Hooks U Salsa (Try It Once and You’re Hooked!)

August 21st, 2012 in Apple Valley, Food, South Metro

At the grocery store the other day I noticed Cub was still selling Guy Fieri’s terrible salsa at prices entirely too high for how awful the product is. After having my eyes drawn to the selection of salsas, I looked over the rack to see if there was anything at all interesting. One near the bottom caught my eye and I picked up a jar and took it home.

Hooks U Salsa, which may be worthy of web design awards had it been 1996, claims that with one single taste, “U’RE HOOKED!” While the gimmicky motto didn’t catch my eye, the fact that they touted no added vinegar or sugar, no preservatives and a very short list of ingredients did. Listing only tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, salt, garlic, paprika, spices, and cilantro as the ingredient list the first thought that ran through my mind was “what ‘spices’ are they using?” And the second was, “if this is supposed to be ‘hot’ why are they only using jalapenos?”

Anyway, I took it home with me (it was about $4.50 a jar) and gave it a try. I opened the jar and once spice not listed on the jar was clearly evident: cumin. In fact, it was so prevalent that it dominates every single scoop of the chip into the jar. There’s absolutely no way you can enjoy any other bit of the chunky salsa loaded with vegetables you can actually see because all you taste is the smoke from the cumin.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I ate more than one single bite of this salsa as opposed to Guy Fieri’s awful concoction linked above. However, I kept eating it to see if the awful, overpowering flavor of cumin would somehow go away and let me experience the rest of the salsa. Unfortunately the definition of insanity applies to Hooks U Salsa and it was never meant to be. This salsa is a dud in a pretty big way.

While I’m sure this would be great for a chili starter (as noted on their jar), it’s not so good for sitting down in front of the TV to watch the preseason Vikings show how terrible they’re going to be this year, yet again. Overall, this one is a pass for me although I’d love to hear what you think about it should you try it.

Have you ever tried Hooks U Salsa? If so what did you think? Are there other spice levels not as heavy on the cumin? Are you surprised that Cub still carries Guy Fieri’s product knowing it’s so ungodly awful? Whatever you have to say about Hooks U Salsa, go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear your thoughts.