If you saw the 60 Minutes feature, what they didn't tell you is how cute and pretty the island itself is. From the guard at the bridge who hands your driving pass out on a long pole with a clothespin on the end to the rolling hills up to the 168 foot center of the island, it is all very quaint and picturesque. Avery Island is also home to egret colonies, many other birds, and even has a Japanese garden along with camellias and azaleas and rare species of bamboo. As for Tabasco products, we tasted Tabasco Ice Cream, Tabasco cola, Tabasco worcestershire, Tabasco teriyaki, Tabasco soy sauce, Tabasco jam, Tabasco red hots and that didn't even begin to cover the meat marinades, dip mixes, mayonnaise and what not.
And now for your quiz:
1. What are the ingredients in Tabasco?
2. How many varieties of Tabasco pepper sauce are there?
3. Which corporation owns Tabasco?
Answers at the end. In the 'Gee, I didn't know that' category we learned that Avery Island is atop one of the nation's largest salt domes, measuring 2.5 by 3 miles and believed to be as deep as Mount Everest. And they mine the salt as well as use it in Tabasco production
And now for your answers:
1. Tabasco peppers, vinegar and salt. That's it. Of course it marinates and ferments for about three years before it is deemed worthy of being bottled in case you were thinking of making your own.
2. Seven-original red, green, garlic, chipotle, sweet and spicy, buffalo and habanero. There is technically an eighth, the Family Reserve blend sold only at the factory, but they don't count that as a flavor since it is not commercially available.
3. None. It has always been privately owned by the Avery-Marsh-McIllhenny family.
Tabasco has never been one of my favorites, but it is interesting to know all about it. Especially Tabasco Ice Cream? I do use it in recipes....just not one to sprinkle it on my food. Sounds like a beautiful place. Nice pic. Sounds like you two are having a blast!
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