The team members responsible for HERDEZ® quemada charred salsas knew what their end goal was. Taking inspiration from WHOLLY® avocado products for foodservice operators, they aimed to give them another labor-saving solution that mimics a “scratchlike, authentic” offering — in this case, salsa — to make it easy for them to add Mexican flavor to their menus.
It was a process that has paid dividends, says David Hernandez, senior R&D manager. For instance, the team was intent on:
- Replicating homemade flavor and consistency
- Using dried chiles in formulation
- Opting for ingredients with minimal preservatives and fillers
- Featuring charred ingredients to have real smoky flavor without using liquid smoke
- Balancing the level of char to achieve the desired flavor while also managing the shrinkage of the vegetables during the charring
- Including operators in vetting the final formulas
There is a salsa verde, a salsa roja, a salsa poblano and a salsa chipotle, all of which spell the first quemada salsas on the market and the first time the HERDEZ® brand team has formulated products especially for the foodservice industry.
