While McDonald’s (MCD) takes a generally conservative approach to its main menu due to a customer base who seeks it out precisely for the classic tastes and items they remember from childhood, the world’s largest burger chain has been known to pull some wild cards in one small area of its menu in particular: the limited-edition sauces that, in some cases, have gone so viral as to sell for steep sums online long after their expiration date.
The Szechuan Sauce is perhaps the most elusive and therefore the most prized out of all the McDonald’s sauces: launched in 1998 to promote the Disney movie Mulan, the vaguely China-inspired sweet-and-tangy dipping sauce resulted in out-the-door lines and online hawking efforts on the rare occasion the chain brought it back in the ensuing decades.
Other McDonald’s sauces include discontinued Hot Mustard and Parmesan dips, the Creamy Chili Dip created to go alongside the recently-launched McCrispy Strips as well as the classic Big Mac sauce that has been served atop burgers since the chain’s very early days.
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“Harmonious blend of vinegary North Carolina BBQ sauce”: Golden Arches
As part of a rollout of new items that the chain is adding in late August and early September, McDonald’s announced the Special Edition Gold Sauce that it describes as a “harmonious blend of vinegary North Carolina BBQ sauce, infused with notes of honey, smoke and mustard.”
The version of barbecue sauce credited to North Carolina is made from a blend of mayonnaise, hot sauce, different types of mustard, apple cider vinegar and brown sugar. The McDonald’s version is a mass-produced take on a regional and foodie favorite.
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Hitting menus on Sept. 3, the limited-edition item will be available both to order in a packet as a dip for nuggets and McStrips and added to items such as the McCrispy Sandwich, Bacon McCrispy Sandwich and Snack Wrap — each of these will be on the menu with the word “Gold” as part of a seasonal menu promoting the sauce.
Inviting the intrigued to try the sauce “while supplies last”, McDonald’s has not provided more details on how long Special Edition Gold will remain on its menus — seasonal items typically stay on for a few months before getting rotated off around a holiday.
The Special Edition Gold Sauce will hit store menus on August 29.
McDonald’s
Pumpkin spice, creme pie and other fall treats available soon
Some of the other fall seasonal items that McDonald’s unveiled a few days before the Special Edition Gold Sauce include the returning Pumpkin Spice Latte and Pumpkin & Creme Pie as well as the brand-new Pumpkin Spice Iced Coffee — a cold version of its more classic counterpart.
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These treats will appear on store menus across the United States on August 29 and similarly be available for an undefined but limited period of time as part of McDonald’s seasonal menu.
Going off of strong demand for the latte launched last year and the general pumpkin spice craze that envelops the country each fall season, McDonald’s is leaning into a specialized fall menu.
“Fall is that you?! McDonald’s has the treats to fill your pumpkin cravings,” the chain wrote in promoting the new and returning menu items.
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