Hill Country Chili Powder

Inspired by the beautiful hills of central Texas, our salt-free Hill Country Chili Powder holds fast to its Tex-Mex roots. A complex blend of chile peppers—mild New Mexico chiles, fruity, bold ancho, and the smoky bite of chipotle—mingles with aromatic onion and garlic, the peppery mint of Mexican oregano, earthy cumin and a dazzling burst of allspice. It’s peppery without being overly hot, enthusiastically adding well-balanced flavor and aroma to every bite. Our Hill Country Chili Powder is blended by hand in small batches in our facility, to protect flavors and provide our customers with the best product possible.

While it’s generally agreed upon that chili powder was invented in Texas, there’s some question as to who can claim primary inventorship. William Gebhardt, a German immigrant living in New Braunfels, TX, is usually given the title. He sold a form of pulverized dried chiles that he called “Tampico Dust”; in 1896 he rebranded as Gebhardt’s Eagle Brand Chili Powder, and his blend of chiles, herbs, and spices won the public over. However, there’s a contender. In 1870, Cincinnati native DeWitt Clinton Pendery came to Fort Worth, TX, to open a dry goods store with his brother. Pendery began experimenting with spicy chiles for their health benefits, and by 1885 began marketing a “Chiltomaline Powder” blended from chiles, along with cumin and oregano. Chiltomaline may have been first in production, but it didn’t grab the public’s attention, or explain clearly that it was powdered chiles, in the same way as Gebhardt’s Eagle Brand did and so, Gebhardt is often considered the inventor.

Tips From Our Kitchen

Our salt-free Hill Country Chili Powder is not just for making a delicious pot of chili. Coat steak and grill for chili-rubbed steak. Season black beans with chili powder and serve over yellow rice. Coat potato wedges with Hill Country Chili Powder and air fry. Rub over ribs or brisket; this seasoning blend can withstand long cooking times. Use to make a savory-spicy rice cereal party snack, or toss over pecans and butter and bake. You can even mix a pinch in with your favorite hot chocolate for a spicy treat.

Hand blended from ancho chile powder, New Mexico chile powder, onion, chipotle chile powder, cumin, garlic, Mexican oregano and allspice.

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