Buzz
Hot sauce was first used by the ancient Aztecs as a painkiller, and it has since evolved into a globally loved condiment. Have you ever wondered which hot sauce brands are the favorites in the U.S.? For National Hot Sauce Day (January 22), the online grocery delivery service Instacart has unveiled new data revealing each state's preferred hot sauce.
To create the map below, Instacart analyzed hot sauce delivery data from January to September 2024, determining which products had the highest number of deliveries in each state. The map highlights the hot sauces most favored by each region. While many states share similar preferences, there are some surprising outliers, such as California, New Mexico, and Hawaii. In these states, Tapatio, 505 Southwestern, and Tabasco are the most popular, and these brands are exclusive to these states on the map.
Frank’s RedHot is the top hot sauce in the U.S., dominating in 29 states. Created by Adam Estilette and Jacob Frank in 1918 in New Iberia, Louisiana, it has gained national popularity. Despite its southern roots, it enjoys love in northern states like Maine, North Dakota, and Washington. Initially known for its cayenne pepper sauce, Frank’s RedHot now offers a range of flavors, including Korean BBQ and mango habanero hot sauce.
Burman’s ranks second as the most popular hot sauce, found in seven states, including Florida, Oklahoma, and Minnesota. Cholula claims the third spot, with four states—Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Utah—favoring it. The original Cholula hot sauce offers a balanced blend of arbol peppers, piquin peppers, and spices, adding a zesty kick to any dish. The brand also offers a variety of other flavors, such as chili lime and chipotle.
Although not ranking as the top choice in any state, Huy Fong Foods is the second most popular hot sauce brand across the nation. Its iconic Sriracha flavor remains a favorite in many eateries. However, the brand faced significant sales declines in 2023 due to a shortage. Fortunately, Sriracha orders on Instacart are gradually rising again, and the grocery delivery platform confirmed that Huy Fong Foods was the fastest-growing hot sauce brand in 2024.
