Creole Mustard Review - Tabasco Coarse-Ground Mustard

Hey there Mustardeers! I'd like to apologize for the wait on my part - snow and tests and things got in the way. Thanks to Wally here, we managed to keep from a total silence, but nevertheless I apologize. That aside, let's move onto a mustard I've been wanting to review for a while: Tabasco's own Coarse-Ground hot mustard!

This is an example of the 'creole' variety of mustard. Hailing from New Orleans, it's a spicier and grainier mustard that goes great on such New Orleans dishes as po' boys. This mustard definitely fits into the category, with it's coarse-ground composition and the spice from the Tabasco. The bottle is also quite nice, with a nice curvature and generic cap like most other mustards in the condiment jungle.

Look how badass it looks! (Disclaimer: not actually badass.)

However, to my disappointment, the mustard does not perform so well in the flavor category. The spice is rather weak for what I would assume to be the classic red Tabasco sauce. The taste is overall bland, which is dissatisfying. Now, the taste that is there isn't half bad; the mustard flavor is there, if a little weak. However, I was expecting a taste more along the lines of a nice stone-ground Dijon, like Trader's Joes', but spicier; but what I got was a weak, deli-mustard-esqe flavor with only a weak kick.

I'd recommend using this mustard in large amounts on sandwiches and the like to make up for it's lack of strength. If you're looking for a slightly spicy, coarse mustard, this is the one; but knowing Tabasco's history of strong hot sauces, this was disappointing. I give this 4 of those adorable mini Tabasco bottles out of 10; it's mediocre, but by trying to be something it wasn't, that made me a little cranky.

Trader Joe's Basil Mustard - Specialty Mustard Review

This stuff is pretty good. Then again, it's also one of the first fancy mustards I have reviewed, so my standards are kinda low. This is a review of Trader Joe's Basil Mustard from the Mustard Miscellany they offer. In case you didn't know, basil is a herb that tastes both sweet and savory, yet slightly minty. It also has a powerful smell of pepper and mint.

Trader Joe's Basil Mustard is a combination of spiciness and mustardiness, if that makes any sense. It has a sort of grainy texture, which adds to the depth that this mustard provides. The spicy flavor that this mustard has provides a nice kick. The variety of flavors and textures it possesses allows for a miscellany of uses- from sandwiches to eggs or something maybe? Do people do that? I bet it would be good. But it tastes good on sandwiches. Or off a spoon.

Another thing that this mustard has is a great jar. The ergonomically designed glass jar provides an opening for optimal mustard-spoonage. Plus, the jar holds a sizable amount of mustard, meaning you can lather it on all sorts of things until you run out.

The one on the right because I didn't take a picture.

If you like your mustard to have some heat and herb-y taste, I would definitely recommend this mustard. I'd give this a solid 9 basil leafs out of 10. I haven't broken into the next three quite yet, but stay tuned for them!