The original Cholula Hot Sauce is made with pequin and árbol (Chile de árbol) chilis. Both these peppers are very hot. To put the heat in perspective, the mildest pequin is about 6 times hotter than the hottest jalapeño. The sauce itself, however, is mild. The Cholula Scoville is around 1000 Scoville heat units, according to the company. However, values up to 3000 SHU have been reported.
Cholula Hot Sauce Scoville Rating Quick Reference
- Made from pequin and Chile de árbol: Both very hot peppers.
- Pequin = 30,000 to 60,000 SHU (up to 12 times hotter than a jalapeño).
- Chile de árbol = 15,000 to 30,000 SHU.
- Cholula Hot Sauce Scoville Rating: ~1,000 SHU.
- Jalapeño Rating for Comparison: ~5,000 SHU.
- Frank’s Red Hot Scoville for Comparison: 450 SHU.
- Original Tabasco Sauce Scoville Rating for Comparison: 2,500 to 5,000 SHU.
Cholula Hot Sauce History
- Generational Roots: Developed over three generations, with a history spanning approximately 60 to 75 years.
- The Sangrita Connection: Originally crafted by a family in Jalisco, Mexico, specifically as a mixer for Sangrita—the traditional spicy, non-alcoholic tequila chaser.
- Naming Origins: Named after Cholula, the oldest inhabited city in Mexico (famous for its 365 churches); the name comes from the Nahuatl word for “place of retreat”.
- U.S. Availability: While the recipe is decades old, it has only been commercially available in the United States for the last 20 years.
Cholula’s Introduction and Marketing Strategy
- U.S. Debut (1989): Licensed by the makers of Jose Cuervo tequila and introduced to the U.S. market in 1989.
- “Flavor Over Heat” Focus: Unlike Frank’s RedHot, which averages 450 SHU, Cholula (~1,000 SHU) markets itself as a versatile flavor enhancer rather than a high-heat sauce.
- Tabletop Presence: The brand’s primary growth engine was an aggressive strategy to place wooden-capped bottles on thousands of restaurant tables across the country.
- Key Partners: Millions of fans first discovered the sauce at major chains like IHOP, Boston Market, Qdoba, and California Pizza Kitchen.
The Sangrita Connection
- Origins in Jalisco: The recipe began as a family-made mixer for Sangrita, the traditional spicy tequila chaser from the state of Jalisco.
- Naming: Named after Cholula, the oldest inhabited city in Mexico, which means “place of retreat” in Nahuatl.
- Sangria vs. Sangrita:
- Sangria: A fruity, wine-based Spanish punch.
- Sangrita: A non-alcoholic, citrus and chili-based “little blood” chaser for tequila.
Traditional Sangrita with Cholula Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tbs Cholula (more if you like)
- 2 cups orange juice
- 2 tbs grenadine syrup
- 1 tbs finely chopped onion
- juice of 1 to 2 limes
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until perfectly smooth.
- Drain the liquid through a layer of clean cheesecloth placed in a fine-mesh sieve.
- Pour into a serving vessel or a bottle to store.
- Serve with rounds of tequila.
- Take a sip of tequila and “chase” it with a sip of Sangrita.
- Rinse and repeat.
- You can keep it in the refrigerator for about two days.
Variations: You can add about one cup of tomato juice to this basic recipe if you’d like to try it that way. For more heat, you can add fresh chiles. You can, of course, add more lime or any other ingredient you want.
Raw Onions? I don’t like the taste of raw onions in a drink like this, and I wouldn’t blame you if you left the onions out, but they are traditionally a part of the drink.
Cholula Scoville: How Hot is Cholula Hot Sauce? (FAQ)
- What is the Scoville rating of Cholula Hot Sauce? Cholula Original is rated at approximately 1,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). While some reports suggest it can reach up to 3,000 SHU, it is generally considered a mild hot sauce.
- Is Cholula hotter than Tabasco? No. Original Tabasco Sauce is significantly hotter, ranging from 2,500 to 5,000 SHU, whereas Cholula sits at roughly 1,000 SHU.
- Is Cholula hotter than Frank’s RedHot? Yes. While both are mild, Cholula (~1,000 SHU) is roughly twice as hot as Frank’s RedHot, which clocks in at about 450 SHU.
- What peppers are used in Cholula? Cholula is crafted from a signature blend of pequin and Chile de árbol peppers.
