Carolina BBQ Sauce Sampler: Red, Gold & Vinegar Mop

True Made Foods was founded by Abe Kamarck in 2015 and is based in Alexandria, Virginia, and Raleigh, North Carolina. Father-and-son pitmasters Ed and Ryan Mitchell joined as co-founders in 2018 to develop the barbecue range. The company uses fruits and vegetables in its condiments to reduce reliance on added sugar. Its Pitmaster recipes bring that approach together with the Mitchell family's barbecue traditions and an interest in food shared around the family table.

Bring three Carolina barbecue styles to the table with this three-bottle sauce sampler. The assortment includes one bottle each of East Carolina Mop, Carolina Red and Carolina Gold. Compare a vinegar-and-pepper sauce, a tomato-and-vinegar blend and a mustard-based finish without choosing just one regional style for the whole meal.

Vinegar, tomato and mustard in one sampler

East Carolina Mop leads with apple cider vinegar and spices including black pepper, red pepper, sage and turmeric. The Mitchell family associates this style with whole-hog barbecue in Eastern North Carolina. Use it as a mop during cooking or as a finishing sauce on chopped pork; its vinegar-led character also offers a sharp accent for chicken or fish.

Carolina Red combines apple cider vinegar and tomato with apple, carrot, butternut squash, mustard and spices. It represents the tomato-and-vinegar approach associated with Piedmont and Lexington-style barbecue. Try it on pulled pork or beside a pork sandwich when you want tomato flavor alongside vinegar and pepper.

Carolina Gold starts with mustard and brings in apple, apple cider vinegar, vegetables, dates and spices. It gives the pack a distinctly different color and flavor from the Red and Mop. Serve it with chopped pork, grilled chicken or a sandwich when a mustard-forward sauce suits the meal.

The supplier describes these three sauces as having no added sugar and identifies them as gluten-free, Keto and Paleo suitable. No added sugar does not mean sugar-free: fruit and vegetable ingredients can contribute naturally occurring sugars. Red and Gold list mustard among their ingredients. The supplier also cautions that its BBQ sauces are not made in an allergen-free facility and cross-contact is possible.

For help reading the distinction, see the FDA guide to added sugars on the Nutrition Facts label.

What is included

• Pack quantity: 3 bottles.
• One bottle of each included flavor: East Carolina Mop, Carolina Red, Carolina Gold.
• Format: bottled barbecue sauces; individual recipes vary.
• Made in North Carolina, United States.

Browse more BBQ sauces at BuyAmerican or explore gifts and essentials for the grill master to build a barbecue spread.

Ingredients by sauce

East Carolina Mop: Apple Cider Vinegar, Butternut Squash, Carrots, Salt, Black Pepper, Red Pepper, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Paprika, Sage, Turmeric.

Carolina Red: Apple Cider Vinegar, Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), Apple, Carrot, Butternut Squash, Mustard (Vinegar, Water, Mustard Seed, Salt, Turmeric), Salt, Black Pepper, Red Pepper, Garlic Powder, Natural Liquid Smoke (Water, Natural Smoke), Onion Powder, Paprika, Sage.

Carolina Gold: Mustard (Vinegar, Water, Mustard Seed, Salt, Turmeric), Apple, Apple Cider Vinegar, Butternut Squash, Carrots, Dates, Salt, Garlic Powder, Allspice, Black Pepper, Natural Liquid Smoke (Water, Natural Smoke).

These ingredient lists follow the supplier’s individual sauce descriptions. Review the current bottle label for the final ingredient and nutrition information before use, especially when choosing food for someone with an allergy or dietary restriction.

Serving and bottle care

For a tasting spread, set the three sauces beside the same batch of chopped or pulled pork. Begin with a small amount of each to compare vinegar, tomato and mustard before choosing a favorite. Keep the sauces separate on a serving platter so guests can adjust the balance themselves. Mop can be used during cooking, while Red and Gold also work well as table sauces.

Follow the storage and handling directions printed on each bottle, including its instructions after opening. Check the date and seal before serving, and use the product-specific label when comparing serving sizes. Individual recipes have different nutrition profiles, so one bottle’s panel should not be applied to the entire assortment.