[Avitas]

The "real deal" is TUONG OT SRIRACHA made by Huy Fong foods.

I have been a bit of a chili pepper, hot spice and hot sauce afficionado for a few decades. I grow many kinds of chilis in my garden and do lots of different things with them.

I remember seeing the Huy Fong Sriracha in a store about 10 years ago and thinking that it was unusually inexpensive given the s8ze of the bottle. Upon first use, I was surprised... almost floored. I remember thinking that this is the best chili sauce I have ever tasted.

I brought it to work, to family gatherings and gave away countless bottles. It seems like most people that like a hot spice tend to like the sauce.

I am of the opinion that lots of people know the Huy Fong botle, brand and taste. I liken it to Grey Poupon, one of the best mustards money can buy--ok Stadium Mustard is better IMO, but GP is still A+ material.

I have a feeling that Huy Fong has little to worry about. I have tried several competetors (one was3x the price) and they are all inferior.

[pazimzadeh]

There are much better mustards than Grey Poupon and Stadium Mustard, though those two are not bad. It's hard to find good mustard in the US, but Trader Joe's Dijon is almost as good as it gets for a reasonable price without going to France.

Otherwise, try http://www.amazon.com/Amora-Dijon-Mustard/dp/B004AGBYRS but be warned that it is MUCH stronger than Grey Poupon and the like. Alternatively, http://www.amazon.com/Dijon-Mustard-Maille-13-4oz-Label/dp/B....

[Avitas]

I agree that Trader Joe Dijon is outstanding. I would characterize it as equal to GP. However, Stadium Mustard is still top dog in my book.

There are many Trader Joe's products that I think are top quality, if not the best of their kind. If you have a Trader Joe's in your area and you have not sampled their wares, you are doing your taste buds a disservice.

Also, thank you for the recommendations!

[damian2000]

Interesting that the owner named his company 'Huy Fong' after the boat on which he escaped Vietnam.

[Scoundreller]

I have to agree. It's a real disappointment to ask for "Sriracha Sauce" while travelling outside of North America, having the host say "yes, we have that", and then getting some watered down lukewarm sauce. (edit: to add to the comment below, this experience was at a seemingly authentic(ish) Thai restaurant in France with pictures of the king everywhere).

Huy Fong ought to brand their products like Pfizer is. (Though Pfizer is trying to sell brand over generics, which is ridiculous when it comes to medications).

[gilgoomesh]

Yes, I think Huy Fong Foods "Sriracha" has a problem with brand confusion.

Huy Fong Foods "Sriracha" is different to real "Sriracha" in the Thai sense of the word (the ingredients are similar but the balance is quite different). Real "Sriracha" is around 800-1200 on the Scovilles scale and quite liquid (around 20% added water) because it's used as a dipping sauce. Huy Fong Foods "Sriracha" is 1000-2500 on the Scovilles scale and is much thicker (because it's used for squirting onto food).

Hot sauces are, unfortunately, a very location specific problem. Where I live in Australia, you're more likely to find Sambal Asli (which is very similar to Huy Fong Foods "Sriracha" with an Indonesian name).

[derefr]

> Though Pfizer is trying to sell brand over generics, which is ridiculous when it comes to medications

I'm pretty sure Pfizer is thinking "Tylenol does it. Why can't Viagra?"

[Scoundreller]

Tylenol (J&J) has the advantage of being able to create 3 dozen products with the same ingredients and get a piece of shelf space every time because inevitably someone is going to come in and ask for "the red Tylenol for back pain caplets".

I wonder how many different kinds of sildenafil citrate we can get up to: "For night time sex", "For day time sex", "lay back and relax sex", etc, etc.

[richardw]

I love chilli sauces and attempt to grow some. I've read about the real deal before, and found a bottle that looked helluva similar here in South Africa a few weeks ago. I was annoyed to see that the image on the front was a duck, not a rooster, so I still don't know what the real deal tastes like! I'll make a plan - maybe I can buy direct from them.

[mc32]

My first exposure to Sriracha was at cheap noodle joints where it was there along with the nhuc mum, soy sauce and spicy oil... Always made the noodles taste better.

[beachstartup]

if you haven't, you should visit thailand and vietnam.