I bought Valentina for the first time this week – but I’m a lifetime Tapatio consumer (On that note, anyone else remember the Tapatio energy drink, from the mid/late 2000s? God I miss that). My expectations were high as could be, for a $1.50 bottle of hot sauce- pretty much every ‘best Mexican hot sauce’ list I could find puts it on top; or at least higher than Tapatio.
While I don’t dislike Valentina so far, I’m shocked how much milder Valentina is than Tapatio- To my tongue Tapatio has a more… Everything. More spice, more smokiness, more citrus/tartness. Valentina is both plainer, and sweeter.
Granted, there are things I won’t use Tapatio for, because it has so many overpowering flavors – While I don’t usually use hot sauce on oysters, Tapatio is my last choice there. But on more flavorful foods, I’m finding Valentina just gets lost compared to Tapatio.
There is a probable factor here, that I just don’t like sweeter hot sauces- which head-to-head, Valentina is vs. Tapatio. However, when I don’t like something that everyone else gravitates to, it tends to just challenge me to figure out ‘what’s wrong with me’ and why I don’t like it.
So open to any suggestions, what I’m doing wrong or how I might best appreciate Valentina; or just telling me it’s ok to continue eating Tapatio and forget about this 🙂
by ksilenced-kid
25 Comments
My wife is Mexican, and her entire family basically explained to me that Valentina is used more as a condiment for snacks (chips, durros (chicharonnes), etc.) while Tapatio is more of a sauce you would put on real foods (tacos, sopes, etc.) obviously this may not be the case for everyone, as I personally do enjoy valentina on tacos sometimes. But I think the majority of people use it as a snack enhancer rather than a real hot sauce.
How do you feel about cholula?
I prefer tapatio over cholula but my wife and kid both disagree. I prefer both of them over Valentina
I ride with Tapatino because it makes me sound like I know Spanish a lil better. But both are decent.
I’m not a fan of either. I prefer El Yucateco when it comes to Mexican sauces.
I get the “extra hot” Valentina bottle with black print. Its thickness and heat level (moderate) make it perfect for most dishes. The regular is more or less a mild sauce. You could cut it with yucateco! 👀
So, here is my personal preference Mexican tier list, having bought a 5€ Valentina online last week.
1. El Yucateco, by far. I only have tried the XXXtra Hot version, bought it 3 times in a row (also at 5€ a pop), it is god tier. Smoky, tasty, well seasoned, not too acidic. Perfection.
2. Cholula: does the job, better than most, and available around here. I can get it at 3€ or less at the supermarket.
3. Valentina: what the hell? Tastes like a mild under seasoned Bloody Mary. And I love bloody Mary.
I have yet to try Tapatio.
I use Valentina like I would use Taco Bell sauce packets, not for the heat but for the moisture and flavor.
Valentina here
Both are delicious
I use each circumstantially
Huh. I’ve never done a proper side by side but I think of Valentina yellow label and Tapatio as tasting almost exactly the same
It’s like comparing Tabasco to Louisanna Hot Sauce. I prefer to use Tabasco for cooking and LHS to add aflvor to an already prepared dish. Also, it depends on everyone’s heat tolerance. If you like the stronger heat go for it.
Valentina’s
Black label valentina. You can get a liter of it for like $4.00
No offense, those are the two worst hot sauce that you can get.. as someone that loves hot sauces and have 5ish bottles. I can’t hate each to their own but eww.
Tapatio is an American product. You are comparing similar style hot sauces from different countries
I think Valentina goes a bit better with lighter dishes like fish tacos, stuff that doesn’t need the full force of savory that Tapatio can bring.
I still like Tapatio better but I grew up on it living in SoCal, so there’s likely some bias.
I use Tapatio almost exclusively on Mexican food because the cumin flavor doesn’t go with everything. Valentina is more a “table sauce” that is mild enough for anyone to try and goes well with most apps
I also put Tapatio above Valentina. Its my favorite ‘cheap’ sauce. That list is as follows: Tapatio, cholula, valentina, Franks. I dont use crystal or texas pete enough to properly rank them, but I’m guessing they’d be around valentina or franks for my tastes. Tabasco is no longer in that category for me, it has its own distinction with its bitterness from the tabasco peppers, I have found it works really well as an ingredient in some things, but still consider it different enough from the other ‘Cayenne’ sauces.
try it next to black label valentina. it’s the extra spicy version
Valentina. Next question.
Tapatio is the lowest tier commonly available Mexican hot sauce.
Personally I love Valentina on skillets and breakfast foods. Also good will chorizo and egg
It’s posts like this that make me wonder if this is a serious hot sauce sub
Both look vandalized
I share the same opinion. Tapatio is my go-to everyday sauce. I was even surprised how mild the Valentina black label is as well.