Bomba Calabrese. That's what this little jar of Trader Joe's Italian Bomba Hot Pepper Sauce is. But you want to know something? This jar is hot. Like Harissa levels of hot.
Taste and review
I tried this on some toasted Italian bread. Spread thinly.
Let me tell you. This brings the heat. And it lingers.
And cleared my sinuses too.
Now, I can't say that I've had other Bomba Calabrese. But I can tell you that most other commercially available jars have some form of vegetable to cut through the heat: often eggplant or mushrooms.
Here? No such luck. This is chili pepper, oil, and some basil.
Now, when it says Chili Peppers, one can infer (ok, maybe assume) that this is made from either peperoncini. The ones from Calabria would be small cherry sized peppers that pack a punch. Way hotter than a Jalapeno.
And yes, usually the smaller the pepper the more heat it packs.
This condiment is without a doubt hot. And the seeds are in the spread, so there isn't much of a reprieve.
This product is fermented, so it has a pickled pepper taste to it as well. (Cue the Peter Piper references)
It's flavorful. But be warned, go easy with this.
For $2.99 this is a very different flavor profile than say Trader Joe's Harissa. So if you are into spices, this might be worth a try.
If you are like me and just like a medium heat you'll have to find a way to temper the heat in this.
How would I use Trader Joe's Italian Bomba?
Other than spreading this thinly on bread, I'd pair this with something that could mellow the flavor. Other ways to enjoy this would be to use this for heat in an arrabbiata sauce, fra diavolo, in making homemade 'njuda, pair with some goat cheese or even ricotta, even in mayo it would make a flavorful aioli.
And if you have a different use for this, leave a comment ok? Those help a lot of people. Just sayin'.
Overall
Use sparingly because the heat in this little jar lingers. But despite the heat this brings, this does have a good pickled pepper flavor.
Would I buy this again? No, I probably won't be buying Trader Joe's Italian Bomba Hot Pepper Sauce again. A little goes a very long way.
Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!
Product Photos
The jar of Trader Joe's Italian Bomba Hot Pepper Sauce:
The nutritional information and the ingredients:
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Trader Joe's Bomba Hot Pepper Sauce
Product Name: Trader Joe's Bomba Hot Pepper Sauce
Product Description: Trader Joe's Italian Bomba Hot Pepper Sauce is hot sauce but as a picked pepper taste.
Price: $2.99
Currency: USD
Availability: InStoreOnly
Summary
Trader Joe's Italian Bomba Hot Pepper Sauce tastes like Trader Joe's met Peter Piper.
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Taste
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Value
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Worthy of Repurchasing
Pros
- Spice junkies will appreciate this
- Best in moderation
- Has a nice flavor despite the heat
- Must like pickled pepper flavor to appreciate this
Cons
- It's hot and the heat lingers
Kris says
I absolutely love this sauce! It was recommended on a podcast I listen to, and when I finally found it (it was out of stock for a while - maybe people listening to the same podcast?) I was thrilled! And yes, it was WAY spicier than I usually enjoy - though my main objection with spicy food is that the HOT is all you can taste. This is more complex - it's got, as you said, that picked pepper thing going on, as well as some oil, which seems to add a richness. . .
Hands down, my favorite way to use this is on a grilled sausage sandwich - nice roll, a THIN smear of the Bombas sauce, sauteed onions and peppers, and a nice Italian sausage, maybe even some provolone. But I will agree- if you're not a "chili head" (which I'm definitely not!) you've got to be careful with this stuff!
becomebetty says
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on this! Glad you love it.
Linda Chaisson says
I love this! I use it on chicken -wings, breasts, thighs. Obviously, I like mine hot. Often mix it with Chili Onion Crunch.
becomebetty says
Thanks for sharing!