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Top 10 Best Hot Sauces to Buy Online in the Philippines 2020

Top 10 Best Hot Sauces to Buy Online in the Philippines 2020

One thing that sets Filipinos apart from other nationalities when eating is our love for "sawsawan" or condiments. We tend to have all these other condiments to adjust the taste to our preference, whether we want it to be a little saltier or have a kick of spiciness.

Today, we'll delve into the world of hot sauces. If you think that a bottle of hot sauce is just about spiciness, we're here to change that thinking. Choosing a hot sauce is like choosing wine, there are layers of flavor as well. Some people even regard it as an art form! Down below, we discuss what to look for when choosing a hot sauce. Also, don't forget to check our ranking on the best hot sauces you can buy right now.

Last updated: 05-01-2020
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Table of Contents

How to Choose a Hot Sauce - Buying Guide

A bottle of hot sauce brings more than just spiciness to the table. Hot sauce heat levels vary from one brand to another and the taste of spiciness is also relative – meaning, what could be spicy for you may not be as spicy for another person.

Depending on the peppers used or the country of origin of the hot sauce, flavor profiles differ too.

Determine the Level of Spiciness You Can Tolerate

Some sauces are incredibly hot or potent, enough to make you sweat or get your eyes teary with just a drop of it. When buying a hot sauce, you want to choose a heat level that is tolerable for you, else your money and the product will just be put to waste.

Scoville Scale Measures Spiciness Level

The Scoville Scale, an invention by Wilbur Scoville in 1912, determines the level of spiciness of peppers, hot sauces, and other hot foods through a standardized unit of measurement called Scoville Heat Unit (SHU). It quantifies the concentration of capsaicin, a chemical that is responsible for spiciness and burning sensation when peppers get in contact with the tongue or skin.

For instance, bell peppers have a rating of 0 SHU, green finger pepper or siling pangsigang with 500 SHU, jalapenos around 10,000 SHU, Bird’s eye pepper or siling labuyo with a 100,000 SHU, and to this date of writing, Carolina Reaper, which is deemed the hottest pepper, has a rating that goes up to 2.2 Million SHU. That’s 220x hotter than jalapenos!

Not all bottles indicate Scoville rating, so it is worth checking the ingredients and know which type of pepper it contains. A quick online search could help you determine its heat level.

For Starters, Kick It With a 2,500 SHU Level

For those who are just beginning their interest with spiciness or if you’re looking for just the right heat, we recommend hot sauces with a rating of around 2,500 SHU. Big brand names such as Tabasco and Cholula are usually the go-to choice.

Choose by Region or Country’s Flavor Profile

Each country has a different take on how they like their hot sauce. The ingredients used are usually based on local ingredients and how the hot sauce will complement the country’s dishes. Let's take a look at some of the most common ones.

Asian Hot Sauces - Typically Sweeter

Depending on the region, hot sauces in Asia could be a mix of sweet, sour, and spicy flavors. Thailand’s Sriracha with a scale of 1,500-2,500 SHU, has a balanced flavor – sweet, sour, and spicy. Its spiciness is not overpowering which makes it good for almost any dish! It makes a great kick of flavor on eggs, stir fry sauce, or even on your bloody mary cocktail!

Sweet Chili Sauce is also one of the favorites across Asia. It is sweet, savory, with a very light to no spiciness kick. It is commonly used as a dipping sauce for fried spring rolls.

One of the staple ingredients in South Korea, gochujang, is used in dishes like kimchi, bibimbap, and many more. Its flavor is a little hot yet sweet with a slight fermented flavor which makes it great as a base flavor for soups and marinades.

American Hot Sauces – Spicy with a Kick of Acidity

American hot sauces, specifically Lousiana-style, use red chili peppers, vinegar for the base, and salt for seasoning. It usually has a moderate kick of spiciness with tanginess and acidity from the vinegar, making it great for marinades, sauces, and dips. If you’re looking to make buffalo wings, this is a great option!

Mexican Hot Sauces – Thick-Bodied with Emphasis on the Peppers

Compared to American hot sauces, Mexico’s take on hot sauces contain more water than vinegar. They tend to reduce acidity level to put more emphasis on the taste of the chili peppers. Mexican hot sauce usually also has a thicker consistency but with a clean spicy taste.

Mexican hot sauces are great for nachos, tacos, soups, and many more! You can also try putting some on your guacamole for spiciness and flavor depth.

Top 10 Best Hot Sauces to Buy Online

Ready to get hot? Here we listed the top 10 hot sauces you can buy online to give your food some extra kick. From a moderate kick to lip-numbing hot, we've got you covered!

lazada.com.ph

TabascoRed Pepper Sauce

₱259

A Classic Go-To Choice and a Family-Favorite

When it comes to hot sauce, Tabasco probably is one of the images that pop into one's head. Created in 1868, this brand of hot sauce has been continuing to deliver the kick of spiciness we want in our food.

It is made with three simple ingredients - aged red peppers, salt, and vinegar, yet it can appease the different taste buds of people. It has a good balance of spiciness and acidity, so if you're looking into easing spiciness to your palate, this a great option.

Scoville Rating	2,500 - 5,000 SHU
Main Ingredients	Aged Red Peppers, Salt, Vinegar
Amount	150 ml
Type	American

lazada.com.ph

SusmaryosepHot Chili Sauce 3 Different Flavors

₱255

Locally-Sourced All-Natural Ingredients with 3 Different Flavors to Enjoy

With three different flavors of hot sauces to choose from - Classic Blend, Garlic Flavor, and Vinegar Spirit, you can add a unique twist of flavor to your dish! Add a moderate level of spiciness to your food with Classic Blend, drench your fried chicken wings with Garlic Flavor sauce, and dip seafood or meat into Vinegar Spirit.

All these sauces do not contain water extenders and are made from locally-sourced ingredients that are all-natural, healthy, and vegan-friendly! Its deliciousness will definitely make you say "Susmaryosep!".

Scoville Rating	80,000 -100,000 SHU
Main Ingredients	Siling Labuyo, Coconut Cider Vinegar, Local Dried Grapes, Garlic, Onion
Amount	147 ml
Type	Asian - Filipino

cf.shopee.ph

Jimlong’s Carolina Reaper Hot Sauce

₱400

View product on Shopee

Scoville Rating	2.2 M SHU
Main Ingredients	Carolina Reaper
Amount	-
Type	Asian - Filipino

lazada.com.ph

SureeSweet Chilli Dipping Sauce

₱128

Scoville Rating	Not Specified
Main Ingredients	Red Chili, Garlic, Sugar, Water
Amount	690 ml
Type	Asian - Thai

lazada.com.ph

Huy FongSriracha Chili Sauce

₱319

Scoville Rating	1,000-2,500 SHU
Main Ingredients	Chili, Sugar, Salt, Garlic, Distilled Vinegar
Amount	740 ml
Type	Asian - Thai

lazada.com.ph

Quezon's BestCoconut Hot Sauce

₱85

Scoville Rating	Not Specified
Main Ingredients	Organic coconut sap, chili peppers
Amount	150 ml
Type	Asian - Filipino

lazada.com.ph

Don HulyoInfierno Black Reaper Hot Sauce

₱500

Scoville Rating	2.2 million SHU
Main Ingredients	Carolina Reaper, Distilled Cane Vinegar, Fish Sauce, Black Pepper, Spices, Sugar
Amount	147 ml
Type	Fil-Tex

lazada.com.ph

CJHaechandle Gochujang

₱99

View product on Lazada

Scoville Rating	> 1,000 SHU
Main Ingredients	Red Chili Powder, Glutinous Rice Powder, Powdered Fermented Soybeans
Amount	200 g
Type	South Korean

lazada.com.ph

TapatioSalsa Picante Hot Sauce

₱253

Scoville Rating	3,000 SHU
Main Ingredients	Water, Red Peppers, Salt, Spices, Garlic
Amount	946 ml
Type	Mexican

lazada.com.ph

SamyangBuldak Hot Chicken Flavor Chili Sauce

₱153

Scoville Rating	Not Specified
Main Ingredients	Water, Artificial Chicken Flavor, Corn Syrup, Soy Sauce, Soybean Oil, Onion, Garlic, Decolorized Chilli Extract, Paprika
Amount	200 g
Type	South Korean

Compare the Best Hot Sauces

Image	1 Tabasco	2 Susmaryosep	3 Jimlong’s	4 Suree	5 Huy Fong	6 Quezon's Best	7 Don Hulyo	8 CJ	9 Tapatio	10 Samyang
Name	Red Pepper Sauce	Hot Chili Sauce 3 Different Flavors	Carolina Reaper Hot Sauce	Sweet Chilli Dipping Sauce	Sriracha Chili Sauce	Coconut Hot Sauce	Infierno Black Reaper Hot Sauce	Haechandle Gochujang	Salsa Picante Hot Sauce	Buldak Hot Chicken Flavor Chili Sauce
Features	A Classic Go-To Choice and ...	Locally-Sourced All-Natural...	2018 Philippine Chili Festi...	The Perfect Pair for Lumpia	Popular Asian Hot Sauce Acr...	An Organic and Unique Hot S...	Caution: Extremely Hot and ...	Satisfy Your Korean Food Cr...	Mexican-Style Hot Sauce	2x Fiery Hot Chicken Noodle...
Price	₱259	₱255	₱400	₱128	₱319	₱85	₱500	₱99	₱253	₱153
Scoville Rating	2,500 - 5,000 SHU	80,000 -100,000 SHU	2.2 M SHU	Not Specified	1,000-2,500 SHU	Not Specified	2.2 million SHU	> 1,000 SHU	3,000 SHU	Not Specified
Main Ingredients	Aged Red Peppers, Salt, Vinegar	Siling Labuyo, Coconut Cider Vinegar, Local Dried Grapes, Garlic, Onion	Carolina Reaper	Red Chili, Garlic, Sugar, Water	Chili, Sugar, Salt, Garlic, Distilled Vinegar	Organic coconut sap, chili peppers	Carolina Reaper, Distilled Cane Vinegar, Fish Sauce, Black Pepper, Spices, Sugar	Red Chili Powder, Glutinous Rice Powder, Powdered Fermented Soybeans	Water, Red Peppers, Salt, Spices, Garlic	Water, Artificial Chicken Flavor, Corn Syrup, Soy Sauce, Soybean Oil, Onion, Garlic, Decolorized Chilli Extract, Paprika
Amount	150 ml	147 ml	-	690 ml	740 ml	150 ml	147 ml	200 g	946 ml	200 g
Type	American	Asian - Filipino	Asian - Filipino	Asian - Thai	Asian - Thai	Asian - Filipino	Fil-Tex	South Korean	Mexican	South Korean
Link	View Lazada View Shopee	View Lazada View Shopee	View Shopee	View Lazada View Shopee	View Lazada View Shopee	View Lazada View Shopee	View Lazada View Shopee	View Lazada	View Lazada View Shopee	View Lazada View Shopee

Basic Hot Sauce Recipe

If you have peppers in your kitchen, why not try making your own hot sauce? Here is a basic recipe that you can tweak by adding more ingredients like garlic, onion, honey, and many more.

Ingredients:

Fresh or dried peppers of any choice
1 cup vinegar or Lemon for acidity
1/2 tsp salt

Procedure:

Cut the tops of pepper and slice it lengthwise
In a pan, put peppers, vinegar and salt and bring it to a boil in low heat
When the peppers turn soft, turn off heat and let cool for a little while
Pour into blender and blend away
Transfer sauce into a bottle

Note: Use gloves when slicing peppers. The oils could be transferred to your hands and next thing you know it, your skin will be burning!

Summary

If you're just starting out on venturing on to different spice levels, don't rush it! Ease your way in and start with hot sauces that are within your heat tolerance level. We hope that you find our guide which included spice levels that range from kid-friendly to extremely and insanely hot helpful.

Now, just in case you find food or sauce that is too spicy for you, drinking a glass of milk will help numb the burning sensation in your mouth. So if you're having a hot taste test or doing some spicy food challenge, keep a glass of milk within your reach!

Author: Issa Honda