Skip to content

Recent Posts

  • Hot Sauce Consumer Trends 2024
  • 10 Best Hot Sauces on Eggs and How to Use Them
  • What Makes Hot Sauce Shelf Stable?
  • Best Preservatives for Hot Sauce
  • Best Zero Calorie Hot Sauces

Most Used Categories

  • Making Hot Sauce (67)
  • Eating Hot Sauce (38)
  • Facts (26)
  • Ingredients (19)
  • Hot Sauce Industry (15)
  • Hot Sauce Business (13)
  • Selling Hot Sauce (8)
  • Uncategorized (4)
  • Recipes (4)
Skip to content
Hot Sauce Hell

Hot Sauce Hell

What every connoisseur should know about hot sauce

Subscribe
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Hot Sauce Recipe Worksheet
  • Free Info Products
  • Contact
  • Home
  • 2022
  • April
  • 27
  • Why Is Hot Sauce So Expensive?

Why Is Hot Sauce So Expensive?

thomasrobertthompsonApril 27, 2022July 7, 2023

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.

Oh hi there
It’s nice to meet you.

Sign up to receive awesome content in your inbox, every month.

Get The Hot Sauce Recipe Workbook FREE with sign up!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...

Post navigation

Previous: How To Make Hot Sauce
Next: Hot Sauce Endorphins: Is Hot Sauce Addictive?

Related Posts

Exploring How Hot Sauce is Made: Origins, Traditions & Contemporary Recipes

August 14, 2023 thomasrobertthompson

Hot sauce endorphins: highs and lows

July 17, 2023 thomasrobertthompson

My Dog Ate Hot Sauce, Are They OK?

July 9, 2023 thomasrobertthompson

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

About Me...

Hi I'm Tom...Hot sauce expert! I love hot sauce...and I hope you do too! Read More...or don't

Top Posts

  • How To LEGALLY Sell Hot Sauce! A Guide for Entering The Hot Sauce Business
    How To LEGALLY Sell Hot Sauce! A Guide for Entering The Hot Sauce Business
  • 9 Things You Can Do If Hot Sauce Is In Your Eye!
    9 Things You Can Do If Hot Sauce Is In Your Eye!
  • 12 Standard Hot Sauce Preservatives...and How To Use Them
    12 Standard Hot Sauce Preservatives...and How To Use Them
  • Hot Sauce Consumer Trends 2024
    Hot Sauce Consumer Trends 2024

How To Start A Hot Sauce Business 2nd Edition

This is a huge resource on starting a hot sauce business with a focus on state and federal regulations. Includes everything to start selling everywhere from local farm markets to regional store chains. Available as an instant download HERE and as a paperback on Amazon HERE. Or get the recently released hardcover HERE.

BUY

Guide To The Hot Sauce Business

OUR BEST SELLER! This guidebook breaks down successfully starting a hot sauce business in monthly increments. If you have decided you want to start a hot sauce business but don't know where to start...GET THIS BOOK! Get this top seller as a paperback on Amazon HERE or as an instant download HERE.

BUY

Available on these great sites:


Guide To Making Hot Sauce

Making delicious and original hot sauce recipes is super easy with this guide. Learn the secrets of making your own unique hot sauces that are ready for store shelves. Get the recently published paperback HERE on Amazon or the instant download HERE.

BUY

Hot Sauce Recipes

Get 50 delicious and unique gourmet hot sauce recipes with detail directions to make one of a kind hot sauces. Each recipe stands alone using ingredients such as blueberries, mushrooms, and bourbon! This book includes note-taking pages to alter each recipe to your liking. Get the paperback HERE on Amazon or the instant download HERE.

BUY

Understanding Small Business

This book covers all the basic information about small business enterprise and entrepreneurship. Many small business startup and operate with a similar business model to include the need for a business plan and obtaining the proper funding. Get the paperback HERE on Amazon or the instant download HERE.

BUY

Legal Disclaimer

This site is owned and operated by Hot Sauce Hell headquartered in Rochester, NY. Hot Sauce Hell is a participating member of Amazon Services LLC Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program for sites to earn fees through advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic to other businesses. 


Oh hi there
It’s nice to meet you.

Sign up to receive awesome content in your inbox, every month.

Get The Hot Sauce Recipe Workbook FREE with sign up!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.


LATEST POSTS

  • Hot Sauce Consumer Trends 2024
  • 10 Best Hot Sauces on Eggs and How to Use Them
  • What Makes Hot Sauce Shelf Stable?
  • Best Preservatives for Hot Sauce
  • Best Zero Calorie Hot Sauces

Pure Hot Sauce Company

...We have carefully crafted this sauce to bring out the full flavor and heat of the habanero pepper, while also balancing it with other high quality ingredients to create a complex and nuanced taste experience...

Copyright All Rights Reserved
%d bloggers like this: