Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
While you're packing up those care packages to send to your military members, college students, missionaries, and friends living out of state, here's a great way to give them a taste of Utah: Throw in some freeze-dried salsa from Salsa Queen.
Utah's popular maker of fresh, gourmet salsas has now converted four of their amazing flavors into freeze-dried versions that are shelf-stable and easy to share with loved ones across the globe. With availability in more than 1,500 U.S. locations, the company is "the world's largest producer of freeze-dried salsas," according to a PRNewswire press release.
Try all four freeze-dried flavors
Salsa Queen's current freeze-dried salsa offerings include the following four flavors:
- Red Chili: A smoky salsa with a bit of heat.
- Roasted Tomatillo: A rich, tangy tomatillo flavor that's amazing on eggs.
- Mango Pineapple: A sweeter salsa with chipotle on the back that goes great with any fish dish.
- Zesty Cantina: A mild salsa that's packed with lime flavor.
Right now, you can order a variety pack for $15 that includes a sampling of each flavor — as well as free shipping anywhere in the U.S.! Order a few more and you'll get free international shipping, too. Sign up for the Salsa Queen mailing list and you'll save an additional 20% off your first order.
The freeze-dried versions of Salsa Queen's beloved flavors still come in packaging with the brand's signature sugar skull, so they're easy to spot. And if you want their fresh salsas, you can find out which local stores to shop by using the store locator on the company's website.
How to eat freeze-dried salsa
To enjoy Salsa Queen's amazing, authentic Mexican salsa, all you have to do is add water. You can even use the freeze-dried salsa as a dry rub on meats or as a seasoning while cooking. These innovative salsas are extremely versatile. There's no limit to how you can use them!
Aside from sending them in care packages, you can take them camping, hunting, going to Lake Powell or while traveling. Packed in lightweight, airtight pouches that easily fit into bags or suitcases, these freeze-dried salsas are the perfect travel companion. No need to worry about spillage or spoilage.
Send a taste of home
Each spoonful of Salsa Queen's freeze-dried salsa is a testament to the love and dedication poured into their recipes. When you send Salsa Queen's freeze-dried salsa, you're not just sending sustenance; You're sending a piece of home that's wrapped in nostalgia and delivered with love.
Whether you're a parent sending a taste of home to a homesick college student or a friend surprising a faraway loved one on their birthday, let Salsa Queen be your culinary emissary. With Salsa Queen's freeze-dried salsas, home is just a spoonful away.
The Salsa Queen story
As incredible as the flavors are, the Salsa Queen origin story is even more impressive. Just 10 years ago, SalsaQueen Zapata (yes, that's her legal name) was coming out of a divorce as a single mother of seven with no job, no money and no help from anyone other than food stamps and Medicaid. Her then-boyfriend (now husband) Jim Birch encouraged her to support her family by selling her salsa, which people raved about.
It started with a few sales on Facebook, then a few more at local farmers markets, and suddenly her business started to take off. She did cooking segments on television and started selling her salsa in local food stores. Today, you'll find Salsa Queen products in stores across the nation. And the freeze-dried collection has shipped as far away as Finland and Australia!
Zapata became so successful that she was even inspired to legally change her name — to "SalsaQueen Zapata." Yes, that's a true story.
Zapata gives major credit to Birch for encouraging her to follow her dreams.
In an article for the Deseret News in 2021, Zapata said, "I tell him, 'Thank you for giving me the wings to fly,' and he says, 'You had them all along, you just had to realize it.' We all have the wings. It just takes somebody to believe in us and to grab us by the hand and give us a little kick and there you go."
Now that you know the story, go try her famous salsa! Visit salsaqueen.com to find out where you get Salsa Queen products near you.
