Poon's London WO Sauce, 118g

Awarded 1 Star at the Great Taste Awards 2023 by The Guild of Fine Food.

Praised by judges as “packed with flavour… a salt and sweet balance from the shrimps… delights in its sweet, salt, tangy, and warm balance”, this rich, umami-packed condiment has earned a loyal following. Chef Sat Bains describes it as having “a depth and spice that is not overpowering and a perfect match with shellfish”.

XO Sauce, created in 1980s Hong Kong, is traditionally made with dried scallops, dried shrimp, Jinhua ham, chilli, shallots, and garlic — ingredients considered highly luxurious in Chinese cooking. With dried scallops no longer available in the UK, Poon’s reimagined the recipe, replacing Jinhua ham with their own wind-dried bacon (made to an old family recipe since 1970) and using salted shrimp for a bold, savoury punch.

Affectionately nicknamed “Woooooh Sauce” in the kitchen, Poon’s WO Sauce is intensely moreish and versatile.

Dollop on noodles, rice, dumplings, dim sum, fried eggs, pizza, cream cheese bagels, cheese toasties, or sausage rolls. Stir into pasta, sauces, stir-fries, stews, ragùs, or fried rice.

Ingredients: Rapeseed Oil, Tomato, Onion, Salted Tiny Shrimp (11%) (Shrimp, Brine [Salt, Sugar, Vinegar]), Sugar, Dried Shrimp (4%) (Shrimp, Salt), Wind Dried Bacon (4%) (Pork, Sugar, Pork Fat, Salt, Dark Soya Sauce [Water, Salt, Soybeans, Wheat Flour, Colour (E150a, E150c), Flavour Enhancer (E621), Sugar, Stabiliser (E415)]), Rose Liqueur (Sorghum, Rose Flower, Water, Barley, Pea, Sugar), Spices, Preservative (E250), Garlic, Chilli Flakes, Taekyung Red Pepper Powder.

Allergy advice: Contains Shrimp, Soy, and Wheat. Produced in a kitchen that also handles eggs, fish, gluten, milk, molluscs, soya, and sulphites.

Suitable for: Not suitable for vegetarians or vegans.