When I first learned of this stew, I was pretty excited to learn that not only did my home state Virginia have a famous recipe (that wasn't just ham or peanuts)

When I first learned of this stew, I was pretty excited to learn that not only did my home state Virginia have a famous recipe (that wasn't just ham or peanuts) but that I also could use up left over pulled pork for something that was a sandwich or tacos. But when I made it, it was just overly sweet. I prefer my barbecue sauce sweet and smoky, but it just wasn't enjoyable in a stew. The version I made was far superior to any of the versions I subsequently bought, so I'm guessing it just isn't for me.