National Hot Sauce Day
Celebrated: January 22
Turn Up the Heat—It’s Hot Sauce Day!
January 22 is National Hot Sauce Day, the perfect excuse to crank up the Scoville scale and celebrate the fiery flavor enhancer that’s a must-have in kitchens around the world. Whether you’re a fan of vinegary Louisiana-style heat, fruity Caribbean blends, or smoky chipotle sauces from Mexico, hot sauce is more than a condiment—it’s a culture.
Hot sauce has existed for thousands of years, with early versions traced back to the Aztecs and Mayans, who used chili peppers in both food and medicine. Today, it’s one of the most diverse and global condiments around, with styles adapted to regional ingredients and local tastes—from Sriracha in Thailand to peri-peri sauce in Portugal and Africa.
Fun Facts That Bring the Heat
- The Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) measures spiciness—bell peppers rate 0 SHU, while the Carolina Reaper tops 2 million SHU!
- The U.S. hot sauce market is worth over $3 billion—and growing every year.
- Capsaicin, the compound that makes peppers spicy, triggers endorphins, giving you that “spicy high.”
- America’s favorite? Louisiana-style hot sauces like Tabasco and Crystal.
How to Celebrate National Hot Sauce Day
- Host a Hot Sauce Tasting: Set out a range from mild to wild and let your friends find their fire level.
- Try a New Recipe: Add a dash of heat to pasta, soup, marinades, or cocktails (spicy margarita, anyone?).
- DIY Your Own: With just vinegar, salt, garlic, and chilies, you can ferment or blend your own signature sauce.
- Share the Burn: Post your favorite bottle or hot sauce haul on socials with #HotSauceDay and #EatSafeUSA.
From Farm to Fire: Certivance’s Role in the Sauce Game
Are you crafting small-batch hot sauces, fermenting chili mashes, or scaling a spicy product line? At Certivance, we help you get fiery flavors to market safely and legally. Our team supports:
- pH testing and acidified food safety
- Label review and FDA compliance
- Hazard Analysis & Preventive Controls (HARPC)
- Recipe confidentiality and commercialization support
Work with us to bring the heat with confidence.
