02.19.08
South Carolina BBQ-sauce map
Important information. The Eldest likes the vinegar sauce.
The map shows the state of South Carolina divided into four regions, according to the preferred style of condiment used on barbecued food.
The vinegar and pepper region covers the eastern quarter of the state. This is “a southward extension of eastern North Carolina-style sauce,” states Mr Reed.
“The tomato region ditto for North Carolina’s Piedmont- or Lexington-style sauce, which is basically the eastern sauce with a little tomato added, still thin and vinegar-flavored.”
The ketchup region is influenced by what they serve in Georgia “and most of the trans-Appalachian South – or for that matter in grocery stores – a thick, sweet, ketchupy sauce.”
Unique to South Carolina, though, is “the mustard sauce of central South Carolina, (which) is unique to that state, and (which) gives it more distinct barbecue regions than any other.”
This peculiarity can be explained by “the German names of the principal purveyors of mustard-based sauces (…) it does seem that most are descended from the great 18th century wave of German immigrants to the Southern uplands.”
Tom said,
19 February 2008 at 12:45 pm
Thanks for posting this. SC is know for their mustard sauce.
IN NC The Eastern region is known for the Vinegar based sauce and the Western region for the tomato based or Lexington style sauce. Further distinction is made as to the cooking method of the traditional wood fueled pits versus the gas cookers.