A few tangy, smoky ingredients While some variations are natural depending on the region or the barbecue joint, Texas sauce gets its punch from adding a handful of spices, along with an extra layer of flavor from savory or tangy ingredients such as mustard and vinegar (per Texas Monthly).

Our Texas Bold BBQ Sauce is our newest addition, created in 2011 by our own Tom Abney. Spiced with black pepper, it is thicker, slightly sweeter, and has a noticeably hotter kick than our Original BBQ Sauce. Since its introduction, this sauce has quickly become a fan favorite!

Unlike Carolina sauce which is usually vinegar-based or Kansas City sauce which contains molasses or brown sugar, Texas barbecue sauce is tomato-based with a hint of sweetness to balance out the flavors. It's usually served on the side so people can add as much (or as little) as they'd like!

Tomato-based Tomato-based sauces, sometimes referred to as "red sauces," are the most common type of barbecue sauce in Texas. These sauces typically contain tomato paste or ketchup as their base, and are often mixed with spices, sugar, vinegar, and sometimes even beer.

There are a few key ingredients that make Texas BBQ sauce unique. It has a deeper, smokier flavour, and often includes cumin and chilli powder, which give the sauce a bit of a kick. Texas BBQ sauces are usually made with vinegar or the addition of another acidic ingredient rather than ketchup or tomato paste.

According to Robb Walsh, a food writer for the Houston Press, southern African American cooking customs and German meat markets primarily influenced modern Texas barbecue. The term is also tied to the Spanish word barbacoa, a South Texas cooking method in which the meat is wrapped and cooked in a pit of coals.

A strong smoky, acidic tomato aroma fills the nose on the initial whiff of the sauce. That deep tomato base has some sugary molasses that cuts the upfront acidity. Beyond this bold base, there's background notes of onion, garlic, and a slight mustard pungency.

For a diner scratching their head about price increases, the most important thing to remember is that the additional money isn't going into the owner's pocket. The owners are increasing prices to cover the rising costs of raw ingredients. Consider a pound of prime brisket at your local barbecue joint.

Texas Barbecue refers to methods of preparation for barbecue unique to Texan cuisine. Beef brisket, pork ribs, and sausage are among the most commonly known dishes. The term can also include side dishes that are traditionally served alongside the smoked meats.

The flavor of this great Texas barbecue sauce is big and bold, like the state it's named for. Not as thick or sweet as its Midwestern relatives, this spicy barbecue sauce is traditionally used with beef, just the thing for that homemade brisket.

Franklin Barbecue Franklin Barbecue has long reigned as the king of 'cue in Austin. James Beard Award–winning pitmaster Aaron Franklin smokes some legendary meats and is regarded as one the most famous and influential barbecue chefs in the country today.

It consists of cooking beef brisket, pork ribs, and/or sausage over wood or charcoal in an open pit using indirect heat. Texas barbecue is usually seasoned with a dry rub consisting of spices such as black pepper, cumin, garlic powder, and chili powder.

Texas Pete Original Hot Sauce has everything you're looking for in a classic, vinegar-forward Louisiana-style red hot sauce. It's to the point, delicious, and unpretentious. The balance between the aged peppers and the vinegar is spot on. UPDATE NOTICE: This post was updated on May 9, 2021 to include new content.