Surprisingly, hot sauce first appeared with the ancient Aztecs in Mexico. They began cultivating chilies as early as 7000 BC. Hot sauce has been a key part of Mexican cuisine and culture ever since.
The earliest recognizable hot sauce brand in the United States is Tabasco, appearing in 1868. Tabasco sauce has been handcrafted with just three ingredients since then: aged red peppers, salt and vinegar.
The hottest hot sauce in the world is called Mad Dog 357 Plutonium No. 9, rating 9 million Scoville heat units.
Other popular hot sauce brands today include:
- Huy Fong Sriracha
- Frank’s RedHot
- Cholula
Studies suggest hot sauce may lower blood pressure.
The difference between hot sauce and salsa lies in ingredients and preparation method.