MCADVENTURES: The Adventurer BBQ Rub – 200g

At a glance

Heat: Mild — a gentle background warmth from real chilli, no black pepper (label marked "Pepper Free")
Size: 200g shaker
Origin: Hand-blended in Australia for McAdventures by Black Market Spice Merchants, Ripponlea, VIC
Dietary: May contain traces of gluten and other allergens from shared processing equipment — always check the physical label
Best on: Beef, chicken, vegetables, seafood

The All-Rounder Built for Every Cook-Up

The Adventurer is McAdventures' one-shaker answer to "what do I put on this?" It's an all-purpose rub built for the cook who doesn't want a cupboard full of single-use blends — one jar covers steak night, a beer-can chicken, a tray of veg, or whatever's fresh off the boat. No black pepper means it plays nice with people who find pepper-forward rubs harsh, without going soft on flavour.

The flavour

Front is citrus — real orange and lemon lift the first hit. Middle settles into garlic, onion and smoked paprika for savoury depth. Finish brings a ginger kick and a gentle chilli warmth, rounded out by dill and coriander rather than left raw and one-note.

How to cook with it

• Coat beef, chicken or firm white fish generously before grilling over charcoal or gas
• Toss through corn, pumpkin or potatoes before roasting for a citrus-forward veg side
• Season prawns or seafood skewers just before they hit the grill
• Finish popcorn or hot chips with a light dusting for a genuinely different snack

In the shaker

A fine, orange-flecked blend with visible herb and citrus zest through it. Pours freely from the shaker top without clumping — built for a generous, even coat rather than a light dusting.

Ingredients & Dietary

Salt, raw sugar, garlic, onion, smoked paprika, ginger, orange, lemon, chilli, dill, coriander and citric acid.

No declared nut, dairy or egg ingredients, but this is blended on shared equipment — always check the physical label for the current allergen statement before serving anyone with a food allergy.

The Rub Smuggler's Verdict

Darryl rates a rub that works this hard without shouting pepper at you. Citrus up front, chilli held on a short leash — it's the shaker he'd smuggle out first. Oil the meat before you shake it on, two coats if the cut's a big one, and let the crust actually form before you flip. Finish the plate with Rum and Que's Meat Juice Glaze for shine, or Uncle Mungos' Chipotle BBQ if you want a little more smoke behind it.

Questions answered

Is The Adventurer actually spicy?
No — it's mild. There's real chilli in the blend for warmth, but it's built to sit in the background, not take over. The "Pepper Free" on the label refers to black pepper, not capsicum.

What can I use it on?
Beef, chicken, vegetables and seafood — it's genuinely all-purpose rather than protein-specific.

Is it gluten free?
The ingredient list doesn't include gluten-containing items, but it's blended on shared equipment, so always check the physical label for the current allergen statement.

How is it different from a normal steak rub?
Most steak rubs lean hard on black pepper. The Adventurer swaps that out for citrus, ginger and a gentle chilli warmth, so it works just as well on chicken and veg as it does on beef.