The Sauce

Growing up in Trinidad, I used to spend my school holidays with my paternal grandparents (Raymond & Sylvia). Every year, my grandpa would "whip" up a batch of pepper sauce for his personal consumption. And every year, he'd have my eldest cousin, Andre, assist him. I was always jealous of Andre getting to learn the finer arts of pepper sauce making. Mind you, personally I can't tolerate hot sauces...but it was a bond and an insider's knowledge that was being passed on between men. My grandpa died in 1993, I never got the recipe and Andre never shared it.
Jump ahead seven years later, when I moved to Charleston, SC. As any Caribbean ex-pat will tell you, when you return to your homeland for whatever reason...you always bring an empty suitcase...to fill it with food items that will carry you through till your next visit. I have a lot of friends who enjoy the commercial hot sauces from Trinidad. And every year, I'd return to the States with a few bottles of hot sauce for them. One year, I was unable to return to Trinidad and my friends were becoming hot sauce deprived. So after some coaxing, I decided to replicate the commercial recipe. My "re-creation" turned out to be a lot more flavorful and robust than the commercial versions. Well, at least so my friends told me. Remember, I can't tolerate hot sauces! I would go by smell as to whether there were enough spices or citrus. I'd also drive fifteen minutes to my trusted friend, Kelli, (whose taste buds are phenomenal in picking up nuances of flavors) for her to sample each batch and let me know what was missing or if it was spot on. 99% of the time, my nose was spot on!
My dad, Terry, came to visit in January 2012...just in time to help me make a huge batch of hot sauce. As we were making it, my dad, nonchalantly mentioned that I was making Raymond's recipe!!! Whether I picked it up inadvertently or he was guiding my hand from beyond, I am forever grateful to know I can share my grandpa's Hot Sauce and Salsa with you! It's also the reason LOVE is listed as an ingredient on each bottle!
Jump ahead to 2023, where I partnered with High Vibe Freeze Dried, to create a freeze dried version of the sauces! They can now be used as a rub, spice or rehydrated into the original sauce. Best part...it now has a shelf life of 20+ years! I hope you enjoy it as much as we all have...

-Renata Dos Santos

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