RUM AND QUE: Soft Coq Rub – 200g

The white-meat whisperer

Soft Coq is Rum and Que's go-to for the gentler proteins — a garlicky, thyme-laced rub that flatters chicken, pork and seafood without ever bullying them. It's the shaker you reach for when you want flavour with finesse, from a Kiwi crew who earned their stripes on the competition circuit.

The flavour

Roasted garlic up front, a green lift of thyme through the middle, and a clean, savoury-sweet finish. It seasons rather than dominates, letting good chicken and fish taste like themselves — only better.

How to cook with it

• Rub it under and over the skin of a whole chicken and roast until the skin crackles and the garlic turns golden.
• Dust chicken thighs or wings before a hot grill for a fast, herby midweek win.
• Season pork chops or a loin an hour ahead so the thyme and garlic settle in.
• Sprinkle over firm white fish or prawns just before they hit the pan — it loves seafood.
• Toss it through hot chips or roast wedges for a garlicky side nobody expects.

In the shaker

A free-running, pale-gold rub flecked with green thyme and garlic. Fine enough to coat evenly, it clings to oiled skin and crisps beautifully rather than burning.

Ingredients & Dietary

Ingredients: Spices, sugar, salt, dehydrated garlic, thyme.

Dietary: No specific dietary claims are stated by the brand; may contain allergen traces — always check the physical label for the most accurate ingredient, allergen and nutritional information.

Offered at a heavy discount as it's past its best-before (BB) date — still perfectly safe, tasty and good for years to come. A BB date is a guide to peak quality, not a safety cut-off, so it's a great chance to save big and try something new.

The Rub Smuggler's Verdict

Don't let the name fool you — there's nothing soft about what this does to a chook. Season the bird, grill it over coals, then set it off with a swipe of Big Paulie Alabama White and a few drops of Fancy Hanks Cayenne & Watermelon for a fresh, fruity heat. Pat the skin dry before it goes on and you'll get proper crackle.