Swamp Dragon Liquor Hot Sauce piques interest of team of food scientists.
BATON ROUGE- January 24, 2023 -- Swamp Dragon is the subject of a recently published academic research paper. Frustrated that apparently every hot sauce is based in vinegar, Matt Beeson invented the world’s first and only liquor hot sauce as a solution to the overpowering sour pickle smell and taste of vinegar. Beeson felt that vinegar detracts from or completely masks the flavor of the peppers that should be the true flavor foundation of hot sauces. Beeson reasons that if all you taste in your hot sauce is vinegar (or other flavors like onion powder, and garlic powder), it’s really more a spiced vinegar than a true pepper sauce featuring the fruity and vegetal flavor of peppers. According to Beeson, the problem is solved by replacing the acid preservative of vinegar with a better tasting, less pungent preservative like the naturally occurring alcohol in liquors such as bourbon or vodka.
Dr. Marvin Moncada, PhD, C.F.S. at the Louisiana State University’s Ag Center Food Incubator confirmed the soundness of the concept from the standpoint of food safety. Equipped with that knowledge, Beeson launched Swamp Dragon in 2017 to take his unique invention to market.
Many at the Incubator were taken with Swamp Dragon’s novelty and uniqueness. With Dr. Moncada’s support, one of the program’s food science students, Ricardo Westston, spearheaded a detailed study to learn more about this singular sauce methodology and the resulting products.
Five universities, including Louisiana State University; Universidad Nacional de Agricultura, Honduras; Universidad de Extremadura, Honduras; South Dakota State University, and North Carolina State University and a small army of professors and food scientists examined every aspect of Swamp Dragon Hot Sauces, including volatile compounds not found in vinegar hot sauce, physicochemical attributes, and even purchasing psychology.
The international study team observed rigorous testing standards and methods, and the publisher’s experts likewise verified the study’s findings. Swamp Dragon provided study samples, but no money or other consideration was exchanged. This was pure inspiration and curiosity on the part of LSU Food Science students and faculty.
Beeson says, “We are honored to be the subject of the study, and humbled that such a team of scholars was inspired to take such a deep dive into Swamp Dragon’s novel sauces!” Find more information on Swamp Dragon products at https://swampdragonhotsauce.com. Swamp Dragon is available at independent grocers and gift shops, nationally distributed through KeHE, and multiple other channels as well, such as Amazon and Touch of Modern.
Read / download the full study here: https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/2/369