CROIX VALLEY: Southwest Barbecue Booster | Southwest Seasoning | 170g (6oz) shaker

Warmth with a Southwest drawl

Southwest Barbecue Booster brings cumin, chilli and paprika-style warmth together in a blend built for tacos, chilli and roast pumpkin alike. It's shaped by the same competition pedigree that's carried Croix Valley to nine World Championship titles out of Hudson, Wisconsin. Mild-medium warmth, honestly labelled — not fiery, just genuinely flavourful.

The flavour

Toasted cumin and smoky paprika lead the way, warm rather than sharp. The middle brings a gentle chilli warmth alongside a touch of garlic and onion, rounding into something closer to a good taco seasoning than a straight heat blend. It finishes with a lingering, smoky warmth that suits slow-cooked meat as much as roasted vegetables.

How to cook with it

• Season pulled pork generously before it goes into a low and slow cook, and dust it again through the bark once it's pulled.
• Toss corn cobs in oil and a solid shake before grilling for a smoky, Southwest-style side.
• Stir a heavy spoonful into beef chilli early in the cook so the spices have time to build through the sauce.
• Toss chunks of pumpkin in oil and a generous coating before roasting for a warm, smoky edge.
• Stir it into sour cream for an instant dip that pairs well with corn chips, no cooking required.

In the shaker

A rustic, terracotta-toned blend with a fine, even grind that pours steadily and doesn't clump. The warmth builds gradually on the cook rather than hitting all at once, so it's easy to layer through a longer cook like pulled pork.

Ingredients & Dietary

Ingredients: Full ingredient statement to be confirmed from the physical label.

Dietary: Vegan and gluten free (brand claim) — always check the physical label.

The Rub Smuggler's Verdict

Cumin and smoky paprika smuggled straight in from the Southwest — mild-medium warmth that builds through a cook rather than hitting all at once. Work it into pulled pork well before the smoker starts, the spices need real time on heat to open up. Glaze with Kosmos Q's apple chipotle BBQ sauce for taco night.

Questions answered

How spicy is Southwest Barbecue Booster?

The brand rates it as mild-medium warmth — not fiery — with cumin and paprika-style flavour leading over heat.

What's it best used for?

Pulled pork tacos, beef chilli, corn and roast pumpkin are the standout uses.