Before hot sauce was bottled and branded with flashy labels or turned into viral YouTube challenges, it was - quite simply - just a smart (and fiery) way to add flavour, preserve food, and keep things interesting at the dinner table. But who invented hot sauce? And where did it all begin?

As with most things that stand the test of time, the answer’s a bit more complicated than pointing to one person or place. This isn’t the story of a lone genius shouting “Eureka!” over a bubbling pot of chili peppers - it’s the story of culture, trade, necessity, and yes, the universal love of spice.

Where it all started: ancient heat

Humans have been messing around with spicy ingredients for thousands of years. Some of the earliest signs of hot sauce-ish concoctions date back to 7000 BC in Central and South America, where the Aztecs and Mayans were already growing chili peppers like pros.

They didn’t have Tabasco or Sriracha, of course, but they were combining chili peppers with water and other ingredients to make sauces that were equal parts flavour and fire. These weren’t just for taste either - many cultures used chili for medicinal and even spiritual purposes.

(Also, a quick side note: if you’ve ever cried while eating a ghost pepper, you’re basically participating in a sacred ritual. Sort of.)

The global spread of spicy

Once explorers and traders started zipping around the globe in the 15th and 16th centuries, chili peppers made their way to Asia, Africa, and Europe. And guess what? Other cultures immediately thought: “Yes, this. More of this.”

In Africa, chilies quickly became part of everyday cooking, with local spices and ingredients layered in to create bold, complex sauces. Over in Asia, peppers found their way into beloved staples like sambal and nam prik.

In other words: hot sauce didn't just go global - it went viral (before that was even a thing).

The first commercial hot sauces

Fast-forward to the 1800s in the United States, and we start to see the first commercial hot sauces appear - bottled, labelled, and sold to spice-hungry customers. One of the earliest known brands was Tabasco, created in 1868 by Edmund McIlhenny in Louisiana.

It was made with just three ingredients: mashed tabasco peppers, salt, and vinegar, then aged in barrels. The simplicity of that recipe still works today (which is kind of wild, honestly).

But Tabasco wasn’t alone. Other brands like Louisiana Hot Sauce and Crystal followed soon after, and suddenly, the spicy shelf had options. People were no longer just crushing peppers at home - they were building entire identities around their preferred bottle of sauce.

So… who invented hot sauce?

Here’s the thing: nobody really invented hot sauce in the way we think about inventions. It’s more like something that evolved naturally, across continents and cultures, because humans love bold flavour and a good culinary thrill.

The first people to mash up chilies and make a sauce were likely Indigenous Mesoamerican communities. But over time, as chili peppers travelled, so did the ways people used them - resulting in a beautiful, chaotic, very spicy patchwork of sauces around the world.

So, while we can’t pin it on one person, we can thank a lot of different cultures for keeping the fire alive.

Modern hot sauce culture: it’s kind of a big deal

Today, hot sauce is no longer just a condiment - it’s a movement. Whether you're a casual drizzle-on-your-eggs kind of person or a full-blown heat-chaser collecting sauces with warning labels, there’s something for everyone.

Craft hot sauces are popping up everywhere - made in small batches, often with local ingredients, unique flavour combos, and just the right level of brag-worthy heat. And let’s be honest: it’s never been a better time to be a hot sauce fan.

If you’re ready to get in on the action (or just want to add something new to your rotation), you can learn more about our hot sauces. We’ve got everything from mellow mango blends to next-level infernos.

What pairs well with hot sauce?

Of course, a hot sauce is only as good as the food you put it on. (Or in. Or next to. You get the idea.)

From crispy snacks to hearty mains, there’s no shortage of foods that go well with spicy hot sauce. Trust us - once you find the right combo, there’s no going back.