Tip Tester: Comparison of Other Sriracha Sauces With the Original Rooster
Ask someone about Hai Fong Shriracha and they will probably have a very strong opinion of the famous “Cock Sauce”. It’s one of those things that you either hate or love, but it’s undeniable that it’s all over the place and everyone from Tabasco to Trader Joe’s are trying to capitalize on the trend with their own spicy suggestions.
The sriracha Hai Fong brand is so popular that some people think that sriracha is a trademark, just like Kleenex, but it is actually a variety of sauce with many varieties and manufacturers. To see if any of these grocery store sauces could match the green lid chili sauce, I ran a blind taste test using myself and my husband as test subjects. Before we go any further, we must say that this was not a comparison of all types of hot sauces similar to sriracha, but only those that you can buy at most American grocery stores. (To compare American and Thai brands, try this product at Serious Eats .)
For our experiment, my husband and I prepared trays of sriracha samples for each other to taste, along with salt and water to clear the palate and coffee beans to sniff between the samples. The patterns were labeled with letters, so we didn’t know which ones were which ones, although Husbro was only able to identify Hai Phong by looks. Here are the results and ratings, as well as their superlatives.
Huy Fong Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce ($ 3.49 / 17.0 oz at most grocery stores)
The classic sauce turned out to be quite average in both sweetness and spice, with a rather characteristic jalapeno flavor. Huy Fong is often criticized for being too sweet, but is actually quite moderate compared to some of the brands listed below. It has a moderate sourness and funk, although they disappear after a few tastings. However, it is nice and thick, which means you can put a more precise amount exactly where you want.
Average pungency: 5/10
Average sweetness: 5/10
Superlative : Most likely to stay where you put it, the most familiar, freshest jalapeno flavor
Trader Joe’s Sriracha Sauce ($ 2.99 / 18.25 oz at Trader Joe’s)
We both thought it was mostly sweet and it was very luscious. It is moderately hot, but the heat does not reach the very end and is mainly suppressed by the syrupy taste of the sauce. There is almost no garlic aftertaste. There’s a little salty funk here that helps balance out the sweetness, but this sauce can definitely use more heat (if you decide that kind of thing).
Average pungency: 4/10
Average sweetness: 8/10
Superlative : Will likely make you appreciate how savory Hai Fong is
Kroger Brand Sriracha Chili Sauce ($ 2.99 / 17.0 oz at Kroger Grocery Stores)
This one was not sweet at all, and had a pleasant sour taste with moderate heat. It was not bad, but a small note; I could use a little more sugar and garlic to balance the acidity and heat.
Average pungency: 5/10
Average sweetness: 2/10
Superlative : Most likely to appeal to those who complain that Hai Phong is “too sweet”
Tabasco Premium Sriracha Thai Chili Sauce ($ 3.99 for 20 oz at Kroger grocery stores)
This brand is strong on salt, garlic, and honey sweetness, but without chili and only moderately pungent. This is a good hot sauce for people who are afraid of hot sauce but still want to add something red to their food other than ketchup.
Average pungency: 4/10
Average sweetness: 6/10
Superlative : Most pedestrianized, most salty.
Four Seasons Gourmet Foods Fresh Red Sriracha ($ 4.49 for 14 oz at Whole Foods)
This sauce was very aromatic but very runny. It had a good balance of cane sugar sweetness and unusual sourness, and it was also the hottest of all flavor sauces. The only problem was viscosity. It might not seem like a big deal, but the liquid nature of the sauce makes it spread all over the place, making it best for dipping or spreading over, rather than sprinkling directly on my food as I do.
Average pungency: 7/10
Average sweetness: 4/10
Superlative : the best balance of flavors, the thinnest, the most spicy.
Ninja Squirrel Hot Sriracha Sauce ($ 3.99 for 16 oz at Whole Foods)
I’m glad it was a blind tasting because the packaging could easily affect it. The little ninja rodent is cute, but the sauce inside was underwhelming. It had hints of sweet and sour sauce and ketchup, and almost no warmth.
Average pungency: 2/10
Average sweetness: 6/10
Superlative : Better packaging
Sky Valley by Organicville Sriracha Sauce ($ 7.29 for 18.5 oz. At Whole Foods)
This sauce was not nearly as salty as the Tabasco brand’s offering, but was pretty close. It was also quite sweet and slightly smoky, with a slight aftertaste and aroma reminiscent of Chinese chili oil. Not bad, but not worth it.
Average pungency: 4/10
Average sweetness: 6/10
Superb : at the most overpriced
Bottom line
It all comes down to what you like. I found Four Seasons Fresh Red Sriracha to be the most flavourful, but not a big fan of how liquid it is. I’ll probably save a bottle of it for pickles and the like, but it won’t completely replace the rooster-garnished Hai Fong in my fridge.
I can’t tell you which sauce you like best, because I don’t know you. If you like sweet sauce, I suggest you buy a bottle from Trader Joe’s. If you love Hai Fong, keep buying Hai Fong. If you hate hot sauce and yourself, try Ninja Squirrel.