National Hot Sauce Day is a holiday observed annually on January 22nd and celebrates a condiment that humans have used for thousands of years. Native American populations in Mexico, Central, and South America cultivated chili peppers for over 6,000 years, and by the 16th century, these plants were carried all over Europe, Asia, and Africa.

In 1807, one of the first commercially available bottled hot sauces in the U.S. appeared in Massachusetts. One of the more popular hot sauce companies in the U.S. was created by Edmund McIlhenny in 1868. This Maryland-born former banker had moved to Louisiana in 1840 and, 28 years later, created Tabasco Pepper Sauce.

Spicy Facts About Hot Sauce & Chilies

Let’s dig into some spicy hot sauce facts. We found the following facts while we were researching this holiday and thought that anyone observing this holiday would be interested in hearing about them.

• Mexico grows over 140 different varieties of chilies.
• As a general rule, the smaller the chili, the hotter it is.
• The Tabasco brand of hot sauce is one of the most popular hot sauces sold nowadays.
• Chilies are cholesterol-free and loaded with vitamins.
• The first advertisement for hot sauce is more than 214 years old.
• Over half of all American households have hot sauce in their pantries.

Observing National Hot Sauce Day

If you want to observe this holiday, then you’re going to have to get spicy. Pick up a bottle (or several bottles) of your favorite hot sauce and begin to use it on this day. While you’re doing so, don’t forget to use the hashtag #NationalHotSauceDay on your social media accounts to spread the word about it.