Have you been recommended Cholula, or noticed it when shopping in the condiments aisle at the grocery store. Perhaps you got a glimpse of its unique wooden cap lid? Either way, here is all you want to know about this particular sauce.
So, what is Cholula sauce? Cholula is a brand of Mexican hot sauce, although it is not considered to be particularly spicy compared to other hot sauce products. The recipe is based on chilis, although there are six different variations that include different ingredients and introduce new flavors.
This really is a Mexican sauce.
Not only was it invented there; the production of this popular store remains to this day.
And it’s a family recipe that has been passed down the generations.
Nevertheless, the brand continues to expand into new products, as we shall soon see in the following sections!
The Different Varieties of Cholula Hot Sauce
There are currently six different products in the Cholula product line: Original, Green Pepper, Habanero, Chipotle, Chili Lime, and Chili Garlic.
All of which are based on the original recipe with either the inclusion of additional peppers or different spices and flavorings. As we shall now see below.
What Is Cholula Sauce Made Of?
Cholula sauce is made from a blend of native Arbol and Pequin peppers and a variety of regional spices. Although each variation of the sauce contains different ingredients.
The exact ingredients vary by product, as we shall now see below:
Cholula Original Hot Sauce
Water, Dried Chili Peppers (5.0%) (Arbol & Piquin), Salt, Vinegar Blend (Spirit Vinegar, Cider Vinegar), Spices, Stabiliser (Xanthan Gum)
Cholula Green Pepper Hot Sauce
Jalapeno Pepper, Water, Sugar, Salt, Poblano Pepper, Acetic Acid, Garlic Powder, Jalapeno Powder, Xanthan Gum, Poblano Pepper Flavor, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative) And Sodium Metabisulfite (Preservative).
Cholula Sweet Habanero Hot Sauce
Water, Habanero Pepper, Salt, Natural Dehydrated Pineapple Juice, Carrot Powder, Sugar, Acetic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Garlic, Spices, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Natural Pineapple Flavor.
Cholula Chipotle Hot Sauce
Water, Vinegar (White & Apple), Sugar, Peppers (Chipotle, Guajillo, Arbol & Piquin), Salt, Natural Flavors, Spices, Xanthan Gum, Silicon Dioxide, Citric Acid & Caramel.
Cholula Chile Lime Hot Sauce
Water, Vinegar (White & Apple), Peppers (Guajillo, Paprika, Arbol & Piquin), Salt, Sugar, Dried Tomato, Natural Flavor, Hydrolized Vegetable Protein, Citric Acid, Silicon Dioxide, Spices, Garlic & Xanthan Gum.
Cholula Chili Garlic Hot Sauce
Water, Salt, Dried Peppers (Arbol and Piquin), Vinegar, Garlic, Spices, Natural Flavors, Xanthan Gum, Dried Garlic.
Click here to see the nutrition of each Cholula sauce.
What To Eat Cholula Sauce With
Cholula sauce is incredibly versatile, and like many hot sauces goes with a range of different foods and dishes.
Although here are the recommendations from Cholula themselves, against each product:
- Original sauce: With chicken or on biggers/pizza.
- Green pepper: Drizzled over salads, in dips or as a marinade.
- Sweet Habanero: With chicken wings, on avocado toast, or in a signature cocktail.
- Chipotle: Paired with pork, chicken or drizzled over vegetables.
- Chili Lime: With seafood, breakfast or even fruit.
- Chili Garlic: On pasta, in soups or even drizzled over popcorn.
So as you can see, a lot of different types of foods across the course of the entire day!
How Spicy Is Cholula?
On the whole, Cholula is not considered to be a particularly spicy hot sauce; the original recipe measures around 1,000-2000 units on the Scoville scale.
That being said, the spiciness varies in between the product, as we shall see from the below scale I put together:
| Sauce | Hot Score |
| Original sauce | 2.5 |
| Green pepper | 2.5 |
| Sweet Habanero | 5 |
| Chipotle | 2 |
| Chili Lime | 1.5 |
| Chili Garlic | 1.75 |
Generally, Cholula is a sweet, complex flavored hot sauce.
Where Can You Buy Cholula?
Cholula is available in most grocery stores in the United States and various supermarkets worldwide. It is also commonly served in many restaurants, particularly Mexican restaurants, and is available for purchase online.
You can either buy it directly off the brand’s website shop or even on retailers like Amazon.
Finally
Cholula is one of the most recognized brands of hot sauce.
And while the original is absolutely the brand signature sauce, the variations have provides a nice change on the traditional family recipe.
So do give them a try; particularly if you like hot sauce.
Just make sure you know how to open a bottle first!
Hello. I’m Jeremy – an experienced saucier who has worked in some of the top kitchens over the last few decades. With a love for sauces, food, and nutrition, I decided to create WeWantTheSauce. Here I share my knowledge and expertise; from ingredients and recipes to storage all the way through to recommendations for every sauce imaginable.