Add a New Flavor Dimension to Your Dishes with Brine Concentrates from Sweetwater Spice Co. (Review)

Sweetwater Spice Co., created in Austin, TX in 2007, is the maker of the first ready-to-use brine concentrates.  Our BBQ BATH, FAJITA BATH, REGIONAL Q BATHS, and TURKEY BATH brine concentrates produce the most tender and juicy meat, no matter how it is cooked.

According to Scott Sapire, owner of Sweetwater Spice Co. says, "My goal is to provide my customers with the best value in gourmet convenience and my brines are a testament to that.  Each bottle can tenderize and season far more meat than a comparable marinade and only our brines can ensure moist and tender results every time."

How is Brining Different Than Marinating?:

Brining is like marinating but it is faster and more effective because it tenderizes every protein in the meat, not just the outside. In addition to a brine’s superior ability to penetrate meat as a tenderizer, brines also protect meat from drying out while cooking. Brines work in much less time than marinades requiring only 30 minutes for chicken pieces and 1 hr for steaks or chops. Brining produces juicier meat, even when the outside is charred. Unlike a marinade’s use of acids to break down the outside of meat, brines use osmosis to tenderize meat at its center and season the whole cut.

Our Top Selling Apple Chipotle BBQ BATH Brine Concentrate blends the sweetness of Apple Juice with the smokiness of Chipotle and Ancho chilies. Perfect pairing for Chicken Breasts, Pork Tenderloins, and Steaks. 


More sweet and slightly smokey than spicy, this brine recipe is family friendly and a kid favorite. You won't believe the difference a brine makes the juiciness and tenderness of meat compared to marinades. 
In only 30 minutes one can season and tenderize enough meat to feed the family or throw a BBQ - 1 bottle covers 6 lbs of meat. 


I was sent the following BBQ and Fajita Baths to sample, and had a great time trying out new dishes with these easy to use brines.

Mild in spice, the Lime Jalapeno brine is based on a traditional Al Pastor recipe. It is a blend of Pineapple and Lime Juice with a potent herbal bouquet of Mexican Oregano, Cilantro, and Cumin.


Only the green of the jalapeno is used, making this safe for children.


This was designed for flank steak fajitas but it's great on chicken, shrimp, tilapia, and unbelievable on a rack of lamb.

The Tres Chilies brine uses natural Smoked salt and Smoked Chilies (Chipotle, Ancho, and Cayenne) to bring the taste of the grill indoors.


The medium degree of spice of this flavor is balanced with the sweet final note of the Apple Juice base.

These are the Sweetwater Spice Co. mildest flavors - the Tres Chilies being slightly spicier than the other two, but good for kids 5+, while the other two are mild enough for toddlers.  And, with a 20 month old who is now eating our food, I need to make sure I am making foods that will be pleasing to her taste buds, while not being too overpowering or spicy.  Out of the three flavors I was sent to try, I was looking forward to the using the Tres Chilies with a nice cut of steak.  

So, when I had my family down last weekend, I spent the weekend experimenting with these brines.  I first made steak fajitas using the Tres Chilies brine.  Wow, I couldn't get over the smokey fresh taste this brine added to the meat.  Because I was broiling the meat, I wasn't sure if I would get that smokey flavor you get when you grill, but thanks to this brine, I achieved exceptional flavor, that everyone at the dining room table couldn't stop raving about.  

With the Lime Jalapeno brine, I ended up using it as a braising liquid in the crock pot with chicken pieces.  At first, I wasn't sure how it could taste, as I am not used to using braising liquids in the crock pot.  To use this brine, you only had to dilute with 3 parts water to 1 part brine -- yes, it is that easy!  After cooking for 8 hours on low, I had a great meal, which I served over rice, with a side of red beans.  I loved the mild jalapeno taste, mixed with pineapple and lime flavors.  It really elevated the chicken, making the house smell amazing, as it cooked.

My mother was so impressed with these brines, that I ended up giving her the Apple Chipotle brine to try.  She used this last night with a pork loin she cooked in the crock pot.  She loved how quick and easy it was to dilute this brine, and by the time she returned from work, she has a melt in your mouth pork loin, filled with sweet apple and rich, smokey Chipotle flavors, that made you not want to stop eating.  

So, as you can see, these brine concentrations from Sweetwater Spice Co. are amazing and so versatile, working with beef, chicken, fish, pork and more.  I can't wait to try out some of the other brines, including their APPLE ROSEMARY SAGE TURKEY BATH BRINE.  I can only imagine how the herbs and sweet apple flavors will add a new level of flavor to a turkey dinner.  And, the pan gravy must taste amazing.  If you like using brines, or are looking to experiment with flavors in the kitchen, then you must pick up a few of these brine concentrates from Sweetwater Spice Co.  You will be amazed at the flavor levels you can achieve with these brines.  And, you don't to be an expert in the kitchen to use, which I love!

Please follow Sweetwater Spice Co. on Facebook and Twitter for upcoming deals on existing products, breaking news on new products, and a chance to be a taste tester, as they develop exciting new product lines.

--BUY NOW--

The above brines can be ordered directly from the Sweetwater Spice Co. for only $8.99 per bottle.  In addition, use the store locator to find a retailer near you who carries these brines.  I can't wait until Sweetwater Spice Co. products will be available at my local Home Goods store in mid May.  But, in the meantime, I will be ordering online.  And, if you place an order online, make sure you use coupon code " CT MOM " to receive FREE SHIPPING.  Act fast, as this coupon code is only valid through May 28th, 2012.

Disclosure:  I was sent samples from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  The views above are mine and mine alone.