Food trends are constantly evolving, but some manage to secure a lasting place in our kitchens — like the hot sauce. While hot sauces have been a favourite for years, it emerged as a viral food trend during the pandemic. Culinary enthusiasts, whether experimenting with new recipes or seeking comfort food with a little twist, found hot sauce to be a handy and exciting ingredient.
Earlier, most Bengali and Indian households stored two essential sauces in the fridge — the tomato sauce and the green chilli sauce Shutterstock
If you are a ’90s kid, you’ll remember how most Bengali and Indian households stored two essential sauces in the fridge — the tomato sauce (or ketchup) and the green chilli sauce — which made the occasionally served chowmein even more delicious. Hot sauces, which come in many tastes and flavours, and are made with several types of chilli peppers, are essentially an evolved version of the classic green chilli sauce.
Why is hot sauce a pantry staple?
Hot sauce can make almost anything taste better — from a bland salad to crunchy fries, munchy pakoras, Bangali’s fish fry or the staple roti and sabzi Unsplash
Hot sauce, undoubtedly, has a dedicated fan base and is a pantry staple in many desi households. Back-pat the impressive spice tolerance among Indians in general, the fact that chilli is a key ingredient in countless dishes across the country’s diverse cuisines, or simply because hot sauce can make almost anything taste better — from a bland salad to crunchy fries, munchy pakoras, Bangali’s fish fry or the staple roti and sabzi. With a wide variety of options available, hot sauces cater to different tastes and spice levels. The growing global trend of exploring diverse culinary experiences has also contributed to their rising popularity in India.
What’s the Scoville Scale?
The Scoville Scale measures the pungency of chilli peppers that are recorded in the Scoville heat units (SHU) Unsplash
No discussion on chillies or chilli peppers — the key ingredient in hot sauce — is complete without taking into account the Scoville Scale. The scale measures the pungency of chilli peppers that are recorded in the Scoville heat units (SHU). It is named after American pharmacist Wilbur Scoville.
Did you know, scoring 2.69 million on the Scoville heat units, Pepper X is the hottest chilli pepper in the world, holding a Guinness World Record?
Homegrown brands dialling up the heat
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While Pure Evil 13 Million holds the title of the hottest hot sauce in the world, India boasts several homegrown hot sauce brands that have carved out their own niche, thanks to their quality and unique flavours.
NAAGIN
NAAGIN is one of the most prominent brands, when it comes to homegrown hot sauces. The brand was founded in 2019 by three friends with a shared vision — to showcase Indian chillies and take Indian hot sauces global. Today, NAAGIN hot sauces are available in seven countries worldwide.
One of the variants, Smoky Bhoot, might not be ghostly, but it packs the fiery punch of Bhoot Jolokia (Ghost Pepper). Native to Northeast India, this Guinness World Record-holding chilli is one of the hottest in the world! Shop here.
Ishka Farms
Ishka Farms, established in 2012, is one of the popular names in the F&B business, especially when it comes to their hot sauces. The brand deals with a plethora of culinary knick-knacks and amalgamates several products from their own brand to make the hot sauce..
Add their Kerala Hot Sauce to the cart. Made with the white Kandari chillies (Bird’s Eye Chillies), the sauce is spicy (needless to say) and has a hint of saltiness because of the use of the Ishka Capers — a fruit that isn’t native to India. The green peppercorns used in the sauce are plucked at its prime, which adds a distinct flavour to the sauce. Shop here.
EAST BY NORTHEAST
If you have a penchant for ingredients from the Northeast, EAST BY NORTHEAST should definitely be on your radar. This brand champions indigenous ingredients and is led by a female entrepreneur from Assam, who aims to bring the culinary wonders of the Northeast to the rest of the world.
Their Extra Hot Chilli Sauce lives up to its name. Made with chilli puree, it’s fiery, and packed with flavour — definitely not for those with a low spice tolerance. Shop here.
Urban Platter
Love gourmet food? Then Urban Platter goodies must make way to your platter. Known for its extensive range of spices, nuts and plant-based alternatives, the brand has also ventured into the hot sauce domain.
The hot sauces of this brand have a global appeal. Among the options, the Sriracha Hot Chilli Sauce is a good pick because of its versatility. Made with chilli peppers, garlic and vinegar, this hot sauce is hot and tangy. Shop here.
