Hot Sauces of the World

Explore the world's hot sauces with hand-drawn sketches, history, & heat levels.

 

Updated May 23, 2023

Explore the world's only complete guide to the hot sauce types of the world. Hot sauces have been around for millennia, as Aztecs and other people of Mexico and Central America ground chile peppers, water and spices, adding heat and flavor to the earliest cuisines of Latin America. Chili peppers spread around the world quickly after Christopher Columbus shared their seeds in Europe, and now they are as many styles as there are cultures. Whether you're a hot sauce aficionado or just starting to explore the world of spicy condiments, this collecton of my hot sauce sketches will guide you through the different types of hot sauces from around the world.

Louisiana-style Hot Sauces

Louisiana hot sauces are known for their mild heat and bold Cajun flavors, and are often made with a combination of peppers, including cayenne and jalapeño. The most popular hot sauce from Louisiana is Tabasco, which has been around since 1868 and is made from tabasco peppers, vinegar, and salt. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Other popular Louisiana hot sauces include Crystal, Frank's RedHot, and Louisiana Hot Sauce. These sauces have a distinct vinegar flavor that sets them apart from other hot sauces and are great for adding heat to traditional Southern dishes like gumbo and jambalaya.

Trappey's Louisiana Hot Sauce

Trappey's Louisiana Hot Sauce

Trappey's

Colombia

This mild-heat Cajun sauce is packed with a tangy-salty vinegary flavor. Like Tabasco, it originated in the exotic New Iberia region of Louisiana, but Trappey's is actually produced in Colombia.

Scoville Units: 1200-1600 SHU
Crystal Louisiana Hot Sauce

Crystal Louisiana Hot Sauce

Crystal Brand

Louisiana, United States

One of the most widely used hot sauces in the South, this classic Louisiana brand is often preferred to Tabasco for its less vinegar-ey taste. It is one of the best hot sauces in the United States, and is introduced in this Hot Ones season introduction.

Scoville Units: 4,000 SHU
Tabasco Pepper Sauce

Tabasco Red Pepper Hot Sauce

Tabasco Brand

United States

The classic American hot sauce is actually one of the most unique hot sauce flavors. The bold, vinegar-y flavor makes Tabasco perfect for certain types of foods - like Oysters.

Scoville Units: 2,500–5,000 SHU
Mexi-pep Hot Sauce

Mexi-pep Hot Sauce

Trappeys

Louisiana, United States

Despite its Mexican branding, this is a mild Louisiana style red pepper sauce that cuts down on the vinegar and heat from the original Trappey's brand.

Scoville Units: 1,400-1,800 SHU
Slap ya Mama Cajun Hot Sauce

Slap Ya Mama Cajun Hot Sauce

Walker & Sons

Louisiana, United States

A very mild hot sauce with a strong Cajun flavor. What's up with the name? Creator Wilda Marie Fontenot Walker coined the name when she jokingly said, "When you use this seasoning, the food tastes so good that it will make you want to go home and slap ya mama because she could never make something taste that great." Here at Notes from the Road, we love the most daring hot sauce names, but revere our mothers more.

Scoville Units: 1000 SHU
Ca'John's Cajun Hot Sauce

Ca'John's Cajun Hot Sauce

CaJohn's Fiery Foods

North Carolina, United States

This is a medium-heat Louisiana sauce that works for a complex flavor than the more well known Louisiana style sauces, and is well awarded for it.

Scoville Units: 10,000 SHU
Panola Cajun Hot Sauce

Panola Cajun Hot Sauce

Panola Pepper Corporation

Louisiana, United States

A flavorful Louisiana Cajun hot sauce with a pungent vinegar taste.

Scoville Units: 2,000 SHU
Frank's Redhot Cayenne Pepper Sauce

Frank's Redhot Cayenne Pepper Sauce

Frank's RedHot

Buffalo, United States

One of the most well known hot sauces in the United States, and one of my five favorites, balances mildness with a unique cayenne pepper flavor.

Scoville Units: 450 SHU

Picante-style Hot Sauces

Picante hot sauces, also known as "salsa picante," are a staple in Mexican cuisine. These sauces are made from a variety of chili peppers, tomatoes, onions, and spices. They have a wide range of heat levels, from mild to very hot, and can be used as a condiment or added to dishes to give them a spicy kick. Some popular picante hot sauces include Cholula, Tapatio, and Valentina.

Valentina Salsa Picante Hot Sauce

Valentina Salsa Picante

Salsa Tamazula

Guadalajara, Mexico

Valentina Salsa Picante is a popular Mexican hot sauce with a spicy, tangy flavor, made from a blend of chili peppers, vinegar, and spices.

Scoville Units: 900
Gustadina Pica Rico Hot Sauce

Aji Pica Rico Hot Sauce

Gustadina

Ecuador

Aji Pica Rico Hot Sauce from Gustadina is a Peruvian-style picante hot sauce made with ají amarillo chili peppers, garlic, and spices for a tangy, spicy, and slightly sweet flavor.

Scoville Units: Unknown
El Yucatero Chili Habanero Hot Sauce

El Yucateco Chili Habanero Hot Sauce

El Yucateco

Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

A unique, fruity flavor created from yellow habanero peppers and fresh carrots. Almost more of a Caribbean-style hot sauce than a Picante-style.

Scoville Units: 5,400 SHU
El Pato Hot Sauce

El Pato Hot Sauce

Walker Foods, Inc.

Los Angeles, United States

This hot sauce is perhaps the original Los Angeles hot sauce, made for a hundred years on the banks of the LA River. It has a cult following mostly among the Latino population in Southern California.

Scoville Units: 1500 SHU
Cholula Hot Sauce

Cholula Hot Sauce

McCormick's Brand

Mexico

Cholula is one of the most ubiquituous hot sauces in the United States, although it is actually produced in Jalisco, Mexico. It is a low to medium heat sauce that, despite its popularity, is actually quite distinct in its sharp pepper flavors.

Scoville Units: 2000 SHU
Bufalo Salsa Classico

Búfalo Salsa Clasica Mexican Hot Sauce

Herdez Group

Monterey, Mexico

This thick picante sauce, made from guajillo peppers, has a very specific, dense flavor and a texture like A1. Guajillo peppers are actually the dried form of Mirasol chiles, which are fairly unique to, but popular, in Mexico.

Scoville Units: 1000 SHU
Tapatio Hot Sauce

Tapatio Salsa Picante Hot Sauce

Tabasco Brand

United States

This well-balanced garlic-forward picante sauce, among the most well known in the Western United States and especially California, is almost the antithesis of Louisiana-style sauces like Crystal or Tabasco. It's tang comes from the garlic and the peppers, not the vinegar.

Scoville Units: 3000 SHU
Tamazula Mexican Hot Sauce

Tamazula Mexican Hot Sauce

Tabasco Brand

Guadalajara, Mexico

Tamazula Hot Sauce, actually very similar to the very popular Valentina Hot Sauce, is very citrus-forward, sweet hot sauce with medium heat.

Scoville Units: 4000 SHU

Caribbean Style Hot Sauces

Caribbean-style hot sauces are known for their vibrant and complex flavors, and are a staple condiment in many Caribbean islands and countries, including Jamaica, Trinidad, and the Dominican Republic. These hot sauces are typically made by combining chili peppers, such as scotch bonnets or habaneros, with ingredients such as vinegar, allspice, thyme, and onion to create a bold and flavorful sauce. Caribbean hot sauces can range from mild to extremely hot, and are commonly used to add heat to traditional dishes such as jerk chicken, rice and beans, and stews.

Matouk's Trinidad Scorpion Hot Pepper Sauce

Matouk's Trinidad Scorpion Pepper Hot Sauce

Matouk's

Trinidad Island, Trinidad & Tobago

Matouk's Trinidad Scorpion Pepper Hot Sauce is a very spicy, flavorful hot sauce made with Trinidad Scorpion peppers. It has some of the more intense heat of Matouk's wide range of hot sauces. Featured on this Caribbean episode of Hot Ones.

Scoville Units: 250,000 - 1,000,000 SHU
Scotch Bonnet Mustard Pepper Sauce

Scotch Bonnet Mustard Pepper Sauce

HotBabe Hot Sauces

Tumwater, Washington, United States

In Pacific Northwest fashion, HotBabe makes its hot sauce products with organic, non-GMO and vegan ingredients. This Caribbean-style mustard pepper sauce has a rich buttery-garlic flavor.

Scoville Units: Unknown
D'Vanyas Goombay Hot Sauce

D'Vanyas Goombay Hot Sauce

D'Vanyas

Nassau, Bahamas

A variant on one of the most well known Bahamian hot sauces, D'Vanyas Goombay is named after Bahamian Goombay music (Listen to several tracks of classic Goombay on Youtube). It features a mix of peppers and fruit which gives the hot sauce a unique coral color.

Scoville Units: Unknown
Lottie's Hot Pepper Sauce

Lottie's Hot Pepper Sauce

Lottie's

Barbados

This mustard hot sauce from Barbados features a strong onion and garlic flavor. It's heat comes from the dual classics of Caribbean hot sauces: habanero and scotch bonnet peppers.

Scoville Units: 10,000 - 50,000 SHU
Inner Beauty Hot Sauce

Inner Beauty Hot Sauce

Inner Beauty

Bangor, Maine, United States

is it legal to make a Caribbean-style hot sauce in Maine? This medium-heat Caribbean hot sauce uses scotch bonnet peppers and features a sweet, fruity, pineapple-forward heat.

Scoville Units: 15,000 SHU
Pickapeppa Spicy Mango Sauce

Pickapeppa Spicy Mango Sauce

Pickapeppa

Shooters Hill, Jamaica

This famous Jamaican mango sauce, often called 'Jamaican Ketchup' gets its base from red peppers, and is often used to flavor cream cheese. It is mild, but has a dense, vibrant aged flavor, which it gets from aging mangoes, orange peel and other flavors in oak barrels.

Scoville Units: 3000 SHU
Mi Madre Pique Hot Sauce

Mi Madre Pique Hot Sauce

Mi Madre

Puerto Rico, United States

This Puerto Rican hot sauce is made with habanero peppers, garlic and sugar. It is a 'clear' sauce that uses whole ingredients which diffuse in the vinegar. Pique hot sauce is a staple of mountain cooking in Puerto Rico.

Scoville Units: Unknown
D'Vanyas Junkanoo Hot Pepper Sauce

D'Vanyas Junkanoo Hot Pepper Sauce

D'Vanyas

Nassau, Bahamas

A delicious Bahamian hot sauce, named after the raucous Bahamian street parade, is made with goat peppers and red peppers.

Scoville Units: Unknown
Pisqueya Spicy Sweet Hot Sauce

Pisequeya Spicy Sweet Hot Sauce

Tabasco Brand

New York City, United States

This hot sauce, inspired by Dominican Republic cuisine, culture and flavors, using scotch bonnet peppers from the Dominician Republic. Passion fruit gives the hot sauce its unique spicy flavor.

Scoville Units: Unknown
Pure Poison Hot Sauce

Pure Poison Hot Sauce

Poison Pepper Company

Florida, United States

This habanero-based hot sauce uses orange juice concentrate flavors, which give it a bright, island taste, with a lot of capsaicin kick.

Scoville Units: 25,000-100,000 SHU
Trini-Daddy Caribbean Hot Mustard Sauce

Trini-Daddy Caribbean Hot Mustard Sauce

Ric-ter Scale: Ric Orlando

New York, United States

One of the many Caribbean 'yellow sauces', this mustard hot sauce by American chef Ric Orlando has a sweet mustard taste. Check out Bill Moore's Youtube review of this hot sauce.

Scoville Units: Unknown
Baron West Indian Hot Sauce

Baron West Indian Hot Sauce

Tabasco Brand

United States

This mild St. Lucian take on the Caribbean mustard hot sauce is simple and flavorful.

Scoville Units: Unknown

Harissa

Harissa hot sauces are a cornerstone of Tunisian cuisine. The traditional flavor has spread to other parts of North African and Middle Eastern cuisine. Harissa is a flavorful paste made from chili peppers, garlic, olive oil, and spices. It has a complex and nuanced flavor, with a moderate to high heat level. It's often used as a condiment, marinade, or ingredient in stews, soups, and meat dishes.

Mina Mild Harissa

Mina Mild Harissa

Mina

New York, United States

This mild harissa is a great introduction to the specific flavor of harissa. Red chili peppers and red bell peppers are employed with garlic, olive oil and salt. Harissa, which was invented in Tunisia, has found a home in many countries of the dry world. This is a Moroccan harissa.

Scoville Units: 1000 SHU
Gaia Harissa

Gaia Harissa

Gaia

Italy

A commercial brand for the European market, this harissa is distinguished by its squeeze-bottle and its subtle flavors.

Scoville Units: Unknown
Harissa la Flamme

Harissa La Flamme Du Cap Bon Tunisie

Tabasco Brand

United States

There are many imitations of harissa around the world, packaged for global tastes. This international brand, which comes in large, beautiful tins, is much closer to the taste of home-made or restaurant made harissa from its native Tunisia.

Scoville Units: Unknown
Les Moulins Mahjoub Tunisian Bakouti Harissa

Les Moulins Mahjoub Tunisian Bakouti Harissa

Les Moulins Mahjoub

Tebourba, Tunisia

This harissa is known for its heat, and for its slightly-more smoky flavor than a traditional harissa. It is made by hand in the Medjerda Valley.

Scoville Units: Unknown

Piri Piri Hot Sauces

Piri piri is a type of hot sauce that originated in Africa and is now popular in many countries, including Portugal and South Africa. The sauce is made by blending piri piri chili peppers, garlic, lemon juice, and spices. The chili peppers used to make piri piri sauce are small but pack a punch, resulting in a sauce that has a spicy and tangy flavor. Piri piri sauce is commonly used as a marinade for grilled meats, such as chicken, but can also be used to add flavor to stews, soups, and other dishes. It is a versatile sauce that can range from mild to extremely hot, depending on the type of chili pepper used and the recipe.

Bullwhip Hot Sauce

Bullwhip Kelp & Piri Piri Hot Sauce

Barnacle Foods

Juneau, Alaska, United States

Bullwhip Kelp & Piri Piri Hot Sauce is a unique combination of spicy piri piri chili peppers and seaweed flavors, resulting in a savory umami flavor and slightly salty hot sauce.

Scoville Units: Unknown
Jimmy's Sauces Peri Peri Sauce

Jimmy's Sauces Peri Peri Sauce

Jimmy's Sauces

Capetown, South Africa

This top-selling South African hot sauce is infused with Jimmy's famous steakhouse sauce. Used mostly as a marinade, this Capetown sauce shows the versatility of Piri Piri sauces.

Scoville Units: Unknown
Mazi Piri Piri Sauce

Mazi Piri Piri Sauce

Mazi

New Jersey, United States

This hand-made, very small-batch Portuguese style Piri Piri sauce is among my five favorite hot sauces of all time. Years ago, it was featured on the cover of Saveur Magazine, which tempted me to try it. Today, it is still produced in very small batches by Bon Jovi's former manager and his partner. To purchase, you need to mail in a check.

Scoville Units: Unknown
Nali Hot Peri Peri Sauce

Nali Hot Peri Peri Sauce

Nali Brand

Malawi

Nali Hot Sauce, made from Malawian bird's eye peppers, is beloved in Malawi for its extreme heat, and is known as the world's hottest piri piri sauce.

Scoville Units: 175,000 SHU
Microsaucerie Hot Sauce

Microsaucerie Piko Peppers Hot Sauce

Microsaucerie

Montreal, Canada

This is a take on classic Piri Piri from the makers of the 'Hot Ones' show starring Sean Evans. It has a bright, sour finish and a medium heat.

Scoville Units: 15,500 SHU
AfricaN Rhino Peri Peri Hot Sauce

African Rhino Peri-Peri Hot Sauce

Kalahari Pepper Company

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Peri peppers from Mozambique and Botswana are used in this medium-heat level hot sauce. It has an intense tropical-Caribbean flavor

Scoville Units: 10,000 SHU
Incopil Molho Piri Piri Hot Sauce

Incopil Molho Piri Piri Hot Sauce

Incopil

Portugal

This mild but salty commercial store brand is a staple in Portugal and in Portuguese restaurants.

Scoville Units: Unknown
Melinda's Peri Peri Hot Sauce

Melinda's Peri Peri Hot Sauce

Melinda's Craft Pepper Sauces

Texas, United States

This high-heat garlic and lemon forward Peri Peri sauce from well known artisanal brand Melinda's has a sharp, bitter taste. It is sometimes described as a more acidic version of Sriracha.

Scoville Units: 50,000 - 250,000 SHU

Gochujang Hot Sauce

Gochujang hot sauces are a staple in Korean cuisine. Gochujang is a fermented chili paste that is made from chili peppers, rice, soybeans, and salt. It has a unique combination of heat, sweetness, and savoriness that sets it apart from other hot sauces. Gochujang hot sauces are typically used as a condiment or marinade for meat dishes and can also be found as a key ingredient in Korean soups and stews.

Spicy Ssamjang Sauce

Spicy Ssamjang

Pulmuone

South Korea

This ssamjang, a sauce made from Gochujang, uses the Cheongyang red pepper and has a rich vegetable flavor.

Scoville Units: 1000 SHU
CJ Gochugang

CJ Haechandle Gochujang

CJ Haechandle

South Korea

The most popular Gochujang is commonly served on bibimbap, kimchi stew and with lettuce wrapped foods.

Scoville Units: Unknown
We Rub You Gochugang Hot Sauce

We Rub You Gochugang Korean Hot Sauce

Big Poppa Smokers

Coachella, California United States

What happens when Americans design a Gochugang bottle? I don't know, but the recent interest in Korean foods is welcome.

Scoville Units: 750 SHU
O'Food Gochugang

O'Food Gochugang

O'Food

South Korea

My Mother-in-Law has gochugang on hand for many of her Korean meals. My favorite? A big leaf of Korean lettuce stuffed with a healthy dose of gochugang, and everything else she prepared that evening.

Scoville Units: 750 SHU

Artisan Hot Sauces

Artisan hot sauces are handmade, small-batch hot sauces that are made using high-quality, fresh ingredients and unique flavor combinations. These hot sauces often feature unique ingredients like exotic fruits, rare chili peppers, and creative spices, giving them a distinct flavor profile that sets them apart from commercial hot sauces. Artisan hot sauces are usually made by small, independent producers who take great pride in the quality and taste of their products, and are known for their bold, complex flavors that can add a kick of heat and depth of flavor to a wide variety of dishes.

BLiS Blast Hot Pepper Sauce

BLiS Blast Hot Pepper Sauce

Blis LLC

Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States

This well-regarded tangy hot sauce is made in seasoned oak barrels that were formerly used to make bourbon. It blends chipotle, cayenne, and arbol peppers, blended with garlic and maple syrup. A very unique, smokey, and complex sauce.

Scoville Units: 1,800 SHU
Sweet Baby Ray's Hot Sauce

Sweet Baby Ray's Hot Sauce

Ken's Foods

Romeoville, Illinois, United States

This hot sauce, made with aged cayenne and garlic, is almost like a Louisiana hot sauce, but its vinegar level is lower and it has, like its namesake, a sweet flavor.

Scoville Units: 600 SHU
Secret Aardvark Habanero Hot Sauce

Secret Aardvark Habanero Hot Sauce

Secret Aardvark Trading Co.

Portland, Oregon, United States

This is just about the official hot sauce of the Pacific Northwest. Based in my home-town of Portland, Oregon and featured in Season 4 of Hot Ones, this PNW favorite has a unique flavor that mixes Caribbean hot sauce history with Texmex hot sauce history. Here is Aardvark's being introduced in Hot Ones on Youtube.

Scoville Units: 5,000 SHU
Adoboloco Pineapple Hot Sauce

Adoboloco Pineapple Hot Sauce

Adoboloco

Maui, Hawaii, United States

This small family business hot sauce gets its ingredients from local farmers. The hot sauce is heavy on pineapple and habanero, making a unique, low-heat, quite Hawaiian flavor profile.

Scoville Units: Unknown
Firelli Hot Sauce

Firelli Hot Sauce

Firelli

Parma, Italy

One of my favorite hot sauce bottle designs. Made with fresh red jalapeño peppers, garlic, and vinegar, Firelli hot sauce is a versatile sauce that has a medium heat level that is not too overwhelming, making it a great choice for those who enjoy a little heat without too much burn.

Scoville Units: 1,000-1,500 SHU
Born to Hula Los Mangoes Hot Sauce

Born to Hula Mango Hot Sauce

Born to Hula

New Jersey, United States

A mild hot sauce with datil peppers, agave syrup and Florida mangoes that is best served chilled. This hot sauce is known for its mango-forward flavor.

Scoville Units: 2,500-7,000 SHU
Dustin Poirier's Louisiana Style Hot Sauce

Dustin Poirier's Louisiana Style Hot Sauce

Heartbeat Hot Sauce Co.

Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

Dustin Poirier's Louisiana Style Hot Sauce is a spicy and tangy artisanal hot sauce that is made using a blend of aged cayenne peppers, vinegar, and garlic. Its balanced blend of flavors and heat level make it a versatile condiment that can be enjoyed by heat-seekers and those who prefer a milder kick alike.

Scoville Units: Unknown
Tiger Sauce

Tiger Sauce

Reilly Foods Company

Louisiana, United States

Tiger Sauce is a very mild hot sauce with a unique and flavorful taste reminiscent of Worcester sauce. It is made from a blend of ingredients including vinegar, sugar, tomato paste, and a variety of spices. The sauce has a distinctive orange color and a slightly thick consistency that makes it easy to use as a marinade, dipping sauce, or condiment.

Scoville Units: 500 SHU

Sriracha Hot Sauces

Sriracha hot sauces, also known as "rooster sauce," have become increasingly popular in recent years. Sriracha is made from chili peppers, garlic, sugar, and vinegar, and has a distinct garlicky and slightly sweet flavor. The heat level is moderate, making it a versatile hot sauce that can be added to a variety of dishes. It's most commonly used as a condiment for Asian-style dishes, but can also be added to sandwiches, soups, and more.

Huy Fong Foods Sriracha Chile Sauce

Huy Fong Foods Sriracha Chile Sauce

Huy Fong Foods

Los Angeles, California, United States

Well known for its speedy rise to fame around the world,this sriracha is ubiquitous as a staple in so many homes. This Sriracha is loved by many, and also hated by many who consider it too sugary and basic. But as I say about this sauce, know its strengths and use it accordingly.

Scoville Units: 2,200-2,500 SHU
Crying Thaiger Sriracha Hot Chilli Sauce

Crying Thaiger Sriracha Hot Chilli Sauce

Crying Thaiger

Thailand

Like other sriracha sauces, it is made from a blend of chili peppers, vinegar, garlic, sugar, and salt. However, Crying Thaiger Sriracha Hot Chilli Sauce uses a combination of red jalapeño and cayenne peppers, which gives it a slightly different flavor and heat profile compared to other sriracha sauces..

Scoville Units: 2,500 SHU
Cholimex Sriracha

Cholimex Sriracha

Cholimex

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

The sauce has a thick and slightly chunky texture that makes it ideal for use as a dipping sauce or condiment. It is often used as a condiment for Vietnamese and other Southeast Asian dishes.

Scoville Units: 1,000-2,500 SHU
Badia Sriracha

Badia Sriracha

Badia Spices

Doral, Florida, United States

Badia Sriracha is a type of hot sauce that is inspired by the popular Thai hot sauce of the same name. It is made from a blend of chili peppers, garlic, vinegar, sugar, and salt, which gives it a spicy, tangy, and slightly sweet flavor profile.

Scoville Units: 1,000-2,500 SHU

Chili Garlic & Chili Oil Hot Sauces

Chili garlic hot sauces are a staple in Chinese and Southeast Asian cuisine. These sauces are made from chili peppers and garlic, and have a strong garlicky flavor with a moderate heat level. They're often used as a condiment or marinade for meat dishes and can also be found as a key ingredient in soups and stir-fries.

XXXXXX

Huy Fong Chili Garlic Sauce

Tabasco Brand

United States

Huy Fong Chili Garlic Sauce is a popular hot sauce made by the Huy Fong Foods company, which is based in Los Angeles and also makes the famous Rooster Sauce. It is a classic chili oil sauce made from a blend of chili peppers, garlic, vinegar, salt, and sugar.

Scoville Units: 2,000-3,000 SHU
Ottagi Red Pepper Oil

Ottagi Old Days Red Pepper Oil

Ottagi

South Korea

Ottagi Old Days Red Pepper Oil is a hot chili oil made from high-quality chili peppers and vegetable oil. This hot sauce has a bright red color and a thin consistency, making it easy to pour and use in a variety of dishes.The sauce is often used in Korean cuisine as a seasoning or dipping sauce for meat dishes, noodles, and vegetables.

Scoville Units: 1,000 SHU
Fly By Jing Sichuan Chili Sauce

Fly By Jing Sichuan Chili Sauce

Fly By Jing

United States

This chili oil sauce, created by chef Jing Gao, is among my five favorite hot sauces in the world, and wow, does it have an amazing, complex and weird flavor! Fly by Jing has a distinct umami taste and a spicy kick that lingers on the palate. The sauce is inspired by the bold and spicy flavors of Sichuan cuisine.

Scoville Units: 3,000-6,000 SHU
Lingham's Garlic Chili Sauce

Lingham's Garlic Chili Sauce

Lingham

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Lingham's Garlic Chili Sauce is a popular chili oil hot sauce made from a blend of chili peppers, garlic, vinegar, sugar, and spices. It is a product of Lingham's, a Malaysian company that has been producing hot sauces and condiments since 1908.

Scoville Units: 2,000-5,000 SHU

Extreme Hot Sauces

Extreme hot sauces are a type of condiment that are known for their intense spiciness and heat. These sauces are typically made with some of the hottest chili peppers in the world, such as the Carolina Reaper or Ghost Pepper, and are designed to add a fiery kick to any dish. The heat level of extreme hot sauces can vary widely, but they are generally much hotter than traditional hot sauces, and are often used sparingly or diluted in order to avoid overwhelming the palate. Extreme hot sauces are popular among spice enthusiasts and are often used to add flavor and heat to foods such as wings, chili, and tacos.

Dave's Insanity Sauce

Dave's Insanity Sauce

Dave's Gourment

San Francisco, California, United States

One of the very first statement hot sauces and one of the first to be made from capsaicin extract, Dave's Insanity really helped a trend of creating hotter and hotter hot sauces around the world, for better or worse.

Scoville Units: 180,000 SHU
Mad Dog 357 Hot Sauce

Mad Dog 357 Hot Sauce

Ashley Food Company

Sudbury, Massachusetts, United States

This hot sauce comes in a small bottle with a distinctive design featuring a snarling dog. It is widely available in specialty food stores and online retailers. Despite its extreme heat level, Mad Dog 357 Hot Sauce remains a favorite among those who enjoy pushing their taste buds to the limit.

Scoville Units: 357,000 SHU
Da Bomb Beyond Insanity Hot Sauce

Da Bomb Beyond Insanity Hot Sauce

Original Juan Specialty Foods

Kansas City, United States

The sauce is made from a blend of habanero peppers, pepper extract, and natural flavors. It is known for its extremely high heat level, which is rated at 135,600 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). This makes it one of the hottest commercially available hot sauces in the world.

Scoville Units: 135,600 SHU
CaJohn's Black Mamba 6 Get Bitten Hot Sauce

CaJohn's Black Mamba 6 Get Bitten Hot Sauce

CaJohns

Ohio, United States

No messing about! The sauce is made with a blend of habanero, cayenne, and bhut jolokia peppers, which are some of the hottest peppers in the world. It also contains pepper extract, garlic, onion, and spices. The heat level of this sauce is rated at 6 million Scoville Heat Units, which makes it one of the hottest hot sauces in the world.

Scoville Units: 6,000,000 SHU

Central American Hot Sauces

Central America is home to some of the world's most delicious hot sauces, and their spiciness can range from mildly tangy to downright fiery. Marie Sharp's habanero sauce, which I learned about on an early trip to Belize, made me realize that hot sauces were an essential part of exploring a new culture and cuisine, and I've been hooked on discovering regional hot sauces ever since.

Marie Sharp's Habanero Pepper Sauce

Marie Sharp's Habanero Pepper Sauce

Marie Sharp's

Belize

Marie Sharp's Habanero Pepper Sauce is a popular hot sauce that hails from Belize, where it is seen in restaurants throughout the country. It is known for its distinctively vibrant and fiery flavor that is loved by spice enthusiasts around the world. This hot sauce is one of my five favorites in the world.

Scoville Units: 6,000 SHU
Ricante Fire Melons Hot Sauce

Ricante Fire Melons Hot Sauce

Ricante

Costa Rica

This unique hot sauce that is made with fresh ingredients, including watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, and pineapple, which gives it a refreshing and fruity flavor profile. The addition of habanero peppers provides a steeper-than-moderate heat level that is rated at around 15,000 Scoville Heat Units.

Scoville Units: 15,000 SHU
Guacamaya Hot Sauce with Lime

Guacamaya Hot Sauce with Lime

El Yucateco

Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Guacamaya Hot Sauce with Lime is a popular Mexican hot sauce known for its tangy and zesty flavor. It is made with a blend of chili peppers, vinegar, and lime juice, which gives it a bright and citrusy taste that perfectly complements the heat of the peppers. I love this weird, mild and heavy-on-the-lime hot sauce, and it is one of my five favorite sauces in the world.

Scoville Units: 1000 SHU
Lizano Salsa

Lizano Salsa Sauce

Lizano

Costa Rica

Lizano Salsa is a popular sauce that originated in Costa Rica, where it is common in restaurants throughout. It is a brownish-red sauce with a slightly sweet and tangy flavor and a mild to medium heat level. The sauce is made with a blend of vegetables and spices, including onion, carrot, cauliflower, cucumber, and mustard, among others.

Scoville Units: 1,000 SHU
Ricante Chipotle Blend Hot Sauce

Ricante Chipotle Blend Hot Sauce

Ricante

Costa Rica

Ricante Chipotle Blend Hot Sauce is made with a blend of chipotle peppers, red peppers, garlic, and spices. The sauce has a smoky and slightly sweet taste, and a medium level of heat.

Scoville Units: 2,500-8,000 SHU
Picama's Green Hot Sauce

Picama's Green Hot Sauce

Picama's

Guatemala

Picama's Green Hot Sauce is a tangy and spicy hot sauce made with green jalapeño peppers, garlic, lime juice, and vinegar. The sauce has a bright green color and a fresh flavor that pairs well with a variety of foods.

Scoville Units: 2,500-5,000 SHU
Pierde Almas Hot Sauce by Monoloco

Monoloco Pierde Almas Hot Sauce

Pierde Almas

Costa Rica

This small-batch Costa Rican hot sauce features scotch bonnet and ghost peppers. It is quite hot, and was featured on Hot Ones in its 9th position.

Scoville Units: 665,000 SHU
Trompa de Chucho Hot Sauce

Trompa de Chucho Hot Sauce

Trompa De Chucho

Santa Ana, El Salvador

This is El Salvador's most recognized hot sauce brand, and its made with three peppers: Jalapeno, Habanero and Dientes de Perro chilis.

Scoville Units: 1000 SHU

Unusual Ingredients

Hot sauces are a staple condiment for those who love adding heat to their food, but not all hot sauces are created equal. Some hot sauces are made with more unconventional ingredients, giving them a unique flavor profile that sets them apart from traditional hot sauces. These ingredients can range from fruit, such as mango or pineapple, to vegetables, such as carrots or beets, to even unexpected ingredients like chocolate or coffee. By combining these ingredients with chili peppers, vinegar, and spices, hot sauce makers have created a variety of hot sauces that offer a fusion of sweet, sour, and spicy flavors. These unique hot sauces are a great way to add a new twist to familiar dishes, or to discover new flavor combinations.

Truff Hot Sauce

Truff OG Hot Sauce

Truff

United States

Truff hot sauce is a premium hot sauce made with black truffles and chili peppers for a rich, savory and spicy flavor.

Scoville Units: 2500-3000 SHU
Cilanktro Cilantro Hot Sauce

Cilanktro Hot Sauce

Hank Sauce

New Jersey, United States

Cilanktro Hot Sauce by Hank Sauce is a fresh, tangy hot sauce with very low heat levels made with cilantro, chili peppers, vinegar, and spices.

Scoville Units: 500 SHU
Yellowbird Hitchhiker Hot Sauce

Yellowbird Hitchhiker Hot Sauce

YellowBird

Austin, Texas, United States

A really unique, and pretty darn hot sauce from Austin is unique for its blend of three peppers and its used of ingredients like garlic, carrots and tangerine, giving it a unique rich yellow color.

Scoville Units: 7,000-10,000 SHU
Purple Hippo Prickly Pear & Scorpion Hot Sauce

Purple Hippo Prickly Pear & Scorpion Hot Sauce

Angry Goat Pepper Company

United States

The sauce gets its name from its two main ingredients: prickly pear cactus and scorpion pepper. It has a sweet and slightly tart flavor that complements the heat of the scorpion pepper. Scorpion pepper is one of the hottest peppers in the world, with a Scoville rating that can exceed 2 million units. It has a fruity and floral flavor, along with a fiery heat that can be quite intense.

Scoville Units: 100,000 - 200,000 SHU
Hezeus Fire Ant Hot Sauce

Hezeus Fire Ant Hot Sauce

Hezeus

Australia

This hot sauce contains at least 53 green ants, harvested in the Northern Territory of Australia by Larrakia people, a group of aboriginal Australians known as the saltwater people. These ants add a citrusy flavor to the chili, which uses intense reaper and Trinidad scorpion chili peppers.

Scoville Units: Unknown
El Chilerito Chamoy Hot Sauce

El Chilerito Chamoy Hot Sauce

El Chilerito

Mexico

The sauce is often used as a topping or dipping sauce for snacks such as fruit, chips, or corn on the cob. It can also be used to add flavor to a variety of dishes such as tacos, tostadas, and grilled meats. El Chilerito Chamoy Sauce is typically sold in small bottles or packets and is widely available in Mexican grocery stores or online. It has become a popular condiment in many parts of the world due to its unique and delicious flavor.

Scoville Units: 2,500 SHU
Blueberry Hell Hot Sauce

Hellfire Blueberry Hell Hot Sauce

Tabasco Brand

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, United States

This weird blue hot sauce from Wisconsin packa a punch! Hellfire Blueberry Hell Hot Sauce is a hot sauce that is made with blueberries, habanero peppers, vinegar, garlic, onion, and various spices. The sauce is known for its sweet and fruity flavor followed by a spicy kick from the habanero peppers.

Scoville Units: 100,000-350,000 SHU
Advanced Tactical Weaponized Starfruit Darth Star O.G. Hot Sauce

Advanced Tactical Weaponized Starfruit Darth Star O.G. Hot Sauce

Spicy Ninja Sauce

Big Island, Hawaii, United States

A hot sauce made of starfruit juice and themed after the Death Star? Sign us up. This hot sauce uses ghost chile peppers from the Big Island for its unique Hawaiian kick.

Scoville Units: Unknown

Other Hot Sauces & Regional Specialties

Hot sauce is a universal condiment that can be found in some form or another in almost every culture around the world. While there are some main hot sauce categories, there are many other types of hot sauces that are specific to certain regions and countries. While you will see this page evolve over the years, most of this page's growth will exist here, as I attempt to unravel the world's most specific hot sauce types.

Erős Pista Multi-Purpose Paprika Paste

Erős Pista Multi-Purpose Paprika Paste

Erős

Hungary

Erős Pista Multi-Purpose Paprika Paste is a popular Hungarian condiment made from a blend of hot paprika, salt, and sunflower oil. It is a versatile ingredient that can be used in various dishes to add heat and flavor, such as stews, soups, and spreads.

Scoville Units: 10,000-40,000 SHU
Fiji Fire Hot Sauce

Fiji Fire Native Bongo Hot Sauce

Down to Earth Fiji

Fiji

This medium heat Fijian hot sauce, seen on the Hot Ones TV series, utilizes a sweet Fijian habanero known locally as 'bongo chillis.' This distinctive sauce employs other unique ingredients, like Fijian turmeric.

Scoville Units: 14,300 SHU
Amor Chamoy Sauce

Amor Chamoy Sugar-free Sauce

Salsas Castillo

United States

Chamoy sauce is a popular mild Mexican sauce, often a favorite of children. It is made from dehydrated fruits, as well as chili powder. It is mildly hot, and also sweet. Amor is a popular chamoy in latin communities in the United States.

Scoville Units: 500 or less
El Chilerito Chamoy Hot Sauce

El Chilerito Chamoy Sauce

Chilera Tapatía Plc.

Jalisco, Mexico

A popular chamoy in Mexico, this brand balances sour and sweet and just a slight heat. This Mexican condiment is made from a combination of dried fruit, chili peppers, salt, and sugar. The main ingredient is usually apricot or plum, which is blended into a puree along with chili peppers and other seasonings to create a sweet, sour, and spicy sauce.

Scoville Units: 2,500 or less
Amor Chamoy Mild Sauce

Amor Chamoy Mild Sauce

Amor

Mexico

Amor Chamoy Mild Sauce is a popular Mexican hot sauce that has a unique sweet and sour flavor. It is made from a blend of chamoy (a type of Mexican fruit sauce), lime juice, and a variety of spices.

Scoville Units: 2,500 SHU
C Food's Pure Habanero Hot Sauce

C-Food's Pure Habanero Hot Sauce

C-Foods

La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland

C Foods Pure Habanero Hot Sauce is a fiery and flavorful hot sauce made from habanero peppers, known for their intense heat and fruity flavor. This sauce packs a serious punch, and, that's great considering its from Switzerland!

Scoville Units: Unknown
Yellowbird Hitchhiker Hot Sauce

Yellowbird Hitchhiker Hot Sauce

Yellowbird Foods

Austin, Texas, United States

Yellowbird Hitchhiker Hot Sauce is a medium heat hot sauce that features a bright and zesty flavor profile. Made from shiitake mushrooms and habanero peppers, this sauce has a slightly sweet and tangy taste that is balanced by the heat of the habaneros.

Scoville Units: 7,000-15,000 SHU
Guyanese Pride Lime Aachar

Guyanese Pride Lime Aachar

Guyanese Pride

United States

Guyanese Pride Lime Aachar is a popular condiment in Guyanese cuisine made from pickled limes and spices that give it a tangy flavor. While Guyana's coast is Atlantic. the country is culturally Caribbean and this hot sauce is thus influenced.

Scoville Units: Unknown

Hot Sauces of the World Poster

Like many pages pages on Notes from the Road, this is a work in progress, and new hot sauces are being added. As we add new hot sauces, our poster below will also update.

Hot Sauces of the World

Explore more in Desert Mexico


My road trip to the black desert of Sonora state in Mexico.

My road trip through the northern Baja peninsula state of Baja California Sur.

My road trip to the Bahia Coyote in the southern Baja peninsula state of Baja California Sur.

Sketches and notes from my travels to La Paz and Isla Espiritu Santo.

This is my guide to the hot sauces of the world; Mexico's great contribution to global cuisine.

Notes on three mornings exploring the wildlife wonderland of Baja's freshwater oasis.