Hot sauce is basically a spicy seasoning made from peppers, vinegar, and salt. There are very few types of hot sauces distributed in Japan, and many people have an image of “sour” or “very hot” when they hear the word “hot sauce. The most recognized hot sauce in Japan is Tabasco, right? Perhaps the most famous hot sauce in the world is Tabasco sauce.
There are many different hot sauces in the world. In addition, since around 2010, an increasing number of unique craft hot sauces have started to be distributed, and now there are so many hot sauces in circulation that it is impossible to count them all. We, Hot Sauce Bar, are a craft hot sauce specialty store specializing in these craft hot sauces. We import and sell hot sauces from all over the world that we would like everyone in Japan to try.
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, hot sauce is basically a spicy condiment made from capsicum, vinegar, and salt. A salsa (sauce) made on the weekend with peppers in it that has been preserved for a long time by adding vinegar and salt so that it can be stored like a pickle is called a hot sauce. Hot sauce manufacturers also use vinegar and salt during production to control the pH value and produce hot sauce. Each manufacturer blends ingredients in precisely calculated proportions so that the hot sauce can be eaten even after its expiration date. Hot sauces, like dressings, come in a variety of flavors, and are a very interesting condiment that also reflects the creator's food culture. What makes it different from ordinary dressings is the inclusion of chili peppers, which makes it an entertaining way to enjoy reactions. This is the kind of hot and spicy challenge that you are all familiar with. You know, “That time I had a hard time with that super hot hot hot sauce.” One of the things I like about hot sauce is that it can remain a scene in many people's memories, like “I had a tough time with a very hot hot hot sauce.
When I (the author) explain hot sauce to first-time customers when I am selling craft hot sauces, I explain hot sauce by comparing it to the beer market.
Just as there is a market for beer, there is a market for hot sauce, and what Asahi Super Dry is to the beer market, Tabasco sauce is to the hot sauce market. Hot sauces that are produced in small batches, like the growing number of craft beers in recent years, are called craft hot sauces, and many of them have unique flavors filled with attention to detail and food culture.”
When I explain it like this, “Tabasco is not the same as the generic term for hot sauce!” and they understand the many craft hot sauces lined up in front of them. So, not all hot sauces are equally sour and very hot, but there are a variety of spices and flavors that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. We are not a Tabasco shop in Japan, but a hot sauce specialty store, and through customer service, we aim for a world where hot sauce is understood, the word “hot sauce” is used in everyday life, and it is recognized as a condiment that can be selected in terms of flavor and spiciness. We are aiming for a world where the word “hot sauce” is used in daily life and recognized as a seasoning that can be selected in terms of taste and spiciness.
