Takis Fuego Hot Sauce Review

Takis Fuego

I'm still wrapping my mind around this one. It makes a great deal of sense for Takis to do this, I think, to translate their very popular snack flavoring into a hot sauce, but they didn't do that, not exactly. There's something else, a little something extra, involved as well and it is that thing that I find quite fascinating.

I didn't go in expecting to like this sauce. I figured Takis was a big enough name and this was a sauce that was enough in public interest that I should probably run it through its paces, once I found out it existed. It was also available only in the Family Dollar chain, which I found a touch strange, but no matter. There are lots of those around. I figured that I would probably wind up shooting the FOH video accompaniment to this review for it, then booting the bottle. But, as they say, a strange thing happened on the way to that.

That strange thing was that I liked this sauce. Not only was it unexpected that I liked it at all, but certainly as much as I did. It's hard to call this an actual hot sauce. There is little to no heat to be had here at all. The main flavors, with chile being one of them, are vinegar, citric acid, salt, and a heavy dose of umami. It is that last thing that I think is what's grabbing me, because our tongues are kind of wired to seek that. This is just hitting all the right notes for me that I find the sauce enjoyable, though definitely not hot. It is pungent, to be sure, but pretty far from piquant. 

It is at least somewhat pointed at Mexican flavors, though I don't imagine I would like it on beef and definitely did not find it enjoyable on refrieds. I did find it quite enjoyable on a variety of foods in that cuisine style that didn't involve either beef or beans, though, all the way from tamales to a chile relleno casserole that I made. I could see it working nicely on al pastor tacos or carnitas or even something like a fish or chicken taco, anywhere you could conceivably pair citrus, given that you will need to account for the citric acid. Maybe add it to your Takis chips or nuts, if you're really into that flavoring system and both want more of it, with a splash of unami, and for your snacks to also be wet.

Bottom line: Yet another example of the value of keeping an open mind as for what's here, this is a pretty strong value and one of the more unique "hot" sauces I've had in a while. 

Breakdown:

            Heat level: 0
            Flavor: 7
            Flexibility: 5
            Enjoyment to dollar factor: 7

Overall: 5