- 2-in-3 believe the choice of sauce can ‘make or break’ a BBQ.
- Jamaican BBQs are the most desired international BBQ experience among Georgians
The quest for the ultimate BBQ experience is a savory journey through America’s regional specialties. Texas, with its legendary slow-smoked brisket and succulent ribs, stakes a bold claim to the title of the nation’s top BBQ. Meanwhile, Memphis-style BBQ, with its mouthwatering pulled pork and ribs, offers a formidable challenge with its rich tradition. Not to be overlooked, Hawaiian BBQ brings a distinctive taste to the table, infusing Polynesian and Asian influences into classics like the smoky kalua pork.
While the method of barbecuing meat contributes significantly to the dish’s outcome, the role of BBQ sauce in defining flavor cannot be overstated. Recognizing this, Smoked BBQ Source, a trusted resource for barbecue guides, recipes, and product reviews, set out to conduct an extensive survey among 3,000 BBQ enthusiasts. Their mission? To identify once and for all the most celebrated BBQ style sauce across the country. The results were as diverse as the barbecue styles themselves, with the top ten ranging from Arizona’s fiery concoctions to the innovative zest of Florida’s citrus-infused varieties.
The top 10 were as follows:
#1 Arizona Style Sauce
Topping the charts is the Arizona Style Sauce – it’s the John Wayne of BBQ sauces, bold and smoky, with a chili pepper lasso that wrangles any wild meat into submission. It’s got more kick than a mule with a cactus thorn in its side.
#2. Alabama White Sauce
Struttin’ in at second, Alabama White Sauce is celebrated for its distinctive mayonnaise base, setting it apart with its unique color and creamy texture. Its tangy profile, laced with just the right amount of bite, makes it an exceptional choice for both chicken and pork, offering a refreshing twist on traditional BBQ flavors.
#3. Georgia BBQ Sauce
Ranking third, Georgia BBQ Sauce strikes a delightful balance between sweet and tangy, primarily featuring a ketchup or tomato foundation. Occasionally, this sauce is enhanced with peaches, offering a nod to Georgia’s famed produce, and providing a subtly sweet, fruity undertone that elevates it from the ordinary.
#4. Florida BBQ Sauce
Florida BBQ Sauce, with its signature citrusy notes, claims the fourth position. It ingeniously incorporates orange or lemon juice, introducing a distinct tanginess that brightens the overall flavor profile, making it a perfect complement to a wide range of barbecued foods.
#5. California Style Sauce
At fifth place, California Style Sauce is known for its emphasis on fresh, quality ingredients, often drawing inspiration from Asian or Mexican culinary traditions. This approach results in a versatile sauce that adds an innovative and flavorful twist to any barbecue.
#6. Arkansas Style Sauce
The sixth-ranked Arkansas Style Sauce features a tangy, vinegar and tomato base with a spicy kick. Its thinner consistency makes it an ideal choice for marinating or as a dipping sauce, offering a piquant flavor that enhances the meat’s natural taste.
#7. Texas-Style BBQ Sauce
The seventh slot goes to Texas-Style BBQ Sauce, which is recognized for its thinner, tomato-based composition. It skillfully balances sweet, spicy, and tangy elements, with certain variations leaning towards a beefier focus and a touch of heat, reflecting the state’s preference for brisket.
#8. Kansas City-Style BBQ Sauce
Claiming the eighth spot, Kansas City-Style BBQ Sauce is a crowd-pleaser with its thick consistency and a harmonious blend of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors. This sauce has become synonymous with American barbecue, beloved for its versatility and rich taste.
#9. Hawaii BBQ Sauce (Huli Huli Sauce)
Ranking ninth, the Hawaii BBQ Sauce, or Huli Huli Sauce, offers a teriyaki-style experience that’s both sweet and tangy. Made with pineapple juice, soy sauce, and ginger, it’s particularly favored for grilling chicken, bringing a touch of tropical flair to the table.
#10. Memphis-Style BBQ Sauce
Rounding up the top 10, Memphis-Style BBQ Sauce is noted for its thinner consistency and tangy flavor, leaning more towards tanginess than sweetness. While Memphis BBQ is traditionally more focused on the rub, this sauce provides a balanced blend that complements the smoky meats perfectly.
Smoked BBQ Source decided to delve deeper and explore peoples’ love of BBQs.
First up they asked respondents, if they could experience another BBQ style from another country, which would it be.
The responses were as follows:
Jamaica (33%) came top, which is understandable given its rich tradition of jerk cooking. Jerk refers to a style of cooking where the meat is marinated in a hot spice mixture called jerk spice, which includes ingredients like fiery Scotch bonnet peppers and fragrant allspice.
Brazil comes in second with 24%, likely due to its renowned churrasco-style BBQ, which focuses on a variety of meats grilled on skewers over open flame. This style celebrates the natural flavors of the meat, often with little more than a sprinkle of sea salt for seasoning, and is a reflection of its ranching culture.
Australia is chosen by 14% of the respondents, a nod to its BBQ culture that often involves grilling on the beach or in the backyard. The Australian BBQ is not just a cooking method, but a social event, featuring a variety of meats, seafood, and vegetables, often accompanied by an array of globally-inspired side dishes.
South Korea is favored by 13% of those surveyed, indicative of the popularity of Korean BBQ, which is a communal and interactive dining experience. Diners cook marinated meats such as bulgogi (sweet and savory) and galbi (short ribs) on grills built into their tables, which is then enjoyed with a variety of banchan (side dishes).
Argentina is the choice for 11% of respondents, where BBQ, or asado, is considered an art form. Asado is not just about the food but also the social event surrounding the cooking process. The cuisine is characterized by its use of high-quality beef, cooked slowly over low heat from wood fires, resulting in tender, flavorful meat.
Lastly, South Africa, with 4%, is known for its braai, which is similar to BBQ but distinct in its social importance and the variety of meats cooked, including boerewors (a type of sausage) and sosaties (marinated meat skewers). The braai is a cherished tradition that brings people together, often accompanied by salads, bread, and stews.
When it comes to people’s experiences with barbecuing, over two-thirds stated that a BBQ sauce plays such an outsized role, that it can ‘make or break’ a BBQ gathering!
Over 1 in 10 (13%) admit that they have hosted a BBQ where they inadvertently served undercooked meat. This oversight may be linked to findings from a previous study, which revealed that almost 40% of people grilling admit to doing so while drunk.
Smoked BBQ Source also asked respondents if they have one celebrity chef cook them a BBQ meal, who would you most want? The results were in this order:
1. Rodney Scott
2. Chris Lilly
3. Aaron Franklin
4. Myron Mixon
5. Ed Mitchell
6. Adam Perry Lang
7. Tuffy Stone
Finally, as with anything in life, ‘too much of a good thing can be a bad thing’. BBQ aficionados suggest that the sweet spot for savoring BBQ gatherings during the season caps at six. Any more could overshadow the delight, tipping the scale from pleasurable to overdone.
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