I write this review after just opening my second jar, after going through the first one in about 6 weeks! I got the first bottle of McCormick Grill Mates Chipotle & Roasted Garlic Seasoning as a trial sample. I wouldn’t have bought it otherwise and was skeptical at first because Chipotle is the food industry’s new buzzword; and isn’t fresh garlic always better than the powered?
Upon getting my first jar, we got off to a dubious start. The protective covering is a paper, Styrofoam, foil layer that’s glued so securely to the jar when trying to peel it off it actually broke a chip off the plastic bottle. I understand food safety but isn’t it a little overboard when the glue is stronger than the jar?
Things got better quickly. Licking my now covered with seasoning fingers, I discovered this stuff is super-charged sweet-flavored paprika. Forget what McCormick calls it, paprika is what this is. It’s a strong, bold paprika with a sweet taste to it. It is not hot! I know some brands use the words bold and strong to describe the heat level, but I’m not. It’s as hot as chipotled green and red bell peppers – meaning not at all. It has that nice sweetness, along with a nice blending of other flavors without too much salt.
Although the jar recommends to use for grilling chicken, pork and shrimp I use it whenever a need for paprika is called for. Beef? Yes. Pork? Yes? Chicken? Yes. Rice, definitely. Soups and sauces, yup. After a month or so, I used the jar and gladly bought a second one – although this time I used a knife to cut the protective coating around the inside of the rim.
On reviews, they often ask, “would you recommend to friends?’ With this product, I have told others and my friends’ responses have been, “You were right.” So, I recommend it to you, too.
