CROIX VALLEY: Pineapple Habanero BBQ & Wing Sauce | 355ml (12oz) bottle

Tropical Sweet, Real Heat

Croix Valley's competition roots are all barbecue and Midwest smoke, but this sauce was built for the pitmasters on their team who kept asking for something with actual tropical bite. Real pineapple carries the sweetness; real habanero carries the heat — nothing here is standing in for the other. It's the sauce for anyone at the table who thinks 'mild' wings are a wasted opportunity.

The flavour

Front: bright pineapple, juicy and a little tart. Middle: the habanero shows up fast, floral and fruity before the burn kicks in properly. Finish: a genuine, lingering heat that sits on the lips and builds over the next few bites — this is not a sauce for the heat-shy.

How to cook with it

• Toss cooked wings in sauce straight from the bottle and let them sit two minutes before serving so the glaze tacks up.
• Oven method: bake at 200°C for 35-40 minutes, toss in sauce, then return for a final 5 minutes to set.
• Grill method: cook over medium heat until charred at the edges, then baste with sauce in the final two minutes only — it burns fast on direct heat.
• Left-field use: reduce a cup of sauce in a small pot until syrupy and drizzle it over grilled pineapple for dessert with a serious kick.

In the bottle

A vivid golden-orange sauce flecked with tiny habanero and pineapple fibre, thick enough to hang off a spoon and glossy under light.

Ingredients & Dietary

Ingredients (from the brand's label): Apple Juice, Sugar, Pineapple, Cider Vinegar, Bell Peppers, Habanero Peppers, Jalapeño Peppers, Xanthan Gum.

Dietary: Vegan and gluten free (brand-stated) — always check the physical label.

The Rub Smuggler's Verdict

This one's proper contraband for anyone who reckons tropical sauces can't bring real heat — the habanero isn't decoration, it means business behind that pineapple sweetness. Season wings first with a milder base like Butchers Axe Ranger Red Rub, then glaze once they're cooked so the sugars don't torch on the grill. Prawn skewers love it too, finished with a pinch of Proud Phoenix Crunchy Chilli Lime Salt.

Questions answered

How spicy is the Pineapple Habanero sauce, really?

It's genuinely hot — real habanero, not a token amount. The pineapple sweetness comes first, but the heat builds fast behind it, so it's best for those who enjoy a proper kick.

Can I tone the heat down?

Yes — mix it with a milder sauce or extra pineapple, or use it sparingly as a finishing glaze rather than a full toss to reduce the intensity.

Does it work on seafood as well as chicken?

It does — the tropical sweetness and heat combination suits grilled shrimp, fish tacos, and pork skewers as well as it suits wings.