Heat Plus Fermented Flavor

TABASCO® brand Pepper Sauce, a product that presents complex fermented flavor notes and is synonymous with spice, remains perennially popular with consumersas an omnipresent condiment and kitchen staple throughout foodservice and as a retail product, both in this country and abroad. In fact, as noted in a March 2007 story from The New York Times, The Fiery Family," the McIlhenny Company produces upward of 720,000 of those famous 2-oz. bottles in its Avery Island, LA, factory every day, with additional bulk ingredients continually streaming to manufacturing clients.

But for some formulations, a liquid ingredient isnt always the bestor even a feasiblechoice. For such products, TABASCO brand Dry Red Flavoring adds not only a distinctly spicy note, but also fermented flavor. The brownish-red powder is made from the same red chiles (Capsicum frutescens var. tabasco) that go into the Pepper Sauce, which are fermented with salt and then combined with vinegar. The mixture is then aged for three years. Then, to make the Dry Red Flavoring, the blend is dried and milled into a fine powder (U.S. mesh No. 12) that retains the same flavor notes as the sauce, but in a dried format (maximum moisture content, 10%). Due to its concentrated state, the Dry Red Flavoring has a higher heat level on a weight basis, clocking in at 75,000 to 105,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU) compared to 2,500 to 5,000 SHU for the Pepper Sauce. As a general guideline, the company recommends use levels of 0.25% to 1.00% in finished products, or 5% to 10% in seasoning bases.

Suggested applications for Dry Red Flavoring include breading systems and dry seasoning blends for sauces, entrées, snacks and meats. TABASCO Industrial Ingredients/McIlhenny Company has tested Dry Red Flavoring in various applications, including Rioja Ranch Dressing and Dip, Texas Chicken Wings Seasoning, Pepper Steak Rub and Bayou Road Marinade (complete formulas are available on the companys website). Dry Red Flavoring is listed on ingredient statements as aged red pepper, vinegar and salt."

TABASCO Industrial Ingredients/McIlhenny Company

Avery Island, LA 70513

Phone: 337/373-6105

Website: tabascoingredients.com