This La Villana Chile de Arbol Salsa Macha was found at a local independent supermarket. It was priced right at the threshold of what we're willing to pay for an unknown, so we went ahead and got it.
Main Flavor Elements
- Chile de arbol
- Sesame
- Garlic
Snapshot
- Base oil(s): Canola
- Solids to oil ratio: Moderate (~60%)
- Flavor Enhancer: N/S
- Potential allergens: Sesame
- Storage: Refrigerate after opening
Our Impressions
- Heat level: Scorching
- Texture: Soupy, with soft, medium solids
- Saltiness: Low (75mg. per 10gm.)
Looking through the glass on the jar, the solids to oil ratio looks to be about 60/40. Other salsa macha we've tried have been quite a bit chunkier, a quality we prefer. The texture of the solids here wasn't as al dente as we would have hoped or liked. We would have also like to have seen some more nut/seed content, like the pepitas or sunflower seeds common to many salsa macha. We're almost tempted to add some.
We were also puzzled by the pepper being first on the list, before the canola oil, as it certainly wasn't the majority of the ingredients.
The chile heat on this one was a four out of five on its own label's scale, and was quite impressive. Our lips and tongue are still burning, and our brows sweating as we write this. We'd hate to think how hot a five would be.
The jar we purchased didn't look exactly like the one above, which we expect you will find if you go looking for it. Ours only said "salsa", and judging by the BB date, is an older version of the label. We were, however, able to confirm both label versions have the same UPC and ingredients.
Our assumption, since our jar had a BB date only two months away, was that it had been sitting on the shelf for quite some time due to an ill-considered placement away from the international foods aisle, and in a section otherwise dominated by bottled hot sauces.
Anyway, if you like or can stand some heat, give this one a shot. If you'd like a more toothsome example of a chile de arbol salsa macha, may we suggest the La Anita Salsa Macha – Arbol Pepper.
Ingredients
Arbol pepper, canola oil, sesame seed, salt, garlic.
More Information
Brand: INBC trading, LLC / La Villana
Style: Salsa macha
Price Paid: $9.39 / 8oz.
Country of Origin: Mexico
Manufacturer website: https://lavillana.mx/en/productos/
Social media: