Queen Majesty Scotch Bonnet & Ginger Hot Sauce Review

Queen Majesty Scotch Bonnet & Ginger Hot Sauce puts its ingredient list forward right on the label. It’s certainly a sweet Caribbean-style sauce, with a unique (and exotic) flavor twist. But how hot is it really? Do those scotch bonnets take a big seat in the flavor profile? And how does its unique flavor affect its overall usability? Let’s break it all down.

Flavor:

If you like ginger and sweet tangy heat, this is a super-fun sauce to play around with. Its ingredient list packs a lot of ingredients that map perfectly to that flavor profile: white vinegar, sweet onions, bell peppers, scotch bonnet peppers, lemon/lime juice, ginger root, garlic, olive oil, salt, and spices.

First – the exotic sweet warmth of ginger and the fiery fruity sweetness of scotch bonnets really work well together. Nice pairing out the gate. The sweet onions and lemon acidity add to the balance and provide a real sense of depth to the sauce. The consistency also allows you to enjoy the flavor for a longer period because it’s slightly chunky.

I was thrown back at first by the sweetness on the first bite, but then loved the burn on the back end provided by the scotch bonnets. This is not a vinegar-forward sauce as well (even though vinegar is first on the label). It’s a much more subdued eating experience. So for those that like hot sauces that hit you with big bold flavor and heat, Queen Majesty may be just a little too nuanced.

Heat Balance:

Even though scotch bonnets are higher up on the Scoville scale (100,000 to 350,000 Scoville heat units – the same as a habanero), this hot sauce doesn’t pack a ton of heat. Think upper-mild to medium levels of spiciness here – less than Sriracha. There are many that’ll reach for this sauce thinking a much bigger level of spiciness. That’ll happen when scotch bonnet is featured so prominently on the label. It could be, for some, a major let down on the heat front.

Really the importance of the scotch bonnet, though, is how well its flavor profile beyond heat pairs with ginger and the other ingredients. There’s something about the earthy, fruity flavor that provides the heat without it being distracting. The pepper’s flavor just melds so well with everything else going on in the sauce.

Usability:

This is not an everyday kind of hot sauce for most, because its flavor profile is so unique. That said, I think a lot of hot sauce fans would be surprised by how well fruity flavors of the scotch bonnets mix with the bright ginger taste. While there are plenty of use cases that don’t make sense when this hot sauce works, it really works. I can see it pairing well with fish (especially salmon), rice dishes, and jerk-style dishes. It’d be an amazing pairing with jerk chicken especially. This may also make a surprising sweet potato fry topping.

The consistency is slightly thick, but it will still spread wherever you put it. The bottle has a large spout, so it’s meant for more than mere drips and drops for each use. Pour it accordingly. And it cooks pretty well too. The sweetness of the peppers and onions completely releases when this sauce is heated up, with ginger still being the forward flavor.

Collectibility:

With a name like Queen Majesty and a leopard logo you know when you buy this you’re getting a one-of-a-kind buy. This is a unique sauce with a fun kick that will leave you refilling your cabinet often. Their label only adds to the exotic feel of this sauce.

The glass bottle allows you to see the beautiful yellow color which highlights the mix of onions, peppers, and ginger. It just looks good sitting amid ingredients and on a dining table. You can almost taste the flavor just by looking at it. Queen Majesty Ginger and Scotch Bonnet Hot Sauce may not be a sauce you use every day, but when you do, you’ll be taken in by both its flavor and style.

The Score:

This ginger-forward sauce doesn’t pack big heat as you’d expect with scotch bonnet on the label, but the fruity sweetness of the pepper pairs well with ginger. Unique exotic flavor and label. Use cases can be limited, but when it works it works very well. (Amazon)