For well over a year people have been suggesting that I try Mrs. Renfro’s Ghost Pepper Salsa. While I have had recommendations from about 5 different people both sui generis and lefty have provided most of the prodding with lefty even offering to bring a jar to the most recent lunch outing we had together (he forgot). While I had been told it was at various Eagan grocery stores I generally do not frequent, I kept checking the shelves of those that I do until I came across it at Apple Valley’s Cub on Saturday morning.
Apple Valley’s Cub has a fairly decent selection of salsas spanning entire heat and price ranges. Mrs. Renfro’s selections take up an entire shelf right at eye level. However, oddly, I found the jar of ghost pepper salsa on the left most side of the bottom shelf. Odd. I picked up a jar, without even looking at the price tag, and went about completing the rest of my trip.
I got the jar home and took a closer look. The warnings on the label are of the usual ridiculous variety and include “HOT!!!” and “Caution: Scary Hot”. They provide a little blurb about the ghost pepper being certified by Guinness in 2007 and how if you think their black bean salsa is hot then you probably shouldn’t be purchasing a jar of this. It goes on to list the ingredients which are: tomatoes, water, jalapeno peppers, onions, garlic, green chile peppers, distilled vinegar, corn starch, salt, ghost peppers, garlic, spices, cilantro.
Nodding over the fact that there as nothing in the ingredients that was artificial, although wondering why they bothered with corn starch, I popped open the top. A quick whiff provided the familiar ghost pepper aroma and not a whole lot of anything else. The salsa appeared runny, something I don’t particularly appreciate, but had some chunks here and there.
I tasted the salsa on a few chips. It’s hot to be certain. While not “scary hot” or “hot!!!” it was probably somewhere between “hot!” and “hot!!” While I love the taste ghost peppers provide, this salsa did do much else. It was simply just hot and I can’t say that I really enjoyed it or the cramping it gave to my stomach a few hours later. Just to be sure that it wasn’t a fluke I tried another round later in the evening and came to the same conclusion: a one trick pony.
To me this was nothing more than a generic runny salsa with a bunch of ghost peppers thrown in. They did little to try and capture the heat of the pepper while showcasing the rest of the vegetables. While I’ll probably finish this jar over time it definitely won’t become my go to salsa and I really don’t see any reason to buy it ever again. I’m better off paying $1 for generic mild salsa and adding my own hot sauce. It’ll probably be thicker and have more flavor anyway.
Overall this one was a big pass for me. Hot? Yes. Enjoyable? Not so much.
Have you ever had Mrs. Renfro’s Ghost Pepper Salsa? If so what did you think about it? Have you had any of their other salsa? If so are they generally runny too? Can you taste the other ingredients? Have you had any other hot salsas you recommend I try? Whatever you have to say about this one go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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February 22nd, 2012 at 7:45 am
I have used this salsa in the past, and am currently using their habernero salsa. In my opinion, the habernero salsa provides more of a pleasant mouth burn, while the ghost pepper is more of a throat burn. YMMV. No stomach upset for me from either, although I don’t usually eat it as a dip. I use it as a condiment on sanwiches, or in chili to make mine hotter while leaving the main batch mild enough for th erest of the family to enjoy. I stick with this brand because it serves my purposes, and the ingredients list is very simple and straight forward.
February 22nd, 2012 at 8:30 am
Yay salsa review! Sucks it didn’t impress but I’m with you (Bill) on the runny salsa thing. The one Sui described above sounds good, and I might give both a try.
Would it be possible to list a couple of the Eagan locales it’s available? :) thx
February 22nd, 2012 at 8:39 am
This is one of diminishing returns for me. I sort of liked it the first time I used it and then it got less and less interesting to me as I went through the jar. I liked the heat for sure, but I can add a dash of Dave’s Insanity sauce to a jar of Pace mild and get the same effect.
Also, Bitch. I told you I would bring you a jar IF I had a chance to get to Byerly’s before we met for lunch. I did not forget anything, I just did not make it to the store. I also won’t forget that I offered to bring you a gift for free and you decided to make me look like a dumbass.
February 22nd, 2012 at 8:51 am
Mopey…is that you?
February 22nd, 2012 at 8:54 am
The best Ghost Pepper salsa I have ever had came from the Pepper Palace. They also have one salsa, Death by Salsa that is about three times hotter than the Ghost Pepper one but very tasty. I usually keep a jar of each in my fridge at all times.
February 22nd, 2012 at 8:55 am
TimW they have a Pepper Palace in Gatlinburg. Same one?
February 22nd, 2012 at 9:18 am
Burnsville school district won’t explain $254,814 severance
http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_20013482
February 22nd, 2012 at 9:24 am
I think salsa makers should be required to label the side of the jar with a Scoville number, all of the little flames pictures or warnings about the heat of a product doesn’t seem to tell you anything consistantly. It would make it easier to know how “hot” something was going to be before you bought it, then you’d only need to make a judgement of whether you liked the consistency and taste. That is unless of course you enjoy searching for the perfect salsa better then you enjoy eating it.
February 22nd, 2012 at 10:52 am
And who, exactly would be the authority imposing this “requirement”?
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:22 am
The same people that require them to list the calories and the salt content.
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:32 am
TL, do to the amount of money involved and the secrecy, there must have been “pictures”:)
However the only one getting screwed here IS the taxpayer!!
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:44 am
Please tell me that even you can recognize why this is a stupid concept.
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:16 pm
While I in no way think it should be a requirement, and agree with the idea that its a stupid statement, it might be an interesting marketing ploy to list the scovilles (is that even possible?) and then market yours as the highest scoville salsa on the planet wor whatever.
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Stop typing comments that make sense, Chad.
And, I’m pretty sure some hot sauces, etc. do have their scoville units on the bottle. I imagine Bill will provide details.
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:45 pm
I must say I’m very, very slowly starting to appreciate an increasing level of heat. I had my first bowl of pho the other day and watched heat aficionados pour on the chili/garlic sause at an alarming rate. I followed at a reduced rate and actually squirted several table spoons of the stuff into my bowl. I liked it. I also enjoyed the Thai Dragon sandwich at VTH. What’s next? Ghost peppers? …not so fast!
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:29 pm
Alarming rate? What was alarming to me was how “not” spicy I was able to get my pho that day in spite of filling the bowl with everything on that spice rack!
Glad to hear you are becoming a chili head Chapter&Verse! Once you get there, it is an impossible place to leave.
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:45 pm
Seppuku: I get mine at Kowalski’s in Eagan. I have also seen it at Target.
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:07 pm
Yes Sir, the same Pepper Palace that is in Gatlinburg and Myrtle Beach.
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:15 pm
TimW, thanks. I was there this past summer but didn’t buy any salsas. Next time we’re in the area I’ll try to remember.
On a totally unrelated note a place in Gatlinburg making “moonshine” has started selling their stuff in local liquor stores. I had a few free samples while on vacation there one night and it did the trick although I’m not sure it’s worth $22 for a Mason jar full of the stuff.
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:18 pm
Thanks for your review and for everyone’s comments. Like anything, taste, consistency and heat level preferences are subjective. The goal with our Ghost Pepper Salsa was not to scorch taste buds but to deliver a salsa to meet consumers’ increasing heat demands while not compromising flavor.
Our multiple award-winning Mrs. Renfro’s Ghost Pepper salsa is also the fastest-growing item in our company’s 72-year history, and complements our two other hot salsas – Habanero and Green.
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:20 pm
I know this is a salsa post and I have no idea why Thought Leader interjected the article about the HR person getting severance.
Is it just me, or is anyone else getting sick of publications that find what look like facebook pictures to attach to articles? It just reeks of laziness and is also just a little bit creepy.
It would be interesting to know what she has on them. I am going to say she has them dead to rights on a sexual harassment suit. I am saying that because she is pretty good looking.
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:26 pm
TL didn’t like the fact that I had this post written and in the queue for today and I refused to talk about the 191 HR Director today instead. I have a 15 page paper due Sunday, another next Sunday, and a 25 page paper due the Sunday after that. The site takes a back seat for a while until then.
Plus I don’t give a shit about the HR director. There’s something fishy going on here but because everything about her online shows she’s fucking crazy, the district is probably better off just paying her out and getting rid of her.
Start here for craziness: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7sjjut0T2Y
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:26 pm
Lefty, the last sentence of your post made laugh out loud.
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:35 pm
In regards to the resignation thing, I applaud the Pioneer Press for actually trying to dig into something and provide some details.
I dont know the situation, but anytime you voluntarily resign, you should not be getting a quarter million dollars of the taxpayers money.
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:35 pm
Chad,
I agree but local superintendents wouldn’t. They get payouts even for voluntary separation.
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:39 pm
Chad,
I particularly appreciate that they posted the documents, in full instead of just giving a summary of them. Now THAT is the way it should be done! Yay PP.
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:40 pm
You can also order all the salsa online at pepperpalace.com. It is a little pricey to order online with shipping, but IMO, worth it.
As far as the moonshine goes, Ole Smoky Moonshine. Good stuff. Down here in the South, we are seeing moonshine distilleries popping-up all over the place. TN, NC and SC have about 15 or so legal distilleries now selling 100 proof moonshine and from what I know, the state of SC alone has about 10 additional licenses in the final approval process. Good stuff.
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:42 pm
TimW, that stuff wasn’t 100 proof. I think it was like 40.
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:45 pm
So your Ghost Pepper salsa has ghost peppers.
Your Habanero Salsa has Habaneros
And your Green Salsa therefore, has…Green?
Hmm.
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:15 pm
Idiot.
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:27 pm
Terms of Service!
I refuse to be treated like the common Mopey.
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:35 pm
What?
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:36 pm
Chad called me a name, I am pretty sure. I think he thumbs downed me too, for no good reason. No fair!
February 22nd, 2012 at 4:59 pm
Lefty, you are soooo paranoid ……:)?
February 22nd, 2012 at 5:14 pm
I did call him a name. I debated if I should say his post was idiotic, or just call him an idiot. I went with the later.
I also gave him a thumbs down.
Both were meant in the best possible way however, and I smiled as I did them.
February 22nd, 2012 at 5:39 pm
Chad, in other words you felt……………………………….GOOD………….I can relate.
February 22nd, 2012 at 6:27 pm
By the way, the best salsa in town is Roundy’s Mild Chunky Salsa available at Rainbow.
February 22nd, 2012 at 7:47 pm
Thx Lefty and Sui I’m gonna stop at one of those places tomorrow and pick some up. I’m always down for trying new salsa’s.
Also, that was one of the creepiest youtubes I’ve seen in awhile…had to cut it off at the tai bo shit. One thing’s for sure, that chick is looking for a job now, but Gina Carano has nothing to worry about.
February 22nd, 2012 at 9:10 pm
Ok, I watched the YouTube thing. It makes me sad that some chain of events caused this person to be given a quarter million dollars, some of which were my tax dollars at work.
February 22nd, 2012 at 10:06 pm
The really sad thing is that she was hired in the first place.
February 23rd, 2012 at 6:27 am
If thoughtleader wants it discussed that badly, let him start his own damn blog instead of hijacking threads here with completely off topic information. It is tantamount to SPAM when done this way.
February 23rd, 2012 at 8:32 am
I think Chad should get banned. He is mean.
February 23rd, 2012 at 5:23 pm
Lefty, remember last year when you thought Bill banned you?…..Once again your paranoia shifted into high gear. You gave new meaning to the sound of chicken with its head cut off :)
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:35 pm
I never called anyone an idiot.
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:29 pm
And you were never banned.
March 12th, 2012 at 4:54 pm
While Mrs Renfro’s has a good product, I think that Az Spice out of arizona has a much better product. their mild salsa has no water,all natural and boasts 7 peppers in it. And while they have 10 types of salsa they also carry Jams,relish and spices. Ghost Pepper has good flavor(10 peppers) including the heat from the ghost. They also have an awesome Green Ghost Dip Mix that you can use with cream cheese or Sour Creme. And all of their products are natural.
March 31st, 2012 at 5:07 pm
You NAILED it on this review of this salsa. I used to manage the hot sauce shops at the Mall of America and was excited to see a ghost chile salsa commercially available.
Imagine my disappointment when all I tasted was tomato puree and ghost chile!
Where are the chunks of onion? The flakes of cilantro? The sharpness of the sea salt? The sour of the lime juice? And, where are the actual pieces of chile pepper?
What they seem to have made is a tomato puree with powdered dry chile? Color me unimpressed.
July 8th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
I personally thought the salsa was very good, the flavor of the peppers were delicately balanced with the onions and garlic. Lets face it the bhut jolokia is a very hot pepper and isn’t for everyone, it is recommended that if it causes stomach problems or other ailments then a more milder salsa should be recommended for you. Just because something is too hot for the taster, shouldn’t mean a multitude of bad comments. It was mentioned that you can get the same effect buy purchasing a mild salsa and adding hot sauce to it. I doubt it as most novelty hot sauces are made with hot pepper extract and not the same thing or are excessively vinegary. In addition to being hot, the ghost pepper itself has a smokey flavor and again these peppers aren’t for everyone, so if its too hot then get something milder for you.
July 8th, 2012 at 4:52 pm
Neil, you’re hilariously clueless.
July 8th, 2012 at 6:51 pm
haha, yes were all getting a good laugh from my cluelessness :D
July 8th, 2012 at 7:40 pm
no offense, but you are the one who said it caused stomach pains and problems, which means you probably couldn’t handle it, so you give a bad review. Its like the guy who gives a bad review on a beer blog, yet they can’t handle alcohol, see the pattern? There is nothing wrong with “not being able to handle it”, but there is no reason to submit a review on that basis. Personally I found it texturally sound and not runny at all, perhaps your runny comment was biased because it was too hot for your taste?
July 8th, 2012 at 7:55 pm
Dude, it wasn’t even close to being “too hot”. Please don’t come onto my site where I’ve been reviewing salsa, hot sauce, spicy foods (including many made with ghost peopers) for YEARS and tell me I can’t handle it.
That is why I said you were clueless.
July 8th, 2012 at 8:42 pm
I didn’t say you couldn’t handle it, you did. I quote your original text copied and pasted “It was simply just hot and I can’t say that I really enjoyed it or the cramping it gave to my stomach a few hours later. Just to be sure that it wasn’t a fluke I tried another round later in the evening and came to the same conclusion: a one trick pony.”
July 8th, 2012 at 8:44 pm
Neil,
Stop trolling. Thanks.
July 8th, 2012 at 9:19 pm
ok, as you wish, just stating what I read.
July 8th, 2012 at 11:46 pm
Also if you can’t stand to hear opinions you may want to change that as well on your reviews. I’m sorry I didn’t conform to your opinion about this salsa, so that makes me a troll. Here I quote again what you said “Whatever you have to say about this one go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear your thoughts.” Honestly, you don’t want to hear other people’s thoughts, if its not your thoughts then its just a dislike :/
July 9th, 2012 at 2:26 am
You’re trolling about me not being ble to take the heat. I didn’t have any problems with what you said about the salsa.
July 9th, 2012 at 10:41 am
This salsa was by far not too hot for me. The salsa just tasted terrible. Hot for the sake of hot should be left to novelty sauces like Dave’s Insanity Sauce by Dave’s Gourmet – little more than a diluted pepper extract.
This salsa was runny tomato sauce with ghost pepper in it. The flavor was terrible and I ended up throwing away 3/4 of the jar because I simply don’t eat garbage.
I grow my own ghosts, I have been growing red savannah habaneros since the year after their discovery, I have run the 2 flagship stores for the nations top hot and spicy specialty foods store and I can say that Bill’s review of this salsa is spot on. It isn’t that someone can’t take the heat, it is that the salsa tastes like shit.
(That being said, I enjoy the vast majority of Renfros salsas. They just need to go back to the drawing board on this one).
August 29th, 2012 at 7:40 pm
you know… I wish there were more girls like me who could handle hot stuff… unfortunately I must say that this salsa did very little for me, and i had to use alot of it to give me that sensation i crave! I made both my roomies try it, and one who is very tame when it comes to spiciness, you know she was completely overwhelmed…
My other roomate said it was hot, but good.. but I really can’t say it was all that I was expecting. I think the Ghost pepper heading is really just for marketing rather than having that true scoville punch.. I think that what is really being sacrificed is genuinity. This is really pretty sad :( I will not be trying any more Mrs. Renfro products