What Makes a Great Taco Seasoning Mix?
There’s nothing like taco seasoning for waking up a pan of plain ground beef. Keep several packets in your cupboard in case the mood strikes for tacos, beef quesadillas, enchiladas or super nachos. A good taco seasoning can also bring traditional southwestern flavors to any dish. Our chefs define high-quality taco seasoning as having a red to reddish brown color. It should not be neon or a color that suggests the presence of food dyes, nor should it have a shine or cornstarch gloss. The moderate aroma should feature a complex blend of garlic, cumin, chili, onion and paprika notes, and there should be no inappropriate aroma off notes, such as dusty, burnt or bullion aromas. A taco seasoning mix is in taste balance when saltiness is the most evident taste, followed by a much lower level of sweetness. There may be some sourness as well, but any bitterness should be very low. Taco seasoning mix should have enough flavor intensity to complement ground beef without overwhelming it. Its flavo
