How Tabasco Fills Up To 700,000 Hot Sauce Bottles A Day | Big Business | Insider Business
Tabasco sauce has been made on Avery Island, Louisiana, since 1868, using a recipe of red peppers, vinegar, and salt that hasn't changed. The process takes five years, starting with hand-picking tiny, hot peppers grown from special seeds. These peppers are then mashed with salt and aged in wooden barrels for three years on Avery Island. After aging, the mash is blended with vinegar for up to 28 days, then filtered and bottled. The company produces 700,000 bottles daily, including nine different flavors. Avery Island, a natural salt dome, is home to the factory and the McIlhenny family, but it is threatened by shrinking marshes and hurricanes. The company has invested millions in storm protection, building levees and planting grasses to protect their operations and the island's environment.
Key Vocabulary
A type of coniferous tree, often found in wetlands or along riverbanks, known for its durable wood and distinctive cone-shaped appearance.
Examples:
- The old house was framed with strong cypress beams, built to last for generations.
- A lone cypress stood tall in the middle of the swamp, its roots deep in the water.
- The artist used cypress wood for the sculpture, appreciating its unique grain and resistance to decay.
To draw off or transfer liquid by means of a siphon, which is a tube that uses gravity and atmospheric pressure to move fluid from a higher to a lower level.
Examples:
- The mechanic used a hose to siphon gasoline from the old car's tank.
- The winemakers carefully siphoned the fermented grape juice into clean bottles.
- Without electricity, the villagers had to siphon water from the well using a simple tube.
A flavoring extract made from the pods of the vanilla orchid, widely used in desserts, beverages, and other culinary applications.
Examples:
- She added a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the cookie dough for a richer flavor.
- The ice cream parlor offered a classic vanilla scoop, a timeless favorite.
- The scent of vanilla candles filled the room, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
The point at which a hurricane, storm, or other weather system crosses a coastline and moves over land.
Examples:
- The storm made landfall at dawn, bringing heavy rains and strong winds.
- Coastal communities prepared for the hurricane's landfall by boarding up windows.
- After landfall, the typhoon rapidly lost strength as it moved inland.
In a way that is conclusive, decisive, and without any doubt or ambiguity.
Examples:
- The DNA evidence definitively proved the suspect's innocence.
- After years of research, the scientists could definitively state their findings.
- The judge's ruling definitively settled the long-standing dispute between the two parties.
To become progressively worse; to decline in quality, condition, or value.
Examples:
- Without proper maintenance, the old bridge began to deteriorate rapidly.
- His health started to deteriorate after the accident, requiring constant care.
- The fabric of the antique chair will deteriorate over time if exposed to direct sunlight.
To fill something beyond its capacity or intended limit.
Examples:
- He accidentally overfilled the glass, causing the water to spill onto the table.
- If you overfill the washing machine, the clothes won't get clean properly.
- The baker advised not to overfill the muffin cups to prevent them from overflowing in the oven.
A short period of rest or relief from something difficult, unpleasant, or intense.
Examples:
- The quiet afternoon offered a welcome respite from the city's constant noise.
- After weeks of hard work, the team enjoyed a brief respite during the holiday weekend.
- The sudden drop in temperature provided a much-needed respite from the oppressive summer heat.
To scatter small drops or particles over a surface.
Examples:
- She likes to sprinkle cinnamon on her morning coffee.
- The chef began to sprinkle fresh herbs over the roasted vegetables.
- A light sprinkle of rain cooled the air after the hot day.
To make or become stable; to prevent from changing or fluctuating.
Examples:
- The doctors worked to stabilize the patient's condition after the emergency.
- The government implemented new policies to stabilize the economy.
- Engineers added extra supports to stabilize the tall structure during the strong winds.
An embankment built to prevent the overflow of a river or to protect an area from flooding.
Examples:
- The town built a new levee system to protect homes from the rising river.
- During the storm, the levee held strong, preventing a major flood.
- Walking along the top of the levee, they had a clear view of the sprawling farmlands.
The amount of goods or materials that can be carried by a truck.
Examples:
- A whole truckload of lumber arrived at the construction site this morning.
- They ordered a truckload of gravel for the new driveway.
- It took several truckloads to move all the furniture to the new house.
Small, soft-bodied insects that feed by sucking sap from plants, often considered pests in agriculture and gardening.
Examples:
- The gardener noticed a cluster of aphids on the rose bushes and quickly treated them.
- Aphids can cause significant damage to crops if not controlled.
- She used a natural soap solution to deter aphids from her vegetable garden.
To supervise a person or their work, or to manage an activity or process.
Examples:
- The project manager oversees the entire development process from start to finish.
- A dedicated team oversees the quality control of all manufactured products.
- Her role is to oversee the daily operations of the busy restaurant.
Acting in a secret and usually dishonest or unfair way; characterized by stealth or slyness.
Examples:
- The cat made a sneaky attempt to steal a piece of fish from the counter.
- He had a sneaky suspicion that his brother was hiding something from him.
- It was a sneaky trick to get her to reveal her plans without realizing it.
Chosen carefully and specifically by a person, often for a particular quality or suitability.
Examples:
- The director handpicked the cast for the play, ensuring each actor fit the role perfectly.
- Only the finest, handpicked coffee beans are used in this premium blend.
- The committee was handpicked for their expertise in various fields.
A type of chili pepper known for its intense heat and fruity flavor, typically orange or red when ripe.
Examples:
- He added a small piece of habanero to the salsa, giving it a fiery kick.
- The sauce had a distinct habanero aroma, indicating its spiciness.
- Despite its heat, the habanero pepper also offers a surprising sweet and floral note.
A store that sells food and household supplies.
Examples:
- She made a list before heading to the grocery store to buy ingredients for dinner.
- The local grocery offers a wide selection of fresh produce.
- He stopped at the grocery on his way home to pick up some milk.
A tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 74 miles per hour (119 kilometers per hour) or greater, typically forming over warm ocean waters and bringing heavy rain and storm surge.
Examples:
- The coastal town prepared for the approaching hurricane by evacuating residents.
- After the hurricane, the community worked together to clear debris and rebuild homes.
- The weather forecast warned of a powerful hurricane heading towards the islands.
A metabolic process that produces chemical changes in organic substrates through the action of enzymes, often used in food production to create alcohol, acids, or gases.
Examples:
- Yeast is essential for the fermentation process that turns grape juice into wine.
- The fermentation of cabbage produces sauerkraut, a popular fermented food.
- During fermentation, the dough rises as carbon dioxide gas is produced.