South African Hot Sauce

South African Hot Sauce varies and comes in many different shapes, sizes and flavors. The average hot sauce flavor here in South Africa is very different from the flavors found in the USA. Most American hot sauces are fruit based. In South African using fruit as a base for hot sauce is almost unheard of. It all has to do with pallet and what we in our designated countries prefer. I personally would love to get my hands on some American fruit based hot sauce. To me this is intriguing and very different.

The Tastes and Flavors of Africa

Our hot sauces are generally quite tangy. Some are oil based while some are vinegar and lemon based. Fermented hot sauce is not a big deal in South Africa, not because it isn’t great, but rather because of lack of knowledge on fermentation. We use a variety of herbs and spices in our hot sauces. This is where our huge variety in flavor comes from.

The Hot Sauce Culture in South Africa

The hot sauce culture in South Africa is starting to grow with many new brands hitting the market. It is all quite exciting, especially for us hot sauce addicts. Getting a new hot sauce into the stores country wide is more challenging than one would think and so many new startups go online and sell that way. Online selling has its challenges but can be rewarding if done correctly.

Availability of Chili Peppers in South Africa

The availability of Chili Peppers in South Africa can be a challenge. Although our climate is very conducive to growing chili peppers we are very limited in what we produce as a country. I’d love to make a Habanero based hot sauce but have not done so because of the availability of Habanero peppers here in South Africa. I have learned that it is best to stick to chili peppers that are available all year round. I could not have people getting addicted to my hot sauce if suddenly in winter I could no longer provide it. SO as far as starting your own South African Hot Sauce brand goes I’d suggest being very careful when choosing your chilies.

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Chilli Love xxx