In America, ketchup is without a doubt king of the condiments. Since decades, this sweet and sour tomato-based sauce has been a mainstay in American homes and is used on anything from hot dogs to french fries. In actuality, a bottle of ketchup is present in the refrigerators of 97% of American families, according to a recent poll.
But why is ketchup so well-liked? It’s versatile, for starters. It can be applied as a marinade, a spread, or a dip. Additionally, it is reasonably priced, has a long shelf life, and is a useful option for customers. Ketchup is also a calming and nostalgic option due to its familiar taste, with which many people grew up.
Ketchup is not the most expensive food in America, despite being the most popular condiment there. The white truffle, a rare fungus that only grows underground in specific regions of Italy, is the recipient of this accolade. White truffles are commonly shaved onto pasta or risotto for a rich and earthy flavor and can cost up to $3,000 per pound.
The 16 Million Reserve from Blair’s Sauces and Snacks is now the priciest spicy sauce available. This hot sauce, which is marketed in a tiny 1-ounce bottle for $500, is so hot that it has a warning label. It contains just pure capsaicin, the compound that gives peppers their spiciness, and is not advised for eating.
The Ghost Pepper is one of the world’s spiciest peppers, to speak of. This pepper, also known as the Bhut Jolokia, registers above 1 million on the Scoville scale, which is used to gauge pepper spiciness. A jalapeno pepper has a Scoville rating of roughly 5,000, which puts that into perspective. Ghost peppers can give any food a scorching kick and are frequently used in hot sauces.
Finally, No. 9 Plutonium is a hot sauce from the Hot Ones company, not a dish or a condiment. Its name comes from the fact that eating it makes you feel like you’re consuming plutonium since it is so fiery. This sauce is not for the weak of heart and is created with a mixture of peppers, including the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion and the Carolina Reaper. It is advised to use it cautiously and sparingly.
Ketchup might be the most popular condiment in America, but there are a lot of other unique and pricey foods and hot sauces available. There is a universe of flavor just waiting to be discovered, from white truffles to the Ghost Pepper and No. 9 Plutonium.
The spicy sauce Da Bomb is regarded as being among the hottest ones sold today. It is substantially hotter than common hot sauces like Tabasco or Sriracha, with a Scoville rating of over 135,000. For people who are not acclimated to spicy cuisine, it is not advised.