rcd@opus.UUCP (Dick Dunn) (01/17/85)
TABASCO is the registered trademark for the pepper sauce originated by E.
McIlhenny before 1868 and manufactured by his family ever since.
I claim that the above is fairly authoritative on the significance of the
word "Tabasco", since I just copied it from the label of a bottle of
Tabasco. This would seem to cast doubts on some of the references people
have posted, such as:
> ..Dr. GREENLEAF RED HOT TABASCO seeds are available from...
since these would seem to be in violation of the McIlhenny trademark for
the Tabasco name. [I have no reason to doubt that they're good, hot
peppers regardless of whether they're the actual strain used in Tabasco.]
In any case, by now Tabasco probably is made from its own strain of pepper
since it's been produced in one place for 100+ years and plants tend to
mutate and adapt slightly in that many generations. Also, the
characteristic of the sauce derives not just from the pepper but from
mixing with vinegar and salt (to preserve) and aging in wooden barrels.
In other words, if you want to duplicate Tabasco you've got an uphill
battle. Making a good hot sauce is a different matter.
It would help if someone could post information or a source of information
on the preserving/aging process, preferably both here and in net.cooks.
There was an article on the McIlhenny family, the island where they produce
the sauce, and the whole Tabasco thing, in Smithsonian magazine. I can't
lay hands on it right now, but it's been within the last two years.
--
Dick Dunn {hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd (303)444-5710 x3086
...A friend of the devil is a friend of mine.