MyTastr

Best caribbean hot sauce, according to chefs

Three picks, each tied to a named taster and a public source — from J. Kenji López-Alt, Jacob Dean and Adam Schop. Recommendations come from seriouseats.com and bonappetit.com.

Condiments · The ranking

  1. 1
    Top pick

    Matouk’s Calypso Sauce (Trinidad)

    Chosen by
    Ketchup-thick Trinidadian sauce of pickled Scotch bonnets, mustard, garlic and celery seed: “you’d swear that there was tropical fruit in it… darned delicious on eggs and sandwiches.” Matouk’s is the brand Serious Eats says fills Caribbean supermarket shelves.
    Where to buy · matouks.com ↗Instacart ↗Source: seriouseats.com ↗
  2. 2

    Marie Sharp’s Habanero Pepper Sauce (Belize)

    Chosen by
    Belize’s table sauce — “on literally every single table, during every single meal (including breakfast!)” — of habanero, carrot, onion, lime and garlic, so the heat is “tempered by the natural sweetness and acidity.” Comes in heat levels from Mild to Fiery Hot and beyond.
    Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: seriouseats.com ↗
  3. 3

    Spur Tree Jamaican Crushed Scotch Bonnet Pepper Sauce

    Chosen by
    • Adam SchopMiss Lily’s · Rockhouse Hotel, Negril
    Schop uses it at Miss Lily’s and is “obsessed with it”: basically crushed Scotch bonnets and cane vinegar, with “a tropical, fruity flavor that captures the essence of the scotch bonnet in raw form, both its fragrant seasoning and its heat.” Works as a table sauce or a seasoning for stews and braises.
    Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: bonappetit.com ↗

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Questions, answered

What is the best caribbean hot sauce, according to chefs?
MyTastr’s top pick is Matouk’s Calypso Sauce (Trinidad), chosen by J. Kenji López-Alt (Serious Eats). Ketchup-thick Trinidadian sauce of pickled Scotch bonnets, mustard, garlic and celery seed: “you’d swear that there was tropical fruit in it… darned delicious on eggs and sandwiches.” Matouk’s is the brand Serious Eats says fills Caribbean supermarket shelves. Source: seriouseats.com ↗
What are the other top picks for caribbean hot sauce?
No. 2 is Marie Sharp’s Habanero Pepper Sauce (Belize), chosen by Jacob Dean (Serious Eats). No. 3 is Spur Tree Jamaican Crushed Scotch Bonnet Pepper Sauce, chosen by Adam Schop (Miss Lily’s; Rockhouse Hotel, Negril). Each card above links to the original source.
How does MyTastr choose these picks?
Every pick is tied to a named chef, cookbook author or food expert and links to the public interview, panel or article it came from. We survey dozens, often hundreds, of top chefs, food writers and critics, and order reflects how often and how strongly a brand is recommended. Only organic recommendations count — paid endorsements don’t — and brands can’t buy a spot. Read how we pick.

The tasters behind this ranking

More condiments

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