the heat builds up over time.
The sweet & spicy mango is interesting. It’s a tomato-based salsa that has a nice fruity/tropical burst to it without going overboard. This salsa makes for a nice contrast when paired with something salty, like chips.
Meanwhile, I found the hatch chile & sweet corn salsa works well with foods like tamales. This salsa is thick and has both a bright and earthy flavor.
The sweet roasted reaper is very, very hot. When you first eat it, you immediately taste the peppers, which include jalapeno, green chile, habanero and Carolina reaper. Then, after a second, the heat hits you and hits you hard. If you’re looking to sweat, this is the salsa for you.
Last but not least is the mild salsa. I liked it because it reminded me of the salsa I make at home, fresh tasting and a little thinner than most salsas. It also has a slight sweetness to it.
In addition to hot sauces and salsa, Lola’s makes seasoning, biscuits and an jalapeno Bloody Mary mix. In Madison, you can purchase Lola’s Fine Hot Sauce products at Hy-Vee, Whole Foods and Woodman’s, among other places.
Photos provided by Lola’s Fine Hot Sauce
