My Parents Owned a Hot Sauce Shop, and This Bottle Is Still My Absolute Favorite (I Put It on Everything)

Micki Wagner
Micki WagnerCommerce Writer
I cover everything kitchen-related, from cookware and countertop appliances to pantry staples and cleaning and organizing must-haves. I’m based in New York, NY.
published Jan 13, 2025
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Jars of sauce on shelves in store
Credit: Julien McRoberts / Getty Images

When I was small, my parents owned a hot sauce cart in our local mall. It was called Hot Chili Mama’s, and they sold dozens of different kinds of hot sauces in addition to other kinds of condiments and spices, according to my mom. Although it was a short-lived venture, our house was always well-stocked with an array of the tingly condiments. And as a lover of spicy flavors even from the time I was little, I made good use of this. Now, I’ve grown to become someone who puts hot sauce on everything — and hoards all different types for all sorts of applications. 

While I’m a fan of a number of hot sauces, my all-time favorite type is habanero hot sauce. For the last year, I’ve been on the hunt for the best habanero hot sauce that I can constantly keep stocked in my fridge — and I’m happy to report I’ve found it.

What Is the Secret Aardvark Habanero Hot Sauce?

Secret Aardvark’s Habanero Hot Sauce is my ideal condiment. It’s spicy and zippy, but packed with flavor. It immediately tingles on your tongue and then hits you with that back-of-throat heat — and it’s got a kick. It’s the kind of heat that can make your nose run and your lips burn if you consume enough of it (or accidentally get it on your lips while you’re eating eggs, chicken, pizza, etc.).

It’s marketed as a “unique Caribbean/Tex-Mex hybrid,” and as someone who loves both of those flavor profiles, I think that’s totally accurate. I get flavors of cumin and garlic along with some slight notes of warm spices like you would with a Jamaican jerk sauce. One thing that sets Secret Aardvark’s sauce apart is that it’s tomato-based, which gives it some depth and makes it slightly more viscous than hot sauces that are vinegar- and pepper-based (which many of them are). 

Credit: Micki Wagner

Why I Love the Secret Aardvark Habanero Hot Sauce

My criteria for habanero hot sauce is simple, yet not as easy to come by as I would’ve hoped: be spicy but not so hot I can’t taste anything, and have some serious flavor. Secret Aardvark’s Habanero Hot Sauce hits both of these points — no problem. I eat it every day on my morning eggs. I usually just salt my eggs and add a little bit of a mild shredded cheese, so this gives my breakfast a nice boost of flavor. I also really love this sauce on pizza, macaroni and cheese, shrimp, crispy potatoes, tacos and quesadillas, and so much more.

Although I bought my bottle at a specialty food store, I love that I can get my next off of Amazon in a two-pack for just $22 (or I could just buy one for $10, but I’ll definitely use two bottles quicker than I care to admit). With my Prime membership, I could literally have it by tomorrow — which means I virtually never have to be without it. And at this point, I don’t want to be.

Credit: Micki Wagner

Secret Aardvark’s Habanero Hot Sauce has made its way into my regular rotation with the likes of Cholula Original Hot Sauce, Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Wings Hot Sauce, and The Original Huy Fong Sriracha. It’s become my daily go-to habanero hot sauce, so I can officially say my quest for the best has reached a happily fiery and flavor-packed conclusion.

Buy: Secret Aardvark Habanero Hot Sauce, $21.99

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