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Tijuana Mama Pickled Sausage

by Steve
6/06/2006 10:43:00 PM

Tijuana Mama Pickled SausageAs far as junk food goes, this pickled sausage from Penrose is about a junky as junk food can get. Penrose is a brand of pickled snack foods that's been around for 40 years, and is the industry leader in sales of pickled sausages.

Tijuana Mama Pickled Sausage

I picked this up at my local AM/PM convenience store. It was sitting right by the check out counter, with the Slim Jims and the travel-sized packs of beef jerky. I decided to try it on for size. The store clerk shuddered in disbelief that I would actually want one of these.

In short, this like a "red hot" but pickled. The ingredients list on this thing says it's made with "mechanically separated chicken", pork, pork hearts, and beef, among the list of flavorings and chemicals.

It was kinda difficult removing this sausage from its package without damaging it. The thing wanted to crumble apart.

Once it was removed, the aroma (or should I say "odor") that permeated from this potent weenie was easily apparent within seconds. It didn't attack your nostrils the same way that a gob of wasabi might do, but it was enough to make you pull your head back.

Taste

The first thing that hits you is the potent and pungent flavor of the pickling juice. It's the same pickling juice they use with pickled eggs, mostly just vinegar and salt, and some paprika, according to the ingredients list.

It's hard to differentiate the taste of the sausage from the taste of the pickling juice. I'm not sure I can taste the sausage.

The label says that this is "300% Hotter". Compared to what? I don't know. These are definitely hot. The first bite won't burn you, it's after the fifth or sixth bite that'll have you waving your hand across your mouth. After eating half the weenie, my tongue is burning, my eyes are getting misty, and my scalp is starting to itch. But I can still eat more.

Quality

If you like pickles with extreme flavor, this has Extreme Flavor. If you like pickled eggs, you'll like this too, it's the same flavor.

The sausage leaves a thick film in the back of your throat, probably mucus as a natural defense against the hot spiciness.

I found it difficult to eat mainly because it kept crumbling apart. It's probably better to tear a hole at the top of the package, and squeeze the weenie out a bite at a time. Otherwise, you'll want a fork because it'll leave an oily-orange residue on your fingers.

Summary

This is definitely not something you'd want to eat on an empty stomach. I actually ate this just having finished a couple burritos from Del Taco. This is probably best as an after-meal snack.

On the snackability factor, one might desire to eat one of these things, but not several of them one right after another. I'd rather just eat one-half, and save the rest for another day. It's kinda like Kim Chi, you want to eat it, but you can only eat a little bit at a time.

I think this will be great in a bowl of chili, but crumbled up into pieces. It's got such intense flavor, that it'll give each spoonful a real kick.

Particulars

Where purchased: AM/PM convenience store
Cost: $1.29 each
Buy it online: JerkySupermarket.com

21 Comments:

  • That is one of the most disgusting things I've ever seen...and I live in the South! So much for breakfast this morning. I may not eat again for a while.

    By Anonymous Lesley, at 6/07/2006 04:20:00 AM  

  • MMMMMMM-MMMMM!!!! That Goood Sausage!

    By Blogger AKfilmguy, at 6/16/2006 03:44:00 PM  

  • I just had my first Tijuana Mama about 3 minutes ago. A coworker recommended it highly for it's delicios spice. I too enjoy spicy treats and I must say this one satisfies.

    The "meat" was consistent and wasn't plagued with the overabundance of fat or gristly particles that often plague other snack sausages. That is a huge plus for me.

    As I write this the heat and flavor (mostly the heat) are lingering in my mouth in a pleasant way.

    I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

    By Blogger Jay, at 8/02/2006 12:04:00 PM  

  • That is too funny. Just goes to show you can pickle just about anything, I may have to try doing that myself. If I do I will post the results at my website.

    How To Pickle

    By Blogger Jon's B-World, at 9/05/2006 06:42:00 PM  

  • Good quality 'mamas dont fall apart, your store probably handled or stored it wrong, allowing it to freeze ruins the texture, so will storing it in sunlight

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11/10/2006 10:12:00 AM  

  • i love these thing ive been eating them since i was 4 but when u buy them choose carefully because alot of the stores handle them wrong and they go bad. and what the bloody hell is wrong with the one in that pic up there ive never seen 1 look that bad iether its rotten or u microwaved it whatever u did please god never do again seriously man thats gross!!!!!!!!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12/17/2006 07:56:00 PM  

  • I eat at least one a day, and have for years, YEP, there is something wrong with the one in the picture, normally they are easy to get out of package, and Man O' Man are they good with Adult Refreshment.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7/20/2007 09:51:00 AM  

  • I invented the Tijuana Mama in April 1987 at the Acme Packing Company in Baltimore, MD. The 300% Hotter claim is in relative to the regular Big Mama product. The soft texture is the aicd in the vinegar dissolving the protein bonds that hold the sausage together - a defect that can be caused in manufacuring, pickling, high storage temperature (>85F), or time (mushiness is one of the limits to shelf life). The product has changed through the years, especially since ConAgra bought the operation. Regular users were probably be happier with the quality of the Mexicana Hannah brand produced by Knauss Snack Foods/American Foods Group where there's still respect for the product you're offering consumers.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7/27/2007 05:16:00 AM  

  • ok, what the writer said was BS. this pickled sausage is a beast. i love getting it from the icecream truck, and alot of the time after coming from my local convenience store. i think you opened the package WRONG, wtf were u doing.. seriously.. i havent ever had a tijuana hot sausage come out the package like that. seems like it cut up and smashed on purpose. but yea these things are definitely one of the best. it kicks hot mama's butt. you notice that it has way less noticeable fat than a hot mama has. lol, some ppl on my bus say it stinks, but i think they are just retarded. while, on the other hand, the more "smart" people would beg for a piece.. i prefer to eat it as slow as possible.. like the smallest bite u can take.. makes it o so worth it. i would recommend it.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9/14/2007 06:05:00 PM  

  • OK For that to look that bad it appears to me by your comments that you do not like the Tijuana Mama and in ordered to make your story more better you took a pic of a badly mutalated sausage. This sausage did not end up looking that way on it's own it was helped along in some way. You should be ashamed of yourself distroying such a great piece of meat like that. I eat at least two of these a day and love love love them.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10/13/2007 02:54:00 PM  

  • I work at a convince store and for one, what did you do to that poor sausage !! I agree if you eat it with your fingers then yes they get oily and orange. but that is why you push it through and even when pushing it through it keeps its shape. When Posting a blog you should think to get a product that is IN DATE because if it looked like that and you ate it! UGH poor thing! I buy those for my husband BOXES at a time! He Loves them SOO MUCH ! I have never bought any snack in Quantity as much as the Tijuana mama pickled sausages .
    Tasha

    By Blogger robert, at 10/24/2007 02:28:00 AM  

  • I agree that the Tijuana Mama Pickled Sausage is a delicious snack that I sometimes crave. You might even go as far to say that I have a mild addiction to the spicy pickled sausage treat. I have been eating the Tijuana Mama Pickled Sausage on and off for at least a duration of one year now. My comments on the pickled sausage in the photograph that is displayed above has clearly been tampered with in some sort of merciless way. My reason for the previous statement to be true is that I have never seen a Tijuana Mama in the condition like the one displayed in the image above. My final thoughts on this matter are thoughts of glee and happiness once I chomp in to this delightfully satisfying snack.

    By Blogger David, at 11/12/2007 06:02:00 PM  

  • i ate one of those last night after about 10 beers at the local roadhouse. i damn near vomited.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2/17/2008 09:47:00 PM  

  • i saw this for sale in walmart when i was visiting the usa. i bought one and ate it in the carpark and had to go back for more.
    i'm so sad they don't sell pickled sausages in australia.
    mmmm, i can taste it now! oh the memories.

    By Blogger Anna, at 2/18/2008 02:05:00 AM  

  • maybe you should give this one the "best 2 out of 3" trial, eh?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2/18/2008 10:52:00 AM  

  • this is on of my favorite snacks! i only know one other person that enjoys these hot pickled sausage...i even drink the 'juice' in the bottom of the packaging. i've tried every hot sausage i can find and prefer tijuana mama's.
    you should give it another try. the one in your description either seems old or stored in too high of a temperature.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3/15/2008 02:24:00 PM  

  • I want to pack a fatty at just the thought.

    By Anonymous Senor Doctaire, at 5/16/2008 06:30:00 AM  

  • That is one damn good snack!

    The photo is wrong - my mama was solid, not crumbly at all. I must admit that i am a TM rookie, but can say emphatically that i will be back 4 more.

    giddy up.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5/16/2008 10:47:00 AM  

  • Just had 6th mama of my life. The previous 5 are memorable not so much for the snack itself ( although they are tasty ), but more for the bathroom event that follows. Like a bad hangover, I always promise myself.. Never again. Then a few years go by, and I'm back on the toilet.

    Woot !

    By Anonymous BlazingBritches, at 5/16/2008 11:07:00 AM  

  • I just had one today, it didn't taste really spicy since I eat spicy food everyday. The liquids at the bottom of the wrapping spilled on me

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6/06/2008 04:11:00 PM  

  • This snack is absoutly amazing. I ate this the entire time I was pregnant with my son. Of course the after math of coming out is not pleasant, but it didn't stop me from have 2 a day.

    Defintely recommend this sausage to anyone! As a matter of fact, I'm going to stop and get me one after work..


    MMMM!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7/03/2008 11:18:00 AM  

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