African-inspired sauces tantalise taste buds

Soweto Hot Sauce is becoming a firm favourite among South African foodies and soon, the international community will also be able to enjoy the locally produced sauces.

Soweto Hot Sauce is manufactured by Soweto Spice Company, which was established by Carmen Graham in 2016 in Orlando West, Soweto. “The product line includes Soweto Original Hot Sauce, Chilli Lime Hot Sauce, Smokey Garlic Hot Sauce and Chunkalaka Sosi - all designed to enhance culinary experiences,” explained Graham.

All sauces are African-inspired and only the best local ingredients are used, she added.

The sauces have been a big hit, with Soweto Original Hot Sauce winning double gold at the 2022 Aurora International Taste Challenge. All the other variants won gold.

Soweto Original Hot Sauce and Chunkalaka Sosi both won gold at the 2023 Aurora International Taste Challenge. Recently, the company was among the five South African food brands that the Food and Beverages Manufacturing Industry Sector Education and Training Authority invited to participate in the 67th Summer Fancy Food Show in the United States.

Graham said this opportunity opened many doors.

“I feel confident that we will have strong exports in the next 12 to 18 months. We met with importers, distributors and big retail players. The interest in our story, our brand and our award-winning sauces was overwhelming,” she said.

Graham recalled it all started when she realised that many people added imported hot sauces to their food. Recognising the popularity of hot sauces and that South Africa grows some of the best chillies in the world, she got to work. “We started experimenting with various chilli sauce recipes until my mother reminded me of her own special recipe. We made several batches and tried it on customers at an establishment in Soweto, which is co-owned by my life partner.

Soon, they preferred our sauce over imported sauces,” she explained.

As the country commemorates Women’s Month, Graham called on South African women to use their intelligence, passion and compassion to excel in society and business.

Soweto Hot Sauce is available at Pick n Pay and We Pack stores and selected SPAR stores.