REVIEW - Hot Headz Chilli Chips

We had heard on the grapevine that Hot Headz was soon to release some own-brand chilli crisps which got us all hot and bothered. We eagerly awaited the arrival of these chilli crisps and soon discovered it was definitely well worth the wait.

From the moment the postman landed the package on our hands it felt as if this was going to be something really special. The first thing that hit us when we opened the box was the size of the chilli crisps’ packets. With 142g these packets are big enough to pass around at dinner parties or at the office but trust us you’ll soon want to hide them from view although the packaging will make that very difficult.

Indeed, with a striking glossy appearance you can tell that Hot Headz spent a lot of time and effort presenting their own brand of chilli crisps in a way that would make them remembered. And that they do thanks to the well known and respected Hot Headz Logo imprinted on the front of the packet, the cool lime green of the Chipotle Mustard Chilli Chips and the fiery red burning its way across the front of the Inferno Habanero Chips.

We first tried the Hot Headz Chipotle Mustard Chilli Chips so as to really taste the flavour before compromising our tastebuds with the habanero ones. Reminiscent of Hot Headz’ bestselling Chipotle Mustard the flavour is just out of this world. Not as striking or pungent as a Dijon Mustard would be this is just like licking a spoon that has just been dipped in good quality English Mustard on your tongue before being hit by a wave of smokiness from the beloved chipotle. The heat is subtle but so pleasurable it defies logic. This is a little gem created by Hot Headz and one we didn’t think could be matched. How wrong we were.

Hot Headz Inferno Habanero Chips was approached with a more blasé attitude. Yes, our experience as chilli tasters might make us a bit more unfazed when it comes to more common habanero based products but we were soon put back in our places by these chilli crisps. Just like the Hot Headz Chipotle Mustard Chips the texture of these crisps is worthy of the best homemade brands out there. The crisps are chunky, large and most of all deliciously crunchy down to the last morsel. The great thing is that from the start you get a chance to taste the great taste of the habanero chilli pepper which spreads all around your mouth before the heat kicks in. And kicking it does. Just when you think you are on safe grounds the heat gets bigger and bigger... and bigger until you are left with an excruciating Sophie’s choice on your hands: to carry on and get burned or to be rational and leave them be knowing full well you won’t be able to wait long until the next fix? Well... which option did you think we choose every time?

So... Hot Headz have done it again. With numerous own-brand chilli condiments, chilli snacks and hot sauces that would make anybody green with envy Hot Headz’ chilli crisps are not just newcomers. We can see them lasting a long long time and God do we hope Hot Headz will soon come up with new amazing flavours of incredibly well crafted chilli crisps!

REVIEW - Hot Headz Cayenne Hot Sauce

Hot Headz has been around for 15 years in the UK and is notorious for producing really good quality hot sauces using the most popular of chillies.

The cayenne chilli pepper is probably one of the most known chillies by the general public along with the jalapeno and for good reason. Of a medium heat (30,000 to 50,000 Scoville Heat Units), the flavour of the cayenne, whether you taste the yellow or red one, is what people are after. Originating from Cayenne in French Guiana, the pods of this chilli pepper are usually dried and reduced to powder or used in baking. The cayenne is also used as part of the coating for Buffalo Wings and numerous barbecue marinades or spice mixes.

Hot Headz Cayenne hot sauce is made with only four ingredients: aged red cayenne chilli peppers, vinegar, garlic and salt. The inherent simplicity of this sauce is deceiving though as the balance between heat and flavour is complex and adds depth to dishes such as tomatoey pasta sauces, soups using root vegetables and casseroles (especially sausage one!).

Hot Headz Cayenne Hot Sauce also works well as a condiment or a dip, especially when mixed with mayonnaise or hummus. We also use it quite a lot in fajitas and when making quesadillas so overall Hot Headz Cayenne hot sauce is a really good hot sauce to have around at home and add to pretty much anything that tickles your fancy!

Hot Headz Whole Chillies and Spices

What sort of bland food would we have to ingest without the wonderful use of chillies and spices eh? We started off like most people by adding too much salt and inferior pepper to our food before discovering a whole world of scents, spices and fragrant herbs. We have been experimenting for a few years now and are aware (mostly hopefully!) of what kind of spice goes with what type of food although we still come up with weird concoctions from time to time!

When setting up the Devil’s Garden we were able to play around a bit with various dried types of chillies. Our heart was set on Hot Headz’ spices and chillies as they are of great quality and fantastic to use on a daily basis, our personal favourites being their whole Chipotle Chillies (so great in Sweet Potato & Chorizo Soup!) as well as whole Habaneros (so hot yet so good!).

We also love to use less potent stuff such as dried whole Pasilla, Guajillo, Ancho, Mulato and New Mexico chillies. We couldn’t wait to try De Arbol chillies as we had heard these were fiery and very tasty and believe us, we weren’t disappointed!! For months now we have also been using Hot Headz Dried Naga Chilli Flakes which we have put in a shaker and Ground Habanero Chilli Powder which definitely adds heat to any dish, however small an amount you put in!

The great thing about these chillies and spices is that they will last you ages. Despite our constant consumption of chopped up dried chillies we never seem to reach the end of a bag!

Hot Headz Spicy Snacks and Condiments

Hot Headz are of course known for their great hot sauces such as Who Dares Burns 2nd Assault or Satan’s Sweat but their condiments and snacks are also great for all chilli heads out there.

Whether you are planning on hosting a fancy dinner party, just want to have something to put in your sandwich or want to smother your meat or fish on the barbecue with something flavoursome and powerful, Hot Headz has got the perfect treat in store for you like their Bramley Apple & Jalapeno Salsa, Chilli Pepper Relish, Smoked Chilli & Garlic and, one of our personal favourite: Chilli Piccalilly!

A produce you don’t see often around these neck of the woods is a Chile Con Queso sauce which Hot Headz have got down to a T. This is a traditional Mexican appetizer better described as a smooth creamy sauce made from a blend of melted cheeses, cream and chilli peppers and usually served warm. We have had it in Quesadillas and over Nachos and it was just brilliant!

For a little pick me up at work, in front of the telly or simply because you need a chilli fix, try also Hot Headz nuts which are really worth the detour! Whether you go for Who Dares Burns Peanuts or Satan’s Nuts, you will be impressed by the flavour and spicy coating of these devilish nuts!

Hot Headz’ hot sauces: for the delicate palate as well as for the crazy one!

We stocked Hot Headz’ hot sauces from the start, not only because of their proved quality over the years, but because the variety and novelty of some of them are also well worth talking about.

Take Satan’s Sweat hot sauce for example. This is a sauce we use on a constant basis as well as its progenitor; we are of course talking of Son of Satan’s Sweat. This is just a wonderful everyday sauce that we have on its own but is also fantastic used in a variety of dishes from Chinese Noodles to spicy Carrot Soup.

At the other end of the spectrum there are hot sauces that are more interesting for their flavour than their heat although Hot Headz has a reputation for producing rather hot things! The Bajun or Szechuan Marinade & Stir-Fry hot sauces are amongst these, as well as their Liquid & Hickory Smoke.

Hot Headz are really keen to get two types of chillies known, one being Naga or Bhut Jolokia, the other one being the already beloved Habanero. Hot Headz’ Habanero Heaven hot sauce is just that: heaven while Hot Headz Naga & Chipotle hot sauce makes us weak in the knees just twisting the cap and smelling its pungent flavour!

There are plenty more spicy treats to be enjoyed from Hot Headz, their Who Dares Burns and Who Dares Burns 2nd Assault being some of their most popular hot sauces, personally endorsed by Darth Naga, the nutter who just tries anything devilishly spicy!

So go and have a look at the tasty hot sauces Hot Headz have got to offer, your tastebuds will thank you for it!

Try one of these!!!

Three new products are now available at the Devil’s Garden, two hot sauces and a fiery Mexican cheesy sauce to die for!

Part of Hot Headz’ Naga Series, Hot Headz Naga & Chipotle Hot Sauce is just the best of both worlds. This hot sauce is just fantastic for those who love the smokiness of chipotles but also like it hot hot hot! For the price of one hot sauce you get two of the most loved chilli peppers out there! Use with caution though, it is extremely hot as is it mixed with a hint of pepper extract!

We love Blair’s Golden Death Hot Sauce and if ever there was a hot sauce to use on a daily basis as a condiment or mixed in with food it’s this one! Blair’s talent and passion for chillies truly show in this hot sauce. An incredible blend of scotch bonnet chilli pepper, mustard seeds, habanero powder, turmeric and just enough smokiness from chipotle chillies will make you weak in the knees from the first mouthful. The flavour of this hot sauce is just sublime and the heat is deeply enjoyable too, just enough warmth to make you aware of its potency but no vicious afterkick!

Chile Con Queso is a smooth creamy sauce made from a blend of melted cheeses, cream and chilli peppers and usually served warm to be eaten with Fajitas, Tacos, Enchiladas and Quesadillas. It is rather difficult to find a good one in the UK but Hot Headz is once more here to the rescue! Their own version uses the fiery and flavoursome Habanero chilli pepper and a hint of Jalapeno, also using a blend of spices that will make you salivate as soon as you open the large jar. You can now impress your friends by serving a large dish of nachos smothered with this great Chile Con Queso straight out of the oven!