TABASCO Country Store

Loved the spicy soft serve ice cream. Great deals on the hot sauces. Fun merchandise. Informative staff. The Family Reserve version of their classic Tabasco is awesome! The tasting bar should not be missed.

While visiting Tabasco Museum in Avery Island, Louisiana, we visited the Tabasco Country Store. You don’t need to buy a ticket to visit the store. They have a great collection of Tabasco related items. An array of Tabasco sauces from mild to very very hot are on the counter for you try. We bought several items to give friends and family. Definitely must stop by and check it out while visiting the museum.

We loved this place! Great factory tour as well as geological and historical perspectives. Be sure and grab some delicious beverages and Cajun grub at the restaurant. Don’t forget to stop at the store and stock up on all the different Tabasco flavors. Staff was super friendly and helpful. Take the garden tour as well. Peaceful and beautiful. UrbanCowgill April 2019 UrbanCowgill April 2019

The tour, cafeteria style restaurant and Country store gift shop were all great! We had a very fun and informative day! The Museum tour from the Peppers to bottling was full of information and history. The trio of Jambalaya, Red Beans and Rice and Crawfish Etoufee at the Cafeteria style restaurant, SO delicious! The Country Store gift shop was packed full of an amazing variety of so many interesting Tobascco souvenirs to include T-Shirts, kitchen items, and hotsauce in every flavor - plus any kind of knick-knack you can think of!!! We took home Tabasco Hot Pepper Jelly along with a large variety of Tabasco sauces to include the one that goes on Ice Cream! It's truly good!! I look forward to going back and picking up more of our favorites among the many tasty Tobascco flavors. I highly recommend this tour, you won't leave disappointed! The people from buying your ticket to the gift shop are all extremely friendly. Looking forward to our next visit!!

We loved our visit. Ronda was quite helpful in the tasting area. I just wished I had taken a picture of that area. Lunch was also amazing.

If you've ever wanted something with Tabasco labeling, it'll be here. Don't have to take the tour to visit the store or restaurant. Favorite item: the Family Reserve edition of the traditional hot sauce, which is ticket and less vinegary than the usual.

Really enjoy coming to Avery Island and seeing the Tabasco Factory. The country store has everything you could imagine themed under the Tabasco label. There's also a tasting bar in the back where you can sample all of their products including ice cream!

Taste testing at the factory store! Who knew Tobasco made so many varieties? Gotta try the Scorpion Sauce! Whoo Hoo! Fun Fun Bought the HOT Olives and the Sciracha sauce

Always been a fan of the Hot Sauce. More impressed when I learned that this international giant is family-owned and managed from the original location-- Avery Island, Louisiana! Hard to believe that something so simple (only three ingredients) could rule the World of spicy condiments. I had to see for myself. I spent over four hours touring around-- and that is by myself at my own hobbling pace. Don't miss the Gardens!

This was an interesting museum to visit if you are an avid lover of hot sauce. It goes over the history of Tabasco. I had no clue it originated from Avery Island. The place also has a gift shop to satisfy any hot sauce goodies you may want. They had a sampling station that had tabasco ice cream and coke. The tabasco ice cream was really good. My favorite being the raspberry with jalapeños. The sampling station also had all kinds of tabasco flavors I hadn't seen. The museum also had stations where you could see how tabasco was actually made. It also shows a portion of the bottling and packaging of the final product. The tour also had access to Jungle Gardens which is a really cool experience and I wish we could have done it earlier before it had gotten too dark.

If you're in the area and have some time to visit the Tabasco Factory, I highly recommend it! I had no idea this was here. They have several buildings to check out, a cool store where you can sample all the sauces, coke with Tabasco and ice cream with Tabasco. The ice cream was surprising. They had a jalapeño and a raspberry one. They were surprisingly delicious. They also have a restaurant on site and their food is really good. I was skeptical since it's a tourist attraction, but the food was fantastic. They have a great Bloody Mary bar which is what brought us into the restaurant and of course ALL the sauces in the table to try until your heart's content. They do offer a military and veteran discount and give you a special Tabasco gift bottle with your branch of service. That was so cute!

This is the second time we have visited the Tabasco plant. The first time was years ago before they added 1868. We weren't able to a factory tour back but we walk through the Jungle Gardens. The gardens were beautiful but we were more interested in the factory and country store this time. The factory was pretty cool. I think we enjoyed seeing the bottling process the most. Loved seeing new products in the store. Unfortunately we missed dining hours for 1868 but that just means we get to come back! Everyone was very nice and helpful!

What a neat experience! I didn't think I'd learn so much about Tabasco, but they've truly preserved its history. My husband and I enjoyed walking along the grounds. You can tell the property is well taken care of. My favorite part? The souvenir store where you can try Tabasco ice cream and popcorn.! The ice cream is surprisingly good! My husband and I had the loveliest time with two sisters who stuck around late so we could peruse the shop. We had spent so much time at the museum, the store had closed. I believe one of their names is Rhonda. Thank you for making our experience 5/5.

My boyfriend knew about the Tabasco Museum on Avery Island, so we decided to have a little road trip while we were already in New Orleans (~140miles away). He was willing to rent the car and do all of the driving, so I just got to enjoy the ride. It's a bit of a drive but if you are a fan of Tabasco, it is quite a treat to explore their history, innovations and of course all of the exclusive products and samples. It will take a bit over an hour explore the grounds and more time if you decide to dine at their restaurant and shop from the gift store. Tickets can be purchased online prior or you can pay on the day of your trip. No cash accepted on the facilities, debit or credit cards okay. It was a fantastic self guided tour, with each of the stops being its' own building: Stop 1: The Museum Stop 2: Green House Replica Stop 3: Barreling and Pepper Mash Warehouse Viewing Stop 4: Blending Stop 5: About Avery Island Stop 6: Salt Mine Replica Stop 7: Bottling Line Viewing Stop 8: Tabasco Today Stop 9: Tabasco Country Store and Sampling Bar Tastings Stop 10: Restaurant 1868 What a glorious experience! So much history about the McIlhenny family and their innovations to bring Tabasco to where it is today. I have been to the Sriracha Factory in Irwindale, California and I was already super impressed, but it does not hold a foot candle to this experience. The only downside was a few of their stations can use better upkeep. They may not get too much foot traffic being all the way on Avery Island, but it is so neat if you get to experience it. I loved the history and tabasco culture, but my favorite part was the gift shop and tastings. We were able to try all the sauces, even some of the newer ones that isn't available for purchase at my local stores. And there was even 2 flavors of tabasco soft serve. The 2 ladies working here were super friendly and inviting. They gave us pretzels to sample the sauces and even chili and soft serve samples. So yummy I got a full order of soft serve too. We enjoyed it so much we even bought a few tabasco bottle with fancy scarce flavors to take as gifts, and went to the trouble of checking in our bags to take these goodies back home. Highly recommended if you can make your way out to Avery Island. The experience was informative and fun.

You accidentally eat an UHS (unidentified hot sauce), and it's actually a mad scientist's latest experiment. Moments later, you fall into a deep sleep and find yourself in an altered state of mind, playing a game of Southern Studies Monopoly. You've just landed firmly on the Louisiana Purchase square in the game. You must now pull a card from the blazing red hot card stack. The blazing red hot card you've pulled reads: "One Yelp reviewer described his experience at the Tabasco Factory in two words: Sizzling hot! This tour is highly recommended to better understand the complexity of the world's best hot sauce, the US food system, and anchor institutions in the Deep South regional context. Please pay the bank the cost of admission and advance three spaces." You now pay the bank and advance three spaces to "Florida Man: The Internet Sensation." Startled, you instantly wake up and come back to reality, realizing you are actually in your car in the parking lot of the Tabasco Factory where you are recovering from a double whammy of Louisiana heat: humidity and Tabasco sauce samples. Realizing you have too many other things to see and do (on your road trip through Louisiana and Mississippi) to be so lackadaisical, you suddenly blast the air conditioner, exit the parking lot, and proceed to the Jungle Gardens.

While returning home from our biennial FL vacation, my wife and I took an hours-long detour to Avery Island to restock our Tabasco supply - a detour we've made several times. Upon arriving at the gate, we were greeted by a cheerful man who advised us that there was currently no fee to enter the island - a pleasant surprise! Unfortunately, that was the end of our pleasant surprises on this detour. As we exited our vehicle, we noticed that there was no large colorfully-decorated sign identifying the country store. So much for taking a cool souvenir photo to post to the world. While approaching the store, I noticed that Tabasco barrels were offered for sale. I made a mental note to ask about the shipping cost for this item. On the front porch of the store was an EMPTY bucket with a sign that read something like "Free - Take One". Not sure what that was about. Upon entering the store, we approached the counter and requested the main objective of our visit - a gallon jug of original red sauce. We were disappointed when the cashier advised us that corporate had recently taken all of the gallon jugs for some specific use and that none were currently available. The cashier suggested that we could buy the gallon jug online, but even she agreed that the high cost of shipping would negate any bulk rate savings. After a quick walk around the store, I returned to the counter with 2 half-gallon jugs of original red sauce and asked if I could purchase both jugs for the same price as the gallon jug I had originally requested. Without bothering to check with a manager, both cashiers quickly dismissed my request. Is that the way you treat guests who visit your house? Hmmm. One clothing item in particular caught our eye, but we were informed that that particular item was not currently available in all sizes. It would have been nice to eventually search for that item online, but the store no longer offers merchandise for sale online anymore. Another disappointment. When I mentioned to the cashier that we may take a factory tour but were probably not interested in the Jungle Gardens tour, she suggested that we advise the ticket cashier of that fact so our ticket purchase could reflect a rate for the factory tour only. When we advised the ticket cashier of this, she explained that the tour was "bundled" as one price and could not be separated. So, one of your employees was confused, or dishonest, about that point. After exiting the store, we looked around the area a little - noticing a couple of outdoor displays - weathered/beat up/broken down. We decided not to take the factory tour. That was enough disappointment for one day. And, as a final disappointment, not one employee we asked had the faintest idea about the cost of shipping a Tabasco barrel - nor did any of them offer to research it for us. At a time when the world condiment market is flooded with a wild variety of hot sauce products, your company chooses to invite its fans to its world headquarters for a very underwhelming visitor experience. I can't help but wonder if the person in charge of this whole area is just an hourly paycheck employee or a McIlhenny family member who is doing their family business a disservice. Either way - yikes. So, I guess we'll be back in 2 years during our next biennial hours-long Avery Island shopping detour...maybe... You may want to reconsider wasting time making a detour to this "attraction".

Spicy goodness at every corner count me in! So coming here has been on my list to do for a very long time as who doesn't love some Tabasco Sauce! This is the factory tour which consists of several different stops a botanical garden and a restaurant so plan to spend some time here if you intend on hitting it all! My first stop was the gardens and here alone I could have spent much more time as it was just beautiful and had allot to export from the numerous different stops to the walking trails to the beautiful scenery like you really couldn't go wrong! So before I write anymore I should say that if your planning a visit get here when they open as I spent several hours in the garden before I even made it back to the factory tour and when I was leaving about mid afternoon the garden was packed and I really felt it took away from the experience that I would have received had I gotten here later in the day so get here early and you'll get the same awesome experience that I did! So after the garden tour I had lunch at 1868 which has some unusual hours as it was like 11:30-2:30 or something close to that so be sure to plan it into your day as this is also an experience not to be missed as the food was very good and fully Tabasco related! So while on the topic of 1868 I went with the Bloody Mary and it was yummy I added all the goodies to it and it went well with my egg rolls and my sausage and chicken gumbo all of which were good for what they were so don't over look eating here as it's yummy and the only real place around to get anything, but before you pay check in on Yelp to the restaurant itself as it will give you a 10% off coupon that will save you a little bit! As for the factory tour it's self guided and you make your way to all of the different numbers to see the different processes that create this scrumptious hot sauce that you know your craving just reading this! All of the tour was very informative as I just read a lot and learned quite a bit about their process like it was a totally good time from start to finish. One thing that will help you if you plan on doing the tour is to note that their bottling line doesn't run Friday through Sunday so if you wanna catch it then plan accordingly. Like any good tour or roller coaster it ends with you visiting the gift shop and let me say this one keeps it spicy with soo much to offer as they have Merch for basically everything as well as a full hot sauce bar for you to try all of their products some of which I've never seen before and those were some of the sauces that I ended up buying because they were truly good along with the spicy soft serv ice cream which was delicious in just that spicy kinda way! Overall this was a super fun experience and I very much so enjoyed it who knows when I'll get back here again but I will say if the opportunity to come here again arises for me I'm totally going to take it! Stay spicy my friends!

My favorite food factory tour in the US! The museum is tastefully done, and it has all sorts of interesting displays that combine movies, pictures, artifacts and information. It was really engaging and then you get to tour around the actual grounds and see how Tabasco is made! The gift shop has all sorts of interesting souvenirs including taste testing all the different flavors of Tabasco. You can salsa purchase tabasco ice cream which was interesting/fun to try. The Jungle gardens next door have some beautiful grounds to explore including the neat bird refuge. All the employees at the factory were extremely friendly! Some real Southern hospitality One of the highlights of my trip to Louisiana!!

Super touristy, it was about an hour out of the way for me to go here. I definitely wouldn't drive the two hours from New Orleans just to come here. I was there in late fall so all the greenery was pretty brown. The botanical garden Drive was pretty lame. I did see a couple small alligators. The tour itself was decent, but it was pretty quiet there. It's all self guided the stores pretty cool you can taste test about 15 different flavors of Tabasco and buy pretty much any kind of merchandise you can think of. There's a restaurant on site as well. I popped in but decided to get going. I was trying to make it to the state capital in time. The botanical garden/preserve is included in the price of the factory tour, it is self-guided and recommended you drive.

We were lucky enough to do the VIP tour with Lisa and it was outstanding. Not only was she an incredible tour guide, but she was helpful to other guests aside from us while making us the priority for her. The information she conveyed was incredible and she was an amazing ambassador for the Tabasco Sauce brand!!

Had a great time at Tabasco today at Avery Island. Personally, I love that as a veteran they give me a mini bottle of Tabasco with my branch's logo (Navy!!). Everyone there was great and we finally visited on a day we got to see bottling in action. My hot sauce and Tabasco loving son (11), said he came out "a changed man." He wants to work there when he's older. Only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the lady in the gift shop at the tasting counter. Maybe it was a bad day for her, but being one of the few faces of the company we saw today, she wasn't the friendliest.

Ever wondered where/how Tabasco sauce is made? No?! Me either! Lol. But guess what? I found out it's made right here in Louisiana, on Avery Island. No visit to Lafayette is complete without a tour of the TABASCO® factory, so off we went. It is located approximately 40 minutes from Zero Degrees (try the ube milkshake!). Per their website, "The Avery Island Fan Experience includes a self-guided tour of the TABASCO® Museum, Pepper Greenhouse, Barrel Warehouse, Avery Island Conservation, Salt Mine diorama, TABASCO Country Store®, TABASCO® Restaurant 1868! and the 170-acre natural beauty of Jungle Gardens." Edmund McIlhenny is the mastermind behind Tabasco sauce. Originally from Ireland (per a video at the museum), he traveled to NOLA to seek fortune and ended up on Avery Island when his banking business went bust. No one can say for sure where McIlhenny acquired his peppers from, but he experimented heavily and eventually developed Tabasco sauce using these peppers. Red chili pepper (Capsicum frutescens variety Tabasco) is crushed, mixed with Avery Island mined salt and aged in white oak barrels for up to 3 years. They have a very pungent smell! This "mash" is then blended with vinegar for 2-3 weeks, and strained to remove the skin and seeds. And...Ta-da! That's how Tabasco sauce is made. The lady at the admissions desk was super friendly and informative. We also sampled Tabasco ice cream, which honestly wasn't good, but interesting to try.

This place is amazing, we all enjoyed it. It is definitely at the top of our list on things we did on this vacation. You buy your tickets on line and when you get there they give you a bag of little Tabasco bottles they are pretty cool. Then you follow the self guided tour and they tell you the history of Tabasco, how they make it and the process it takes to make it to your table. They whole thing was so interesting. When you are done the store is so amazing. We went a little overboard. They will give you a map to drive around Avery Island where it's located. Such a beautiful tour, you download an app and you can listen to an audio tour. Everything about the experience was awesome. Highly recommend.

Very informative and interesting do it yourself tour. Beautiful artifacts that all hold a story to tell! I loved the different buildings you are able to walk through and see. Very clean, the lady who checked us in was so kind. They have good their however, I was slightly disappointed. I guess I expected more of a restaurant. It had more of a cafeteria feel. The food was BURNING HOT. Like it was just sitting on boil all day long. I wish the dining was different.

The grounds of the Tabasco Factory are quite beautiful, with many very old, very impressive oak trees. We loved the bamboo area too! The gift shop is fun, offering a chance to taste test a wide variety of Tabasco flavors. There are Tabasco branded aprons, tshirts, stuffed animals, and everything else you can think of. The self-guided tour walks you through the process of making Tabasco from growing the peppers to bottling the sauce. Included in the tour is a little miniature bottle of Tabasco. Along with a veteran's discount, they gave my husband a USMC branded miniature Tabasco bottle. Super cute! A drive (or walk) through the Jungle Gardens is included with the price of admission to the factory. Very pretty, and we did see a couple gators, which my kids loved. If weather and time permits, I'd recommend walking through. In my opinion, the price is a little steep for a self guided tour. It would be one thing if there was a tour guide and/or we were able to actually enter the production areas, but I thought it was kind of pricey to look through glass windows. There were no employees to ask questions of, and some of my kids aren't experienced enough readers to be able to independently read all the information. The child admission price is not significantly discounted, so I guess it just seemed like an expensive outing for our family of 8. We planned to grab a small bite at the restaurant, but alas, they close at 2:30pm and we just missed them. Overall, a good thing to experience once.

Great area... good self guided tour. Stop 3 is a bit on the pungent side...just a warning. The entire tour takes about 30 - 45 minutes. Great gift shop with a tasting bar at the back. Cafe actually have really good food. Don't miss the Jungle Garden... its a self drive tour. It closes at 5PM.

Growing up in Houston, I knew the Tabasco factory was in Louisiana but we never made the trip out there. We made a somewhat last-minute decision to go while I was back home. Lovers of Tabasco and hot sauces will enjoy the self-guided tour. As my mom noted, the museum tells the history from the McIlhenny point of view, understandably, but the Wikipedia/interwebs says there is some debate as to the true origin of this hot sauce. Nevertheless! The museum has a sign saying masks are required but this being Louisiana half the people openly flout it. You get a couple mini bottles of Tabasco as a souvenir with admission which is fun. They might be random leftovers from custom orders, mine were in Arabic! Neat to see some peppers growing on -site, though most are grown elsewhere and processed here, You'll smell the vinegary processing area and the hundreds of fermenting barrels. Besides the hot sauce, the island is also a great nature preserve which I didn't know about before my visit. Definitely check out Jungle Gardens as well. You might see some gators and thousands of waterfowl.

Quick drive outside of Lafayette, and a must visit, weather for the tour of the facilities, especially how Tabasco is made. Be sure to stop by the gift shop for the Family Reserve hot sauce, this is the only place to get it, and it's the best flavor. Secret dessert tip, use the raspberry chipotle sauce for your cheesecake.

It's a wonderful trip to tour the Tabasco factory from the museum to 10 different spots end up in the country store. The tour is self guided, well marked and give you very clear direction on where to go. It's fascinating to learn the whole story of how Tabasco sauce was developed and grew in the market and passed along from generation to generation. It is amazing to me that this family business could grow global while still maintain their original manufacturing site in Avery island in Lafayette. It even shows a letter from a Shanghai consumer asking about the Tabasco sauce cookbook in 1906! That's really unbelievable!

I have been eyeballing this place to come to for quite some time now. Like a long time. I got a wild hair and decided to come. Well, I am not disappointed at all. There is a discount for military and Veterans and for people of a certain age. You start learning the history of the area, and how it came to be populated.  This island is on top of a salt mine, and it is evidently very beneficial to growing of peppers, and if the popularity of Tabasco is any clue, it is beneficial to hot sauce. I never really realized the whole process it takes to make this sauce, but I guess that is the reason for this tour. It is very informative, and I am glad that it is self-paced, otherwise it might be overwhelming. I never realized just how many different flavors of Tabasco there were. Simply amazing. And Tabasco chocolate? A bit too tangy for me, but my dad loved it. I would suggest this for anyone, lover of hot sauce or not. The price of admission also covers admission to the jungles, which I would suggest visiting as well. All in all, a very lovely day.

The Tabasco Factory self guided tour is a fun way to look into the history and manufacturing of the spicy red liquid. You can move at your own place and Avery Island is a quiet place to do escape back in time for a little. Equally as fun (and included with admission) is the Jungle garden self guided tour. Beautiful plants, swamp views, and a temple with a 1000 year old Buddha. There isn't really any need to get out of your car if you prefer on the Jungle garden tour. However, if you have the time the Buddha and the bird sanctuary are definitely worth stepping out of the car! Plan at least 2 hours for both the factory tour and the jungle garden tour.

While vacationing in New Orleans we sat aside a whole day for the Tabasco Factory, and it was well worth it! Reservations and ticket sales are done in advance, online -- which makes getting started really easy when you get there. Parking is free and you make your way to the Country Store at the front. The signage is clear and easily understandable on where to go and what to follow, because the grounds are BIG! You start in the museum and can learn all the history of the founder(s) and the brand, then make your way to the factory portion. You can see (and SMELL) the mash, look into the bottling plant, see the aging barrels, and even the green house and see the peppers up close. The island is FULL of plant life, including the bamboo garden that we walked through. So beautiful! After you finish the Factory Tour you end back at the store and they have plenty of souvenirs and sauces to bring home, some flavors ONLY sold on the island! When you're done at Tabasco, DO NOT LEAVE without driving through Jungle Gardens which is included free with your ticket to the Factory. It's one of the most beautiful places I've been to in my life! Full of exotic plants and native animals to see!

You really have to want to go to the Tabasco Pepper Sauce Factory in order to justify the long drive to this southern point of Louisiana. Avery Island where the factory is located is several hours drive from New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette. New Iberia is the closest small town. When you enter Avery Island, you go through a toll booth. As long as you are buying a ticket for one of the two attractions there (Tabasco Factory or Jungle Gardens), you will be permitted entrance without any charge. Place the permit on your dashboard while on the island. The roads are all loose gravel, so drive slowly. Cars can handle it just fine. Park in the non-shaded, dirt parking lot and head over to the ticket office. Tickets can be bought online too, but there is no added benefit of doing so. I bought a joint ticket for both the factory tour and Jungle Gardens and was given a slight discount for buying them this way. You'll be given a sticker to wear during your tour(s). The ticket office building houses the first part of the tour. It's mostly pictures, a few items reflecting Tabasco's influence in life and the world, several well written placards and about four video presentations of a few minutes each. Everything you need to know about Tabasco is presented here, but you can walk though the factory buildings too to see more of the process up close and have some of the same information repeated with slightly more detail on well placed placards. The self-guided tour includes a visit to the following areas and will take anywhere between 30 minutes and an hour depending how closely you spend reading and pursuing the areas: 1 - Ticket office/museum 2 - Greenhouse 3 - Oak barrel warehouse 4 - Blending the mash 5 - Avery Island experience 6 - Salt mine exhibit 7 - Bottling & labeling factory 8 - Tabasco today After your visit, be sure to stop by the Country Store. They have everything Tabasco related here. It's a great place to buy gifts for your loved ones. Pot holders, kitchen towels, posters, postcards, sauces, jellies, cookbooks, clothes, jewelry, etc....pretty much any object with Tabasco is somehow integrated into it. They also have a tasting bar where you can sample all of the different flavors of Tabasco. I tried the Tabasco Cola, Tabasco ice cream, Tabasco Chili. I dipped pretzel sticks into a few of the dozen different Tabasco sauces and jellies they had available. I think I spent just as much time in the store as I did on the tour because I loved looking at and sampling the products. Some of their products are not available at any other retail location, so be sure to buy the Tabasco Family Reserve. It can only be bought on the island along with the Scorpion Sauce (the hottest product they make) and the Roasted Pepper Sauce (a tangy, medium-heat sauce great on meat or as a marinade). The difference between the Family Reserve and the regular Tabasco offered on retail shelves around the world are the following: Family Reserve -chilis are grown and harvested on Avery Island -mash is aged in white oak barrels for 11 years -mash is mixed with white wine vinegar Since land is limited on Avery Island, peppers are now grown and harvested all over the world, but they all come to the Tabasco factory to be processed. The worldwide pepper mash is aged for 3 years compared to the Family Reserve that is harvested locally at Avery Island and aged for 11 years. Surprisingly, none of the mash is heated by ovens at all. It is allowed to ferment naturally over time in the white oak barrels. Other surprising facts include: -The peppers are hand picked and compared with a red stick to make sure that they have reached the perfect color, age on vine and ripeness. -The company is still family owned by the McIlhennry's. -Cargill is now contracted to operate and mine the salt on Avery Island. -The McIlhennry's have provided company housing on Avery Island for employees since the early 50s. I met some of the employees living there in the original cabins. The employees rent the cabins but can gut them and improve them as they wish. -The original Tabasco bottle was actually a cologne bottle and they used green wax to seal the top. -Members of the family still taste the mash for quality control I enjoyed my time visiting the Tabasco Factory tour and Avery Island's Jungle Gardens. I'm not sure everyone would get the same amount of pleasure that I did from the experience, but if you live or happen to be in the area, it is worth a visit to learn about the iconic sauce that has added so much rich flavor to our lives.

A very well out together self-guided tour. We took our time enjoying each stop along the tour throughout the multiple buildings. We were thrilled to see the production of bottles being prepared to ship to Brazil the day we were there. Lunch right there was the perfect solution for us after a long two-hour drive from New Orleans and walking the tour. OK, we may have spent a bit too much at the gift shop. All-in-all it was a wonderful experience and well worth the drive. Highly recommend!

For years when I've been in New Orleans I've wanted to make the trip to Avery Island to tour the Tobasco factory and grounds and never have. Finally, when travelling in the Lafayette area, I was able to do this. It's definitely worth the drive from anywhere in Louisiana - don't just think about it, do it. Very informative tour that's self-paced. Don't skip the Jungle Garden tour. In fact, if you're a walker, walk it to get more out of it. And don't forget your binoculars! There are lots of Tobasco flavored hot sauces that are not available in my local grocery store. It was great to get to taste them so I'd know which ones to pick up. The food at the restaurant on the island was great, too. Plan to spend half a day there and plan it around lunch. You won't be sorry.

So we are driving from Lafayette to New Orleans and my in-laws mentioned how they have been through this part of the country twice and never got to make it to the Tabasco Pepper Sauce Factory. So I take the suttle hints and suggest we go. Turns out there are two tours, a walking tour through a plant and the green house and a "jungle tour" where you could walk or drive. We take both tours and the walking tour is pretty easy and quick but interesting. If I had to compare it was a lot shorter tour than the Jack Daniels tour we took a few years ago but still, we all enjoyed it. The girls: mother-in-law, wife & daughter are all in the shop for way too long so it looks like we lost our chance at the "jungle tour". We have to be in New Orleans to pick up the boys meeting us in New Orleans for the end of our tour. The shop keepers are all super nice, gave samples of ice cream, pickles, sauces, etc. I walk outside to wait and learn that the shop keepers said it would be OK to start the tour even though its 5:10 PM and its supposed to be closed. I reluctantly agree even though I know i have to get to the airport by 6:20. Avery Island is 2 hours away. I know, I did the math too. Thank goodness our hotel has a shuttle from the airport. So we start the tour and it is way cool. Way cooler than I thought. Yes there are alligators, egrets and deer that we saw. My in-laws had his heart set on seeing an armadillo. We didn't! The grounds are absolutely beautiful and the Grover Oak was pretty amazing to see. I am so glad we took the tour. Because it was late, the tour was almost empty and I am sure that made it easier to see the deer and alligators. Definitely worth taking the time.

I am a lifelong fan of Tabasco :) And I have been to this factory tour TWICE-once in Spring of 2016, and again in Fall of 2019. Tabasco is special because it is a part of American history. It is one of the most well known hot sauces around the world. I love the tour because you can go at your own pace. When you get your entry tickets into the tour, you are given a sticker and three mini Tabascos to keep (the original, green, and a chipotle)The tour opens with artifacts and Tabasco inspired art, and then you get to follow the trail of how tabasco is made from the greenhouses to the factory floor. What is unique about Tabasco's tour is that you get to see all the steps AND learn about Avery Island's geography and geology. The tour concludes with big Tabascos and more Tabasco art that you can take photos and selfies with. While this is a 2.5 hour drive away from New Orleans, this is a great way to spend a day and go sightseeing along the way. Louisiana isn't JUST New Orleans, after all! The cafe here is great where you can, of course, try EVERY variety of Tabasco at your table! The people who work here are so friendly, too. My second visit was better than my first, which was still pretty darn good. I can't wait to come back a third time with more people. This is a hot sauce and food lover's paradise! You could bring everyone here-this is fun for all ages and occasions.

So glad we got the idea to visit this place from a travel blogger. It was interesting, affordable and informative. I had no idea Tabasco had so much history. It is a self guided tour through it's large property. It is on Avery Island and opens exactly at 9am. The landscaping is perfectly manicure to enjoy the views. And the smells, smells in the tour building to make ones senses ignite! Some will love it and some will not. My group was split 50/50. Take a walk in their bamboo jungle. Ask about military discount. They respect service members. We went to the country store for some goodies.

Great little tour of the Tabasco factory learning about the history and about some of the plans moving forward, and expanding the brand. I love Tabasco and have for years. Though Sriracha has in some ways over-shadowed Tabasco in the last decade, Tabasco has made some amazing gains to remain relevant and and grow its niche in the hot sauce market. There are many many dishes where Tabasco fits better than just about any other hot sauce. You just can't beat that vinegary hot sauce flavor! Don't get me wrong, I do love Sriracha and other hot sauces in Vietnamese and other Asian dishes, on eggs, etc. but Tabasco still holds a special place in my heart. The tour is excellent, try the chocolates, try the ice cream, and enjoy the Tabasco museum and gift store!

I had an absolute wonderful time walking through the Tabasco plant & around the beautiful grounds, the trees & landscape again, beautiful. Inside the Tabasco plant, so interesting how the bottling is done. We took advantage of all there was to see. We stopped in the gift shop & picked up a few souvenirs & tried some ice cream I didn't think I would like, but it was soooo yummy! We tried a jalapeños ice cream & a raspberry chipotle ice cream. We also stopped for a bite of shrimp gumbo and a freshly made Bloody Mary of course made with Tabasco. After leaving the restaurant we also walked around Jungle Gardens.

An amazing experience start to finish! The entire property is absolutely beautiful and you can smell the peppers and hot sauce when you get past the guard gate! The self guided tour was perfectly done with the last stop being at the gift shop where you can shop til you drop and purchase Tabasco products that you can only get on Avery Island! After that you have to go get lunch at the 1868 restaurant and get the boudin egg rolls and the sampler platter with shrimp etouffee, gumbo, and red beans and rice, *drool*! After you fill your belly you get to explore the Jungle Garden by foot or car (depending on how full you are after lunch ;)) the live oaks and beautiful ponds is a nature lovers galore! Don't miss bird island for a truly one of a kind view. Well worth the drive and I will definitely be returning!

Interesting facility; easy self-guided tour. The pungent aroma of the chiles is everywhere...you can actually taste the smell! Good food in the restaurant (we ate lunch there); nice selection of items in the store (of course, we bought a bottle of Raspberry Chipotle Sauce) Jungle Gardens needs some TLC. Summer is probably not the best time to visit these gardens; nothing was blooming. We drove through, getting out to walk at the Buddha & Bird areas. The ponds are filled with algae, so that is disappointing. Overall, a nice day trip.

What a fun time. Loved the fact they had a mini bottle with the armed forces logo for my hubby. Self guided tour was interesting and fun. Love the gift shop and the interaction between staff and customers. There is a eating place and gardens were busy and fun but I didn't have time to look at either,

This museum tour was so interesting and easily navigated! The layout was wonderful and so it was a joy to go from one place to the next and learn more and more about how Tabasco is made. We ended up in the country store and thoroughly enjoyed tasting all the various Tabasco flavors there are! We even got to taste jalapeño ice cream. Finally, the I think it is about a 3 mile loop in the jungle Gardens was so worth the drive. We highly recommend it!

Well worth the drive. Staff was very friendly. Very organized self tour. Information and historical content were excellent. Exhibits were interesting. Loved the free mini bottles

Nice place to come visit! I wish it were a bit more interactive, with product tastings, but the different building showcases were pretty interesting. It's a LONG DRIVE from NOLA, so be prepared. Maybe a pit stop along the way.

My wife and I stopped by on the way to see our daughter one day and we enjoyed the stop. All of the roads on the island are gravel so prepare for your car to be muddy if it has rained, but it was worth it in our opinion. The factory tour is short but neat to see. The best part is the Jungle Gardens tour. We took our time driving and listening about the gardens with the downloaded app. If you are ever driving near Avery Island, set aside a few hours to stop by and visit.

I've lived in Lafayette all of my life, but had never been to Avery Island. I decided to spontaneously take a trip, and it was worth it. The tour is nice, although I think if it was a guided tour it would be better. After the tour I went to the Country Store where they sell Tabasco merchandise and products. In the back, they have a tasting bar where you can sample all of the flavors available, including ones that are only sold in the Country Store or via the internet. They also Tabasco flavored ice cream (raspberry chipotle was really good), and Honey that does not include any hot sauce. The worker who was manning the tasting station, Taylor (I hope that is how she spells it) was friendly, bubbly, and knowledgeable. She was such a delight. They also have a restaurant, but I didn't make it in time to try it, as they close early than the tours and the country store. After the Tabasco tour, I then visited the Jungle Gardens. It was so beautiful to see all of Avery Isalnd. The drive along the bayou was so pretty. The Buddha Statue was amazing. I wish they would make E. A. McIlhenny's house a part of the tour because it looked so pretty from the outside. Definitely going back!

Absolutely worth the drive here. I have been a Tabasco user for years and this has been on my bucket list since I was a teenager. The tour was nice and the people were absolutely incredible. We ate lunch at the restaurant and the food quality was great and you didn't get just a small tourist portion. The Jungle garden drive was stunning and we felt privileged to have been able to see this beautiful place. Mention that your a Veteran and they will give you some small sample bottles including one with the symbol of your branch of service. Definitely coming back next time we're in this area.

Check it off the bucket list. We agree with all the wonderful comments. We saw an alligator in one of the ponds We bought flavors of Tabasco that we didn't know existed. The gal at the sample station was wonderful. The only negative would be the cafe. It's pretty expensive for what you get. (See photo of receipt) Luckily, we got there just ahead of a tour bus. The line did, however, move pretty quickly. All in all, time well spent.

Fun tour. It was interesting to learn how Tabasco was made and how long it takes to ripen. (3 years plus 3 weeks to mix) I didn't realize how many products they had. It was great to be able to sample it all. They even had Tabasco flavored ice cream! We also went on the jungle garden driving tour. The egret rookery was in full swing with lots of nesting great egrets and fuzzy white chicks. There were even a few anhinga nesting in the area. At the end of the tour we were given a bottle of Tabasco. Glad we took the tour.

Tabasco does not accept American cash to go to their factory, buy things in their souvenir shop and eat in their restaurant. I am guessing that it is no longer an American company. I do not buy things on credit when i have the cash in my wallet. So many companies are getting hacked and now they have my credit card information. I swear that i will never return to the Tabasco factory and never buy another Tabasco product ever again !!! Tabasco can kiss my rear end !!!

Had a fabulous time! Weather was perfect. Just did the self-guided factory tour only! Learned a lot about the history of this place as well as the history of African American and Cajuns working side by side, how the company built a village for the workers to live on the island, the salt mines that are used, and just a host of historical significance of this place. The general store yielded a bunch of goodies and you can taste all of their different sauces, even flavored ice cream and soda. Oh and I almost forgot that they had a big wall full of recipes (of course I got pictures)! It was a very fun experience and I highly recommend that everyone goes to visit!

Five stars all the way for any Tabasco fan. It's great to learn the history of the sauce, the location, the jungle, how it's made, and how far it reaches the international. We also tried the 1868 restaurant. It's like Ikea style that you order from a counter and pay and find your own seats. It was a little chill so I see them lowered the plastic drape for outside seating, otherwise it would be a great view for patio seating. I tried the sample platter. I also ordered a sausage so I can try all the sauces available. Yes, all 13 of them. Pretty unique experience. We also tried jungle garden for additional $8. Pretty good. Wish I had more time towards the end because we were running out of time. Very good garden and you get to see gators(no joke), birds, turtles, trees, etc.

Definitely worth a visit. Super interesting little tour, really puts perspective on some of Louisiana's history in the late 1800s. Beautiful land around and throughout the facilities. Also, don't miss out on Jungle Gardens, a great opportunity to catch a glimpse of various wildlife and scenery. Thoroughly enjoyed it!

This place is great for people who love Hot sauces. There are many types of hot sauces on the market but only one Tabasco, founded by Mc.Ilhenny Co. The self-guided tour is very educational. It teaches us how Tabasco is made and how long it takes Vorbote to nature. The country store next door has a large variety of Tabasco branded merchandise. The staff is very friendly and generous in letting you taste the sauces, vegetables, jellies, ice cream and soda. Parking is plentiful and admission is $5.50 for adults.

Visiting Tabasco on Avery Island has been on our bucket list for years. We finally made it! We're very interested in place-based local food, and Tabasco has been made right there for 120 years. We bought the tickets online, nice and easy. The self-guided tour is just the right length, showing the whole process but not getting bogged down. It's so interesting to learn about the peppers used, the processing, bottling, and the history of the McIlhenny family and Avery Island. All the staff members were really friendly and well informed. I stumped them asking about the source of the barrels' white oak (American or French? Inquiring minds want to know...). The store has a huge variety of real Tabasco products and fun imprinted stuff you'll want for yourself and to give as gifts. Highly recommended!