Hot sauce

Hot sauce is a condiment made from chilli peppers, vinegar, and often other spices and flavourings. The peppers are typically mashed or blended into a paste, then combined with other ingredients and often fermented or cooked before bottling. The resulting sauce can range from mild to extremely spicy.

Manufacturers add hot sauce to provide a spicy, pungent, and often tangy flavour profile to foods. It is used to enhance the taste of a wide variety of dishes, including meats, vegetables, snacks, and sauces. Its versatility makes it a popular ingredient in many cuisines worldwide.

Hot sauce is not considered a food additive and therefore does not have an E-number or require authorisation on the Register of Food Additive Authorisations. The primary active component, capsaicin (the compound that makes chillies hot), may have some health effects. Some research suggests capsaicin might influence metabolism or have pain-relieving properties, but evidence is mixed and more robust studies are needed. The NHS advises that while chilli can be part of a healthy diet, excessive consumption of very spicy foods may cause digestive discomfort for some individuals.