Melinda’s Thai Sweet Chili Sauce on the shelf at Cardullo’s Gourmet Shoppe. (Photo: Madeleine Aitken)

Price: $6.99

In a world seemingly overtaken by newfangled condiments such as hot honeys and Sriracha aiolis, the classics can still hold their own. Thai sweet chili sauce is more exciting than, say, ketchup or mustard, but still holds the “classic” label. The generic nature of Thai sweet chili sauce is that it’s easy to tell when you have a good one. And Melinda’s Thai Sweet Chili Sauce, which you can get at Cardullo’s in Harvard Square, is a great one – especially for dumplings, spring rolls, for marinating tofu or in a sandwich or wrap. The sauce is a perfect balance of sweet and spicy, and is satisfyingly dark (none of that artificial pinkness here) with just the right consistency, which is key. Most of Melinda’s focus seems to be on its many hot sauce products (for the record, they also sell hot honey), but the sweet chili sauce is not to be missed.

Cardullo’s Gourmet Shoppe, 6 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge

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