| Why is everyone fired up about hot sauce? Where | | | | every created, boasting eighty times hotter than |
| did it originate, and why is it so darn popular today? | | | | Tabasco sauce. This sauce requires one pound of |
| Depending on your version of how to make hot | | | | capsaicin, an alkaloid oil which has a heat score of 16 |
| sauce, here is some heated debate on the subject. | | | | million units, and is obtained from several thousand |
| Hot sauce became known in the US around 1807, | | | | pounds of fresh peppers. It is suggested that not |
| when cayenne sauces appeared in Massachusetts. In | | | | even a chemist could produce such intense heat in a |
| England, the infamous Tabasco sauce was imported | | | | laboratory. |
| to the US and debuted in 1849. Obtained from a | | | | While Louisiana may be the home of the hottest |
| Tabasco pepper in Mexico, it is touted as the original | | | | sauces; conversely, Mexico prefers flavor rather than |
| and only sauce of its kind today. However, most | | | | heat. Vinegar is used very little or not at all. Chipotle, |
| homegrown hot sauces into the US are coming from | | | | which has become quite popular in the hot sauce |
| the South; specifically within the Cajun cuisine ethnic | | | | category today, combines dried and smoked jalapeno |
| foods. The timeline and sauces include: | | | | peppers. Asia, on the other hand, uses more |
| * 1860: a Bird Pepper sauce was introduced out of | | | | ingredients than either Louisiana or Mexico. Their |
| New York City. | | | | sauces are sweeter and are prepared with garlic and |
| * 1877: a chilly sauce out of Chicago was born. | | | | other condiments to increase flavor. You may |
| * 1893: southern Louisiana produced Hotter n' Hell | | | | certainly attest to the fact that Chinese, Thai and |
| Pepper sauce. | | | | Indian sauces happen to be the hottest sauces |
| * 1916: the Red Hot Creole Pepper sauce was | | | | produced. They would certainly give Mr. Lazar a run |
| created in New Orleans. | | | | for his money! Some other well-known hot sauces |
| * 1941: the red taco sauce, green taco sauce and | | | | include: Habanera, which is a pepper sauce; and |
| enchilada sauce were introduced. | | | | Peri-Peri, which is also known as the African Birds Eye |
| * 1947: produced picante sauce. | | | | Chile. |
| * 1980: Dat'l Do It sauce and Hellish Relish was | | | | Many hot sauces are made in food competitions; and |
| created. | | | | while they are no doubt easy to prepare, the true |
| While these hot sauces have been widely recognized | | | | test is in the tasting. There are some hot sauces |
| as the best, it was Blair Lazar who is responsible for | | | | which one wouldn't dare to try; yet there are others |
| creating the hottest sauce to date. With ingredients | | | | who have been known to drink it from the bottle. |
| consisting of chili powder; vinegar and chili pepper, Mr. | | | | One need only watch any of the food channel's |
| Lazar has become the owner and creator of such | | | | programs to find hot sauce has become a favorite, |
| world renowned sauces such as: Mega Death; Original | | | | albeit necessary staple in some cultures. The next |
| Death; Sudden Death; and After Death. In addition, | | | | time you inquire how to make hot sauce, conduct a |
| his latest effort is called 16 Million Reserve, which is | | | | little research into the components involved. Better |
| considered to be the hottest collection of hot sauces | | | | safe than sorry! |