# Most flavorful hot sauces **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 13, 2015, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-flavorful-hot-sauces/737463 "2015-11-13T15:11:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-flavorful-hot-sauces/737463/1 "2015-11-13T15:11:48Z")
Because you’ve developed telepathy, the government has kidnapped you and taken you to a secret location deep within the earth’s mantle so as to better study your burgeoning powers. It’s expensive to get fresh ingredients down there, so you’re being served a lot of bland, institutional food. Your telepathic offers haven’t yet gotten to the point where you can leverage an escape. The best you can do is arrange for a shipment of a few bottles of hot sauce on the next Mega-Drill Transport, leaving Surface Station Alpha XII in a few days. So: what hot sauces are, in your opinion, the absolute best and most broadly applicable for not just spicing mild dishes, but flavoring bland ones? edit: need answer fast - the guard rotations here are tricky ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-flavorful-hot-sauces/737463/2 "2015-11-13T15:17:41Z")
In no particular order: Huy Fong Sriracha Yellowbird Habanero Yellowbird Serrano Secret Aardvark Habanero Crystal Second tier: Valentina Cholula Tiger Tapatio Toad Sweat for desserts ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-flavorful-hot-sauces/737463/3 "2015-11-13T15:33:11Z")
I like to keep it simple: Crystal is perfect for everyday, put-on-everything use. If I want it a touch hotter, I like See Dick Burn. If something could use some heat _and_ some sweetness, Sriracha. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-flavorful-hot-sauces/737463/4 "2015-11-13T15:38:19Z")
Sri Racha Cayenne Sauce (not Tobasco) Tobasco (in very small quantities) Cholula There are a lot of other potentials, but those are my go to sauces. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-flavorful-hot-sauces/737463/5 "2015-11-13T15:44:11Z")
Sriracha Pickapeppa Tiger Tabasco Chipotle Tabasco Green Louisiana hot sauce ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-flavorful-hot-sauces/737463/6 "2015-11-13T15:44:29Z")
My favorite hot sauce is ABC’s Indonesian hot sauce ([http://www.amazon.com/Sambal-Extra-Pedas-Chili-Sauce/dp/B00886B6SI/ref=sr\_1\_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1447429502&sr=8-2&keywords=abc+sambal](http://www.amazon.com/Sambal-Extra-Pedas-Chili-Sauce/dp/B00886B6SI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1447429502&sr=8-2&keywords=abc+sambal)) For day to day, I like Tabasco, it’s not terribly hot, but I like the flavor it brings. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-flavorful-hot-sauces/737463/7 "2015-11-13T15:57:59Z")
Forgot: Harissa ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-flavorful-hot-sauces/737463/8 "2015-11-13T16:05:06Z")
Blair’s Mega Death for the hot end of the spectrum. There are hotter hot sauces but none that taste so good. You’d want to drink it straight except that it would melt your teeth and vaporize all the flesh from around your jawbone and stuff. El Yucateco red and green for the midzone. Kicky and tasty in different ways. Tabasco Chipotle for the smoke. Plain old regular Tabasco for the vinegar with mild burn. Cholula with lime for mild warm without as much vinegar and the extra bit from the lime. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-flavorful-hot-sauces/737463/9 "2015-11-13T16:09:39Z")
My must-haves are: Tabasco (regular) and Louisiana Hot Sauce El Yucateco Caribbean and Kutbil-ik Secret Aardvark Habanero (this is a new entry, thanks to **silenus** ) Nando’s Extra Hot Peri Peri Cholula Those seven would keep me plenty happy. I’d probably put Yellowbird Habanero on there as well, but I already have three habanero hot sauces listed. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-flavorful-hot-sauces/737463/10 "2015-11-13T16:14:27Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Forgot: Harissa That is good stuff, I put it in my stews and chilis to give it pop. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-flavorful-hot-sauces/737463/11 "2015-11-13T16:15:23Z")
I should have mentioned Thai Sweet Chili Sauce. I have found a couple of store bought varieties that are ok, and made my own. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-flavorful-hot-sauces/737463/12 "2015-11-13T17:25:31Z")
Pickapeppa Chili garlic sauce (it’s red and, I think, Southeast Asian) Anything with _chile canario_ (slightly bigger than habanero, and almost as spicy) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-flavorful-hot-sauces/737463/13 "2015-11-13T17:58:45Z")
Well, here’s the thrust of my question: is there, for you guys, a difference between your favorite overall hot sauces and your favorite hot sauce for my hypothetical scenario? ---
**Author:** ![Rhodes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhodes/32/273_2.png) [@Rhodes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhodes)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-flavorful-hot-sauces/737463/14 "2015-11-13T18:05:56Z")
No love here for Frank’s RedHot? I put that stuff on everything. It is, in my opinion, the absolute best and most broadly applicable for not just spicing mild dishes, but flavoring bland ones. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-flavorful-hot-sauces/737463/15 "2015-11-13T18:09:14Z")
[Gator Hammock](http://www.thehotsaucestop.com/gator-hammock-hot-sauce/) for me. If I want a Sriracha, I prefer the [Sky Valley](http://organicvillefoods.com/products/international/sriracha-sauce/) to the Huy Fong ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-flavorful-hot-sauces/737463/16 "2015-11-13T18:10:07Z")
> [@Rhodes](#): > > No love here for Frank’s RedHot? I put that shit on everything. It is, in my opinion, the absolute best and most broadly applicable for not just spicing mild dishes, but flavoring bland ones. The only thing I use Frank’s for is chicken wings. I’m not sure why I don’t really like it in any other application, as it’s similar to other cayenne or tabasco-based vinegary hot sauces that I like, but I just don’t. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-flavorful-hot-sauces/737463/17 "2015-11-13T18:41:46Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Well, here’s the thrust of my question: is there, for you guys, a difference between your favorite overall hot sauces and your favorite hot sauce for my hypothetical scenario? Not really. My list was tweaked for variety of base dishes, but that’s about it. If I have Secret Aardvark, a Yellowbird and Crystal, I’m good for 90+% of what I eat. Assuming bland institutional food per the OP, those three would just about cover all the bases. The only modification I’d make is to take **TriPolar** ’s idea of a sweet Thai chili sauce and add it to the list to pep up starches and vegetables. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-flavorful-hot-sauces/737463/18 "2015-11-13T18:57:49Z")
Secret Aardvark Crystal Green Dragon I’m reminded by this thread that I want to buy some Nando’s Peri-Peri sauce for home use. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-flavorful-hot-sauces/737463/19 "2015-11-13T19:44:25Z")
I stand by my answer from a couple months ago: Marie Sharps (pick your heat level…they have them all). > **[Good hot sauces?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=758920)** > > Looking for sauces that are widely available in the US. Like most people I know about Texas Pete and Tabasco and Sriracha . ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-flavorful-hot-sauces/737463/20 "2015-11-13T19:56:57Z")
In no particular order: Cholula Huy Fong Sriracha Tabasco Chipotle Nando’s Peri Peri Grace medium jerk seasoning, because the hot is pretty outrageous for everyday use. Thai sweet chili or Jufran Banana sauce. Colour me happy. And yes, she does have a nice butt…pervert. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-flavorful-hot-sauces/737463.md?page=2)