Everything you need to know about Mexican Hot Sauces

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Mexican hot sauce refers to a spicy condiment typically made from vinegar and chili peppers. For the purpose of this article we're talking about bottled hot sauces that are widely distributed in America.

Cream Section Separator What is Mexican hot sauce? Learn more

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Many of the most popular and familiar brands of hot sauce available in stores hail from Mexico.

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1. Valentina (Guadalajara, Mexico)

Cream Section Separator Valentina is one of my absolute favorite hot sauces and is manufactured in Guadalajara, Mexico. It is made with puya chilis grown in Jalisco, which are similar to guajillo. Learn more

Cholula is actually based in Stamford, CT, United States, but it is manufactured in Jalisco, Mexico. Cholula is named after an ancient city at the base of Popocatépetl volcano.

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3. El Yucateco (Yucatan, Mexico)

Cream Section Separator You'll find a variety of brightly colored hot sauces by El Yucateco in almost any grocery store. El Yucateco hot sauces use Habanero and Annatto chili peppers which they grow themselves. They range from milder to very hot. Learn more

The following are two extremely well-known hot sauces that use Mexican names, but which are not based or produced in Mexico.

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Tapatio

Cream Section Separator Tapatio, another very common hot sauce, is actually not made in Mexico. In its early years, Tapatio was started in Maywood, CA, and is now headquartered in Vernon, CA. Learn more

Named for the Mexican state of Tabasco, Tabasco sauce is actually not a Mexican-made hot sauce. Tabasco sauce originates in Louisiana, using tabasco peppers which are commonly grown in Central and South America and Africa.

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