Mossy Bayou Foods - Louisiana Swamp Scum Hot Sauce and Original Cajun Chow-Chow Relish
I've tested out two of Louisiana-based Mossy Bayou Foods' spicy condiments - the award-winning Louisiana Swamp Scum Hot Sauce and the new Original Cajun Chow Chow "Relish with Attitude".
Louisiana Swamp Scum Hot Sauce
Ingredients: Peppers, Vinegar, Salt, Molasses, Natural Flavoring, Caramel Color
One look at the bottle and you might possibly think that this is the most unappetizing liquid you've ever seen. Even used motor oil looks more appealing. You might be wondering, "is it really that color? Surely, it has to be the color of glass." Well, it ISN'T the bottle; Swamp Scum sauce is actually a nasty dark green/brown hue (and don't call me Shirley). While it may be a change from the archetypal bright red Louisiana-style sauce, does it have to be this?
Alas, that may be part of the gimmick. You wouldn't expect something to be monikored "Swamp Scum" and be pretty, would ya? So, I went along with the joke.
I unscrewed the cap and took a big whiff of what was inside. A smoky, molasses-based barbecue sauce immediately came to mind, but only weaker with only the smallest hints of chiles or vinegar. It wasn't as tart as some hot sauces can be. Could this be a hot BBQ sauce in disguise?
I splashed some out on my plate (this is a very runny liquid) and fingered a good amount for licking. Yeah, definitely noticeable performances of liquid smoke and molasses, but it has a mighty base of peppers and vinegar. The overall flavor wasn't too bad, but I would have preferred it to have a thicker, sweeter, more prominent molasses flavor so that it could have been more of a BBQ sauce, or bolder turns from the salt, vinegar or peppers to make this a BBQ-tinged chile sauce. Instead, it's more of a middle-of-the-road condiment that's decent enough for some usages but left me ultimately craving a good, tangy, spicy, finger-lickin' good barbecue sauce.
On fried chicken it tasted like a cheap steak sauce with just a bit of pepper and smoke added in. How 'bout in some jambalaya with cut-up sausage? It fared a little better for me, and added a touch of nice smokiness. It packs somewhat of a kick in the heat department and it double-teams with the vinegar to produce a bit of complexity and strength. Mild mouths may find this too hot, but it's nothing most chileheads haven't grown accustomed to.
The metallic label in concert with the spooky and retro fonts give the packaging a cool, almost 1950's comic book or sci-fi movie feel. It really is ideal for the type of tone that Mossy Bayou Foods are trying to set for the sauce. Nice job.
You can do far worse, and on some levels Louisiana Swamp Scum Hot Sauce ain't too bad. If you want to try it yourself, mosey on over to the Mossy Bayou website and pick up a five ounce bottle for five bucks.
Original Cajun Chow Chow Relish
Ingredients: Green Cayenne Peppers, Vinegar, Onions, Garlic, Salt & Spices
I'm admittedly NOT a big relish fan. Take for example the ever-popular pickle relish, in all it's multiple of manufacturers and styles, is "okay", but is not the first thing I reach into my refrigerator for when looking for something to spread on my hot dogs or burgers. But after one bite of Original Cajun Chow Chow Relish, I'll have to give other chunky condiment/toppers more chances, especially if they're half as good as this stuff.
Opening the jar boldly introduces you to a strong vinegar and garlic aroma, with touches of onion-y goodness. It's powerful but it's actually not room-clearing as it might sound like it would be. What's it taste like? A spoonful will "wow" your mouth, but even amongst the pungent ingredients you get a good sense of the weaker ones, too, rounding out the taste and producing a beautifully unified harmony of flavors. You taste the freshness of the cayenne chiles, and onions, and the garlic. There is a good dose of vinegar, but not too much. All the individual flavors are given ample "breathing room" and together they are dynamite. Cajun Chow Chow is terrific on dogs and sandwiches, and would be highly likely to spice up gumbo and soups wonderfully. I couldn't imagine a pepper-based relish being any better.
On a scale of 1 to 5, the heat of the relish would fit around 2.5, so if you don't like things too hot you may wish to avoid Cajun Chow Chow. If heat doesn't bother you, there's a good chance you've love this as I did. A 6.4 ounce jar runs for $6.00 plus shipping on the Mossy Bayou website.
Coming soon, I'll report on what I thought of Mossy Bayou Foods' Who Dat Hot Sauce and Louisiana Bayou Blend Seasoning.
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Spicy Food Reviews - Hot Sauce Reviews, Hot Snacks, Hot Wings, Seasonings, BBQ Sauces, Condiments, and More
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