Work through the levels. Reveal the Spangram only when you’re truly ready.
Today’s clue: “Added flavor”
A gentle direction — no specifics.
Closer — the category is coming into focus.
Near-direct — only read if you’re stuck.
Direction only.
Getting closer.
Near-direct.
5 theme words — lengths in random order
Spaces not counted in total
All theme words — shuffled
These words fit the theme on the surface, but aren’t part of today’s solution. Knowing them ahead of time can save you minutes of searching.
A common Mediterranean sauce that seems a perfect fit but isn't in the puzzle.
Another beloved Italian sauce that many solvers will instinctively look for.
A universal condiment, so its absence is surprising and tempting.
A trending spicy sauce that shares letters with the theme, making it a plausible guess.
a textbook decoy
The difficulty lands at 5.0 because the clue 'Added flavor' quickly narrows the field to condiments, but the specific list demands recall of international sauce names. Spotting 'MARINARA' usually cracks the puzzle open—its signature 'MAR' and 'ARA' pattern is distinct. Once you place that and 'TERIYAKI', the grid's remaining letters cluster nicely into 'BECHAMEL' and 'TZATZIKI', while 'SRIRACHA' slides in with its double 'R'. The spangram 'GETSAUCY' flows diagonally and its quirky phrasing is a gratifying finish. The real challenge is mental competition from other sauces like 'pesto' or 'aioli' that never appear.
The clue 'Added flavor' hints at the category of sauces, but the real payoff is in the spangram 'GETSAUCY,' which turns the notion of 'adding flavor' into a playful command. It's a double entendre: adding literal flavor to food, and figuratively telling someone to be bold. This wordplay elevates the puzzle beyond a simple list of condiments.
Instead of generic terms like 'gravy' or 'dressing,' the puzzle focuses on specific, internationally recognized sauce names. This global sampler—from French béchamel to Japanese teriyaki—creates a crossword-friendly mix of letter patterns and avoids the trap of regional obscurity. The spangram 'GETSAUCY' playfully ties them all together as a call to action, making the set feel less like a textbook list and more like a dinner-party challenge.
