Cento Extra Hot Calabrese Peperoncino Spread, Made in Italy, 9.87 oz

This stuff is great on pizzas and pasta. Just be mindful that after opening it needs to be refrigerated and then consumed within a couple of weeks. I usually freeze some in an ice cube tray to preserve.

When I saw this was peperoncino, I assumed it was the same flavor as the vinegary, light-green pickled ones you sometimes get with pizza or other Italian food. I was pleasantly surprised to find that rather than vinegar being the top note, the strongest flavor is a deep pepper flavor, with a mildly fermented taste. Very complex and savory, and a little goes a long way because it's intense. It's hot but not overly so, the focus is adding flavor, not heat. There is a tang of vinegar, but it's not strong like it is with the pickled ones. I will be buying more of this when I run out!

I like to cook, and this has been a staple of my kitchen for almost a decade now. The Cento Calabrian peppers are always a good deal and contain exactly what you need. I have had one or two batches come leaking, but that is out of dozens. The peppers are very spicy; a little goes a long way, and they impart a nice pepper flavor rather than just heat. The containers do not last too long even in the fridge, so be sure to use them after opening. This is genuinely a product I recommend to people in my life. I call these my secret ingredient, and they form the backbone of every red sauce, every mac and cheese, and so many other dishes.

Although great as a sandwich spread, it's far from hot.

Really good sandwich spread, brings the heat.

Excellent!!!! No questions asked. Delicious, has a good spicy kick, very balanced, no oily leaks, easy to mix in with almost everything.

Not Extra Hot.. Barely any heat or flavor... Pepper skin, seeds and stems in oil, terrible texture almost unedible.

Met and exceeded my expectations. A wonderful addition to pastas and versatile enough to almost any dish. A little goes a long way. Cento rarely disappoints me.