Tabasco sauce is a
mass-producedMass production is the production of large amounts of standardized products, including and especially on assembly lines...
brand of
hot sauceHot sauce, chili sauce, or pepper sauce refer to any spicy sauce made from chili peppers and other ingredients. There are many varieties around the world.-Ingredients:...
made from
tabasco pepperThe tabasco pepper is a variety of chili pepper species Capsicum frutescens. It is best known through its use in Tabasco sauce, followed by peppered vinegar....
s (
Capsicum frutescens var.
tabasco),
vinegarVinegar is an acidic liquid processed from the fermentation of ethanol in a process that yields its key ingredient, acetic acid. It also may come in a diluted form. The acetic acid concentration typically ranges from 4 to 8 percent by volume for table vinegar and higher concentrations for pickling...
, and salt, and aged in
white oakQuercus alba, the White Oak, is one of the pre-eminent hardwoods of eastern North America. It is a long-lived oak in the family Fagaceae, native to eastern North America, from southern Quebec west to eastern Minnesota, and south to northern Florida and eastern Texas. Specimens are known to have...
barrels for three years. It has a hot, spicy flavor and is popular in many parts of the world.
Tabasco is
trademarkA trademark or trade mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or services from...
ed as the brand name for the variety of pepper sauce marketed by one of the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
' biggest producers of hot sauce, McIlhenny Company of
Avery Island, LouisianaAvery Island is a salt dome located in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, United States, about three miles inland from Vermilion Bay, which in turn opens onto the Gulf of Mexico. A small human population resides on the island...
. Although it is produced in the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, it acquired its name from the state of
TabascoTabasco is a state in Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Veracruz to the west, Chiapas to the south, and Campeche to the north-east. To the east Tabasco borders with the Petén department of Guatemala, and to the north with the Bay of Campeche...
in
MexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. McIlhenny Company is now in its fifth generation as a family-run business. All of the 145 shareholders either inherited their stock or were given it from another living family member.
History
Tabasco sauce was invented in 1868 by
Edmund McIlhennyEdmund McIlhenny was an American businessman and manufacturer who invented Tabasco brand pepper sauce.-Origin:Born in Hagerstown, Maryland, in 1815, Edmund McIlhenny moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, around 1840, finding work in the Louisiana banking industry...
, a
MarylandMaryland is a state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia to the south and west, Pennsylvania to the north, and Delaware to the east. It is comparable in size to the European country of Belgium. According to the U.S...
-born former banker who had moved to Louisiana around 1840. Initially McIlhenny used discarded
cologneCologne or Eau de Cologne is a toiletry, a perfume in a style that originated from Cologne, Germany. It is nowadays a generic term for scented formulations in typical concentration of 2-5% essential oils...
bottles to distribute his sauce to family and friends, and in 1868 when he started to sell to the public he ordered thousands of new "cologne bottles" from a New Orleans glassworks. It was in these that the sauce was first commercially distributed, sharing till today a striking similarity to contemporary packaging for 4711 brand cologne. On his death in 1890, McIlhenny was succeeded by his eldest son,
John Avery McIlhennyJohn Avery McIlhenny was an American businessman, soldier, politician and public servant. He was the eldest son of Tabasco sauce inventor Edmund McIlhenny.-Background:...
, who expanded and modernized the business, but resigned after a few years to join
Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States. He is well remembered for his energetic persona, his range of interests and achievements, his model of masculinity, and his "cowboy" image. He was a leader of the Republican Party and founder of the short-lived Bull Moose Party...
's
Rough RidersThe "Rough Riders" was the name bestowed on the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, one of three such regiments raised in 1898 for the Spanish-American War and the only one of the three to see action. The United States army was weakened and left with little manpower after the Civil War roughly 30...
volunteer
cavalryCavalry were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback in combat. Cavalry were historically the second oldest and most mobile of the combat arms...
regimentA regiment is a military unit, composed of variable numbers of battalions, commanded by a Colonel. A regiment can be broken into two distinct categories, one being an administrative unit which is responsible for non-operational management of battalions , while the other being a deployable combat...
.
On John's departure, brother
Edward Avery McIlhennyEdward Avery "Ned" McIlhenny , son of Tabasco brand pepper sauce inventor Edmund McIlhenny, was a Louisiana businessman, explorer, and conservationist....
, a self-taught
naturalistNaturalist may refer to:* A scholar or student of natural history, the science of the natural world; see also natural science. It may also refer to a Wildlife enthusiast or a Conservationist....
fresh from an
arcticThe Arctic is the region around the Earth's North Pole, opposite the Antarctic region around the South Pole. The Arctic includes the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Greenland , Russia, the United States , Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland.The word Arctic comes from the Greek αρκτικός , "near...
adventure, assumed control of the company, running it from 1898 to his death in 1949. Like his brother, Edward focused on expansion and modernization, as did war veteran Walter S. McIlhenny, who, after serving in the U.S. Marines at
GuadalcanalGuadalcanal is a 2,510-square mile island in the Pacific Ocean and a province of the Solomon Islands. The World War II Guadalcanal Campaign took place on and around the island...
and elsewhere, oversaw the company until his death in 1985.
Today the company remains a privately held firm, presided over by Paul C. P. McIlhenny, sixth in a line of McIlhenny men to run the business.
Production
From seeds to sauce
Until recently, all of the peppers were grown on Avery Island. While a small portion of the crop is still grown on the island, the bulk of the crop is now grown in
CentralManagua
Guatemala City
San Salvador
San Pedro Sula
Panama City
San José, Costa Rica
Santa Ana, El Salvador
León
San Miguel|-|}...
and
South AmericaSouth America is the southern continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere...
, where the weather and the availability of more farmland allow a more predictable and larger year-round supply of peppers. This also helps to ensure the supply of peppers should something happen to the crop at a particular location (such as a hurricane). Regardless, all of the seeds for all locations are still grown on Avery Island.
Following company tradition, the peppers are hand picked by workers. To tell their ripeness, peppers are checked with a little red stick, or
le petit bâton rouge, that each worker carries around. Those peppers not matching the color of the stick are not harvested. Peppers are ground into "mash" the same day they are harvested, placed in white oak barrels with a small amount of salt, and sent to warehouses on Avery Island for a three-year aging process. At the end of the aging process, the mash is drained to remove skins and seeds from the liquid. This liquid is then mixed with vinegar and stirred intermittently for about a month before being bottled as finished sauce. Much of the salt used in Tabasco production is acquired locally from Avery Island's own salt mine, one of the largest in the U.S.
Avery Island was hit hard by tropical storms in 2005, especially
Hurricane RitaHurricane Rita was the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the most intense tropical cyclone ever observed in the Gulf of Mexico. Rita caused $11.3 billion in damage on the U.S. Gulf Coast in September 2005...
. The factory barely escaped major damage. As a result of a long history of dodging tropical storms, the family constructed a -high levee and invested in back-up generators.
Varieties
Tabasco has been produced by McIlhenny Company since 1868. Several new types of sauces are now produced under the name
Tabasco Sauce, including
jalapeñoThe jalapeño is a medium- to large-sized chili pepper which is prized for its warm, burning sensation when eaten. Ripe, the jalapeño can be 2–3½ inches long and is commonly sold when still green. It is a cultivar of the species Capsicum annuum originating in Mexico...
-based green,
chipotleA chipotle , or chilpotle, is a smoke-dried jalapeño chili used primarily in Mexican, Mexican-American, Tex-Mex, and Mexican-inspired cuisine....
-based smoked, habanero,
garlicAllium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion family Alliaceae. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, and chive. Garlic has been used throughout recorded history for both culinary and medicinal purposes. It has a characteristic pungent, spicy flavor that...
, and "sweet and spicy" sauces. McIlhenny also produces Tabasco
soy sauceSoy sauce , soya sauce or is produced by fermenting soybeans with the molds Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus soyae along with roasted grain, water, and salt. Soy sauce was invented in China, where it has been used as a condiment for close to 2,500 years...
,
Worcestershire sauceWorcestershire sauce , or often Worcester Sauce is a fermented liquid condiment used for flavouring many cooked and uncooked dishes, especially with grilled or barbecued meats...
,
barbecue sauceBarbecue sauce is a liquid flavoring sauce or condiment ranging from watery to very thick consistency. As the name implies, it was created as an accompaniment to barbecued foods. While it can be applied to any food, it usually tops meat after cooking or during barbecuing, grilling, or baking...
and
steak sauceSteak sauce —brown sauce —is a generic term for a dark brown sauce commonly served as a condiment for meat.The two terms are similar but not identical...
.
The habanero sauce and garlic sauces both include the tabasco peppers blended with other peppers, whereas the jalapeño variety does not include tabasco peppers.
None of these products undergoes the three-year aging process the flagship product uses.
Heat
The original, classic red variety of Tabasco pepper sauce measures 2,500-5,000 SCU on the
Scoville scaleThe Scoville scale measures the hotness or piquancy of a chili pepper, as defined by the amount of capsaicin it contains. Capsaicin is a chemical compound which stimulates chemoreceptor nerve endings in the skin, especially the mucous membranes...
. The habanero sauce is considerably hotter, rating 7,000-8,000 Scoville units. The chipotle sauce adds chipotle pepper to the original sauce, measuring 2,000-2,500. The garlic variety, which blends milder peppers in with the tabasco peppers, rates 1,200-1,800 Scovilles, and the green pepper (jalapeño) sauce is even milder at 600-800 Scovilles. Their Sweet and Spicy sauce is the mildest at only 100-600 Scoville Units.
Packaging
Tabasco brand pepper sauce is sold in more than 160 countries and territories and is packaged in 22 languages and dialects. As many as 720,000 two-ounce (57ml) bottles of Tabasco sauce are produced each day at the Tabasco factory on Avery Island,
LouisianaThe State of Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state divided into parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. These bottles range in size from the common two-ounce and five-ounce (57ml and 148 ml) bottles available in most grocery stores, up to a one US gallon (3.8 liter) jug for food service businesses, and down to a 1/8th-ounce (3.7 ml) miniature bottle. McDonald's in North America used these diminutive Tabasco bottles during early
McRibThe McRib is a sandwich sold by the international fast-food restaurant chain McDonald's.-Product description:The McRib consists of a boneless pork patty, barbecue sauce, onions and pickles served on a 6 inch roll...
promotions. The US military includes Tabasco sauce in Meals, Ready-to-Eat (MREs), and has done so since the 1980s.
Merchandise
In addition, the company has cashed in on its brand name by licensing the production of branded merchandise, including neckties, hand towels, golf shirts, sleeping pants, boxer shorts, posters,
Bloody MaryA Bloody Mary is a popular cocktail containing vodka, tomato juice, and usually other spices or flavorings such as Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, beef consomme or bouillon, horseradish, celery, olive, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, and celery salt.-History:The origin of the...
mix, and even casino slot machines featuring the trademarked diamond logo.
Uses
McIlhenny Company now produces numerous Tabasco brand products that contain pepper seasoning, including
popcornPopcorn or popping corn is a type of corn which explodes from the kernel and puffs up when heated. Corn popping was originally discovered by Native Americans, but became popular as a snack food during the United States Great Depression, especially in movie theaters.Corn is able to pop because,...
,
nutsNut is a general term for the large, dry, oily seeds or fruit of some plants. While a wide variety of dried seeds and fruits are called nuts in English, only a certain number of them are considered by biologists to be true nuts. Nuts are an important source of nutrients for both humans and...
, olives,
mayonnaiseMayonnaise is a thick condiment. White or yellowish-white in color, it is a stable emulsion of oil, salt and vinegar, or lemon juice which uses egg yolks as an emulsifier...
, mustard,
steak sauceSteak sauce —brown sauce —is a generic term for a dark brown sauce commonly served as a condiment for meat.The two terms are similar but not identical...
,
Worcestershire sauceWorcestershire sauce , or often Worcester Sauce is a fermented liquid condiment used for flavouring many cooked and uncooked dishes, especially with grilled or barbecued meats...
,
soy sauceSoy sauce , soya sauce or is produced by fermenting soybeans with the molds Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus soyae along with roasted grain, water, and salt. Soy sauce was invented in China, where it has been used as a condiment for close to 2,500 years...
, teriyaki sauce,
grillingGrilling is a form of cooking that involves dry heat from above or below. Food to be grilled is cooked on a grill , a grill pan , or griddle...
/
marinating sauceMarination, also known as marinating, is the process of soaking foods in a seasoned, often acidic, liquid before cooking. The origins of the word allude to the use of brine in the pickling process, which led to the technique of adding flavor by immersion in liquid...
,
barbecue sauceBarbecue sauce is a liquid flavoring sauce or condiment ranging from watery to very thick consistency. As the name implies, it was created as an accompaniment to barbecued foods. While it can be applied to any food, it usually tops meat after cooking or during barbecuing, grilling, or baking...
, chili sauce, pepper jelly, and
Bloody MaryA Bloody Mary is a popular cocktail containing vodka, tomato juice, and usually other spices or flavorings such as Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, beef consomme or bouillon, horseradish, celery, olive, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, and celery salt.-History:The origin of the...
mix. McIlhenny Company also permits other brands to use and advertise Tabasco sauce as an ingredient in their products (a common marketing practice called "
co-brandingCo-branding refers to several different marketing arrangements:Co-branding is when two companies form an alliance to work together, creating marketing synergy...
"), including
SpamSpam is a canned precooked meat product made by the Hormel Foods Corporation. The labeled ingredients in the classic variety of Spam are chopped pork shoulder meat with ham meat added, salt, water, sugar, and sodium nitrite to help keep its color. Spam's gelatinous glaze, or aspic, forms from the...
, Slim Jim beef sticks,
HeinzH. J. Heinz Company , commonly known as Heinz and famous for its "57 Varieties" slogan and its ketchup, is an American food company with world headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Perhaps best known for its ketchup, the H.J...
ketchup,
A1 steak sauceA1 is a steak sauce and condiment for use with meat or game dishes.A1 was introduced to the United States by G.F. Heublein & Brothers, and was officially registered as a trademark in North America in 1895.-History and ownership:...
,
Plochman'sPlochman's is an American brand of mustard. Plochman's is based in Manteno, Illinois....
mustard,
Cheez-ItCheez-It crackers are an American snack food manufactured by the Kellogg Company. They are roughly 26 by 24 mm rectangle-shaped crackers made with wheat flour, vegetable oil, sharp yellow cheese, salt, and spices...
crackers,
Lawry'sLawry's The Prime Rib is a high-end, gourmet restaurant on Restaurant Row on La Cienega Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California. Founded by Lawrence L...
salt,
Zapp'sZapp's are a brand of potato chip made in the United States. They are cooked and packaged in Gramercy, Louisiana. The chips are kettle-cooked in peanut oil . Zapp's market themselves with their Cajun heritage, using names such as Spicy Cajun Crawtator, Sour Cream and Creole Onion and Cajun Dill...
potato chips and
VlasicVlasic Pickles grew out of a Detroit creamery and fresh pickle business begun by Franko Vlašić, and then his son Joe in the 1920s. Vlasic's primary product, pickles packaged in glass jars, began production in 1942, during World War II, and the business rapidly expanded in the post-war years,...
pickles.
The classic red Tabasco sauce has a
shelf lifeShelf life is the length of time that food, drink, medicine and other perishable items are given before they are considered unsuitable for sale or consumption...
of five years when stored in a cool and dry place; other Tabasco flavors have shorter shelf lives.
Tabasco sauce is widely used to season a variety of foodstuffs, such as
sandwichA sandwich is a food item consisting of two or more slices of bread with one or more fillings between them, or one slice of bread with a topping or toppings, commonly called an open sandwich. Sandwiches are a widely popular type of food, typically taken to work or school, or picnics to be eaten as...
es,
saladSalad is any of a wide variety of dishes including: green salads; vegetable salads; salads of pasta, legumes, or grains; mixed salads incorporating meat, poultry, or seafood; and fruit salads. They include a mixture of cold or hot foods, often including raw vegetables and/or fruits.Green salads...
s,
burgerA hamburger is a sandwich consisting of a cooked patty of ground meat, usually beef, placed in an open bun or between two slices of bread...
s,
oysterThe word oyster is used as a common name for a number of distinct groups of bivalve molluscs which live in marine or brackish habitats. The valves are highly calcified....
s,
pastaPasta is a generic term for foods made from an unleavened dough of flour and water, and sometimes a combination of egg and flour. Pastas include noodles in various lengths, widths and shapes, and varieties that are filled with other ingredients like ravioli and tortellini...
, pork chops,
shrimpShrimp are swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. Adult shrimp are filter feeding benthic animals living close to the bottom. They can live in schools and can swim rapidly backwards. Shrimp are an important...
, hot dogs, baby back ribs, hot wings, prime rib, chitlins,
gumboGumbo is a stew or soup originating in Louisiana which is popular across the Gulf Coast of the United States and into the U.S. South. It consists primarily of a strong stock, meat and/or shellfish, a thickener, and the vegetable "holy trinity" of celery, bell peppers, and onion. The soup is...
,
Po' boyA po' boy is a traditional submarine sandwich from Louisiana. It almost always consists of meat or seafood, usually fried, served on baguette-like Louisiana French bread.-Preparation:...
s,
french friesFrench fries , fries, or french-fried potatoes are thin strips of deep-fried potato...
,
cheese friesCheese fries are a popular fast food dish consisting of french fries covered in cheese similar to the Canadian Poutine.-Localized Variations:...
,
crab cakeA crab cake is an American dish composed of crab meat and various other ingredients, such as bread crumbs, milk, mayonnaise, eggs, yellow onions, and seasonings. Occasionally other ingredients such as red or green peppers are added, at which point the cake is then sautéed, baked, or grilled and...
,
scrambled eggsScrambled eggs is a dish made from beaten whites and yolks of eggs . Beaten eggs are put into a hot greased pan and stirred frequently, forming curds as they coagulate.-Sample preparation:...
, cole slaw, green beans,
corn on the cobCorn on the cob is the culinary term for a cooked ear of freshly-picked maize from a cultivar of sweet corn. The ear is picked while the endosperm is in the "milk stage" so that the kernels are still tender...
,
onion ringsOnion rings are a type of fast food commonly found in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Malaysia, and other places. It generally consists of a small ring of onion dipped in batter or bread crumbs and then deep fried. The result varies from restaurant to restaurant. The ring-like...
,
barbecueBarbecue or barbeque is a method and apparatus for cooking meat, with the heat and hot gases of a fire, smoking wood, or hot coals of charcoal or a propane gas grill, and may...
,
macaroni and cheeseMacaroni and cheese was created to be a common casserole, similar to the British dish cauliflower cheese....
,
turkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey
, is a Eurasian country that stretches across the Anatolian peninsula in Western Asia and Thrace in the Balkan region of southeastern Europe...
,
catfishCatfish are a diverse group of hairey fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores , and even to a tiny...
, stirfry,
nachosNachos are a popular snack food, originating in Mexico and associated with Tex-Mex cuisine. In their simplest form, nachos are usually tortilla chips or totopos covered in melted cheese...
, calzones, black-eyed peas,
soupSoup is a food that is made by combining ingredients, such as meat and vegetables with stock, juice, water or another liquid. Hot soups are additionally characterized by boiling solid ingredients in liquids until the flavor is extracted, forming a broth....
and
omeletteAn omelette or omelet is a preparation of beaten egg quickly cooked with butter or oil in a frying pan, usually folded around a filling such as cheese, vegetables, meat , or some combination of the above...
s,
pizzaPizza is a world-popular dish of Italian origin, made with an oven-baked, flat, generally round bread that is often covered with tomatoes or a tomato-based sauce and cheese. Other toppings are added according to region, culture, or personal preference.Originating in a part of Italian cuisine, the...
,
potato chipPotato chips are thin slices of potato that are deep fried or baked until crispy. Potato chips serve as an appetizer, side dish, or snack. Commercial varieties are packaged for sale, usually in bags...
s,
SpamSpam is a canned precooked meat product made by the Hormel Foods Corporation. The labeled ingredients in the classic variety of Spam are chopped pork shoulder meat with ham meat added, salt, water, sugar, and sodium nitrite to help keep its color. Spam's gelatinous glaze, or aspic, forms from the...
,
Cheez-ItCheez-It crackers are an American snack food manufactured by the Kellogg Company. They are roughly 26 by 24 mm rectangle-shaped crackers made with wheat flour, vegetable oil, sharp yellow cheese, salt, and spices...
s,
popcornPopcorn or popping corn is a type of corn which explodes from the kernel and puffs up when heated. Corn popping was originally discovered by Native Americans, but became popular as a snack food during the United States Great Depression, especially in movie theaters.Corn is able to pop because,...
,
puddingPudding most often refers to a dessert, but can also refer to a savory dish in some dialects.In the United Kingdom and some Commonwealth countries, pudding refers to rich, fairly homogeneous starch- or dairy-based desserts , or, informally, is used to refer to any dessert...
,
baconBacon is a cured meat prepared from a pig. It is first cured in a brine or in a dry packing, both consisting largely of salt; the result is fresh bacon . Fresh bacon may then be further dried for weeks or months , boiled, or smoked. Fresh and dried bacon must be cooked before eating...
wrapped
steakA steak is a cut of meat. Most steaks are cut perpendicular to the muscle fibres, improving the perceived tenderness of the meat. In North America, steaks are typically served grilled, though they are also often pan-fried. The more tender cuts from the loin and rib are cooked quickly, using dry...
, mashed potatoes,
pigs in a blanketPigs in a blanket refers to a few different sausage-based foods in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Russia, Canada and Japan...
,
french onion soupFrench onion soup is an onion and beef broth or beef stock based soup traditionally served with croutons and cheese as toppings. Although ancient in origin, this dish underwent a resurgence of popularity in the 1960s due to the growth of French cooking in the United States.-History:Onion soups...
,
oatmealOatmeal is ground oat groats , or a porridge made from this product...
, egg rolls,
olive loafThe term Olive loaf can refer to two different food products, either a type of bologna embedded with pimento-stuffed green olives, or a type of bread where the loaf is laced with whole olives....
,
gyrosGyros or gyro is a Greek dish, consisting of meat, tomato, onion, and tzatziki sauce, and is served with pita bread...
, submarine sandwiches, potatoes pommes fondant, pancakes, come back gravy, buttermilk biscuits, and even
dipping tobaccoDipping tobacco, also known as moist snuff or spit tobacco, is a form of smokeless tobacco. It is commonly referred to as dip. The act of using it is called dipping. Dip is colloquially called "chew"; because of this, it is commonly confused with chewing tobacco...
. It is also common in cocktails including the
Bloody maryBloody Mary may refer to:* Bloody Mary * Mary I of England, Queen of England and Ireland* Bloody Mary , a ghost said to appear when summoned* Bloody Mary...
and
Prairie FireA Prairie Fire is a mixed drink consisting of strong liquor and hot sauce.-Variations:Lighter versions may contain much less hot sauce, down to as little as a dash. Some recommend 1:1 mixture, some recommend 1:2 and even less...
.
Tabasco and the U.S. military
During the
Spanish-American WarThe Spanish–American War was an armed military conflict between Spain and the United States that took place between April and August 1898, over the issues of the liberation of Cuba. The war began after American demands for the resolution of the Cuban fight for independence were rejected by Spain...
,
John Avery McIlhennyJohn Avery McIlhenny was an American businessman, soldier, politician and public servant. He was the eldest son of Tabasco sauce inventor Edmund McIlhenny.-Background:...
, son of Tabasco's inventor and second president of McIlhenny Company, served in the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, better known as
Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States. He is well remembered for his energetic persona, his range of interests and achievements, his model of masculinity, and his "cowboy" image. He was a leader of the Republican Party and founder of the short-lived Bull Moose Party...
's
Rough RidersThe "Rough Riders" was the name bestowed on the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, one of three such regiments raised in 1898 for the Spanish-American War and the only one of the three to see action. The United States army was weakened and left with little manpower after the Civil War roughly 30...
. His son, Brigadier General
Walter Stauffer McIlhennyWalter Stauffer McIlhenny served as president of McIlhenny Company, maker of Tabasco brand pepper sauce, from 1949 until his death in 1985. He also distinguished himself as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve — receiving the Navy Cross for his actions during the Battle of Guadalcanal...
, USMCR, a
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veteran and recipient of the
Navy CrossThe Navy Cross is the highest medal that can be awarded by the United States Department of the Navy and the second highest award given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard but could be awarded to all branches of United States...
, presided over McIlhenny Company from 1949 until his death in 1985. During the
Vietnam WarThe Vietnam War or the Second Indochina War was a Cold War military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1959 to 30 April 1975...
, BGen. McIlhenny issued the
The Charlie Ration Cookbook. (
Charlie rationThe C-Ration, or Type C ration, was an individual canned, pre-cooked or prepared wet ration intended to be issued to U.S. military land forces when fresh food or packaged unprepared food prepared in mess halls or field kitchens was impractical or not available and when a survival ration was...
was slang for the field meal given to troops.) This cookbook came wrapped around a two-ounce bottle of Tabasco sauce in a camouflaged, water-resistant container. It included instructions on how to mix C-rations to make such tasty concoctions as "Combat Canapés" or "Breast of Chicken under Bullets."
During the 1980s, the U.S. military began to include miniature bottles of Tabasco sauce in its MREs. Eventually, miniature bottles of Tabasco sauce were included in two-thirds of all MRE menus. (These same miniature bottles are also included in vegetarian British rations, but are not included in the regular Operational Ration Pack.) During the same period, McIlhenny Company issued a new military-oriented cookbook using characters from the comic strip
Beetle BaileyBeetle Bailey is an American comic strip set in a United States Army military post, created by Mort Walker...
, titled
The Unofficial MRE Cookbook, which it offered free of charge to U.S. troops. In response to these gestures, service personnel wrote many letters of thanks to McIlhenny Company.
Most recently, U.S. troops in
AfghanistanThe Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is a landlocked country in south central Asia. It is variously described as being located within Central Asia, South Asia, or the Middle East...
during
Operation Enduring FreedomOperation Enduring Freedom is the official name used by the U.S. Government for its War in Afghanistan and Iraq, together with three smaller military actions, under the umbrella of its Global War on Terror...
and in
IraqIraq , officially the Republic of Iraq , also known as Mesopotamia, is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert.Iraq shares borders with Jordan to the west, Syria...
during Operation Iraqi Freedom have received Tabasco sauce in their MREs, as well as in care packages sent directly to individual troops courtesy of McIlhenny Company.
McIlhenny Company's relationship with the military extends beyond combat situations. The U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps list over 400 mess halls that offer Tabasco sauce on their tables. In fact, Tabasco sauce is found on the table of every Officer's Mess in the Marine Corps.
Walter Stauffer McIlhennyWalter Stauffer McIlhenny served as president of McIlhenny Company, maker of Tabasco brand pepper sauce, from 1949 until his death in 1985. He also distinguished himself as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve — receiving the Navy Cross for his actions during the Battle of Guadalcanal...
was a benefactor of the
Marine Military AcademyMarine Military Academy, a private college preparatory academy located in Harlingen, Texas, offers a college preparatory curriculum for boys in grades 8-12 plus one-year of post-graduate study. The school was founded in 1965. Its traditions and ideals are inspired by the United States Marine Corps...
. As a result, a bottle of Tabasco sauce can be found on every table in the school's mess hall. McIlhenny was a member of the Academy's General H. M. Smith Foundation, and the school named one of its buildings after him.
Tabasco in space
Tabasco appears on the official menu of
NASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an agency of the United States government, responsible for the nation's public space program. NASA was established by the National Aeronautics and Space Act on July 29, 1958, replacing its predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for...
's
space shuttleThe Space Shuttle, part of the Space Transportation System , is a spacecraft operated by NASA for orbital human spaceflight missions. It began operations in the 1980s and is scheduled to be retired from service in 2010 after 134 launches...
program and has gone into orbit on the shuttles.. It has also been used on
SkylabSkylab was the United States' first space station, and the second space station visited by a human crew. It was also the only space station NASA launched alone...
and on the
International Space StationThe International Space Station is an internationally developed research facility currently being assembled in Low Earth Orbit. On-orbit construction of the station began in 1998 and is scheduled to be completed by 2011, with operations continuing until at least 2015...
.
Popular culture references
- During a 1932 "Buy British" campaign sponsored by the British Government, Tabasco sauce bottles were removed from the tables of the House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 646 members, who are known as "Members...
dining rooms. The Members of Parliament demanded that Tabasco sauce be returned to their tables and this led to slang phrase, "the real Tabasco", which appears in many popular novels of the period, especially those by P.G. Wodehouse.
- Tabasco sauce has become an Internet Meme
The term Internet meme is a phrase used to describe a catchphrase or concept that spreads quickly from person to person via the Internet, much like an esoteric inside joke...
as a symbol for manliness. It is commonly used by Internet satirist Maddox-Given name:*Maddox , a male given name of Welsh origin*Maddox , an American humorist and Internet personality*Maddox Jolie-Pitt, adopted son of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt-Surname:...
, and by other smaller websites.
- Turn-of-the-20th-century baseball player Norman Elberfeld was known as "The Tabasco Kid" because of his fiery temper.
Competitors
- Búfalo
Búfalo is a brand of hot sauce and other condiments produced by Herdez Group in Lomas de Chapultepec, Mexico. Búfalo sauce has been produced since 1933. The company produces Búfalo and Tampico sauces, salsas, and other condiments. English labeled bottles are distributed by Herdez Corp...
(hot sauce)
- Chili pepper water
Chili Pepper Water is an indiginous Hawaiian Island condiment. Made in its most basic culinary form from local red chilis, salt, and water, it is used splashed on eggs, rice and other foods to add flavor and spicy heat....
- Cholula Hot Sauce
Cholula hot sauce is a mass produced commercial brand of chili-based hot sauce, manufactured in Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico. The product is packaged with a large round wooden cap in order to make its packaging unique among commercially-prepared hot sauces....
- Crystal Hot Sauce
Crystal Hot Sauce is a mass produced brand of Louisiana style hot sauce produced by family-owned Baumer Foods since 1923. Today, 3 million gallons of Crystal Hot Sauce are shipped per year to consumers in more than 75 countries....
- Frank’s Red Hot
- Louisiana Gold Hot Sauce
Louisiana Gold Hot Sauce is a hot pepper sauce produced by Bruce Foods Corporation, as a direct response to the popularity of Tabasco sauce, a leading pepper sauce brand by McIlhenny Company...
- Sriracha sauce
- Tapatío hot sauce
Tapatío is a mass produced brand of hot sauce produced in Vernon, California, that can be found at many grocery stores in the United States. It comes in four sizes: 5, 10, and 32 fl oz., and 1 gallon , as well as in 7 gram packets.The hot sauce is named "Tapatío", the name given to people from...
- Texas Pete
Texas Pete is a retail brand name for a mass produced Louisiana-style hot sauce in the United States manufactured by the TW Garner Food Company in Winston-Salem, North Carolina...
(hot sauce)
- Trappey's Hot Sauce
Trappey's is one of the oldest hot sauce brands in the United States. It is produced by the New Iberia, Louisiana-based company Trappeys Fine Foods, Inc. Trappey's is now owned by B&G Foods, a major food conglomerate...
- Valentina (sauce)
Valentina is a mass produced Mexican hot sauce manufactured by Salsa Tamazula of Guadalajara.It is common in Mexico, and is commonly used in the United States' Hispanic culture.-Varieties:...
External links