Recently gourmet hot sauce has become a newly discovered condiment and is being consumed more than ever. This demand has enticed manufacturers to make new hot sauce flavors using rare or uncommon ingredients and some sauces combine complex processes that make an even more unique and desirable sauce. Both the use of exotic ingredients and complicated processes has changed what hot sauce is today…including the price.
Gourmet hot sauce has become more expensive due to the use of rare and costly ingredients. Some processes used to make the sauce such as cooking can also force the manufacturing costs to rise, and this will also increase the price of the sauce. Generally speaking, a hot sauce that is more expensive will have higher quality ingredients and processes without inexpensive fillers.
“Everything is getting so expensive these days” is what my mother used to always say. This is true due to the rising cost of inflation but there are also specific reasons within some markets that cause products to increase in pricing. The hot sauce that is made today uses a long list of gourmet, high-grade, or rare and hard-to-find ingredients making it more expensive per pound than many condiments. This has not always been the case.
Many traditional-style hot sauces can cost as little as $2.00 a bottle whereas a gourmet sauce can be over $15.00 even for just a 5-ounce bottle. This is a substantial gap in pricing for condiments that fall under the category of hot sauce. The type of ingredients, how they are processed and the brand name all contribute to how much hot sauce costs. Tabasco® brand hot sauce is a vinegar-based sauce and this can contribute to the low cost and thin consistency. However, this does not mean that it is not a high-quality product.
Hot sauce was introduced into the commercial market as a simple hot pepper and vinegar condiment using a straightforward process of aging the peppers. Although the full flavor of hot sauce gives the impression of being a very expensive and well-formulated condiment, in this form it is not. The use of other ingredients and the introduction of intricate processes are what make the cost of hot sauce increase.
More expensive ingredients
The primary ingredient in a hot sauce is hot peppers, or at least it should be. This is what gives the sauce its signature sharp, pungent, and tangy flavor. Although there are some rare and exotic peppers used in some hot sauces, this is not what increases the cost of a hot sauce. Generally speaking, hot peppers only cost about $16.00 a pound or about $1.00 an ounce and can be much cheaper in large quantities. While that may seem like a lot in a 5-ounce bottle of hot sauce that may only be about 2 oz or $2.00 a bottle. The peppers are usually purchased in bulk or wholesale so the costs of a classic hot sauce can be lower than gourmet sauces.
However, because of the consumer’s demand for new hot sauce creations manufacturers and producers of hot sauce reach for other ingredients to combine with hot peppers. Some of these ingredients include fruits, rare fungus, uncommon sweeteners, or scarce types of vinegar and it is these ingredients that cause the price of the sauce to increase. Using these ingredients along with a small batch or handmade approach has given hot sauces the title of gourmet, craft, or artisan. This type of processing, versus commercial mass production, can increase costs significantly per individual bottle.
Higher cost of manufacturing
Traditional hot sauces have used aged peppers for their pungency and full flavor. Although there are some costs associated with storing the fermented mash used to create the sauce these costs are minimal. A fermented hot pepper just sits there in a brine solution while bacteria goes to work to create a sharp flavor. Not every process to make hot sauce is that easy.
All hot sauces go through some type of processing whether it is a simple fermentation process or a complex roasting process. A complex or detailed process can take a simple hot sauce and increase the costs significantly.
Thicker consistency equals more money
Many gourmet, craft, or artisan hot sauces have a thick consistency without any fillers that thicken the sauces. This is also associated with an increased price because the sauce is not “watered” down to increase the quantity. A thicker sauce is associated with a richness or gourmet quality. This consistency can also give the assumption that it is a higher grade or higher quality product. Sometimes these are real costs and sometimes they are inflated or exaggerated.
Labels can create inflated costs
Having a hot sauce with an increased cost can give the impression to the consumer that it is a higher grade product. Some labels including gourmet, artisan, or craft can give the impression or “inflate” the idea that it is a higher quality product and costs more. For the most part, a manufacturer will not label their products soling to be able to charge more for the product.
Close competition can increase cost
The brand name has a lot to do with how well a hot sauce sells. A recognizable and trusted name on a store shelf will often sell better than a new and unfamiliar brand. Most often these brand names are more expensive than their no-name counterparts.
Don’t believe the hype
Hot sauce can be priced much higher than other condiments because it has become a phenomenon in the culinary world. It is the ultimate condiment! Hot sauce is not a fad but there has certainly been plenty of attention around such a simple condiment. However, all the hype is usually backed up by a great-tasting and healthy condiment.
Traditional hot sauce costs less
Traditional or classic blended hot sauces will usually only contain hot peppers, vinegar, and spices. Neither of these ingredients is very costly and the consistency can be a very thin consistency, which means it can be heavy on the vinegar side. This is what makes a traditional hot sauce much less expensive than other types of sauces.
