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Hot Sauce Making Kit – Complete instructions and recipes for making ten different hot sauce styles using fresh peppers or our pepper mash. We teach you how to select and prepare fresh ingredients like cayenne, habanero and jalapeno peppers. Then we have you blend them with the five exotic spices included in the kit to make hot sauces which match your taste exactly. Our Homemade hot sauce kit includes instructions, recipes, 4 oz. Pepper Mash, five spice packets, three 5 oz. hot sauce bottles with screw on caps. Hot pepper safety and handling tips too!
I recently received 2 different hot sauce making kits to evaluate and provide feedback on and frankly, I don’t know why we haven’t done this on the HSB sooner. After comparing the two kits, I decided to test out the Leener’s kit first since it contained pepper mash and the other kit did not – I’ll have to test that kit with some fresh peppers.
KIT INCLUDES
4 oz. Cayenne Pepper Mash
1 oz. Black Cumin Seeds
1 oz. Jamaican Jerk
1 oz. Chipolte Pepper
1 oz. Ancho Pepper
1 oz. Curry Powder
3 ea. Sauce Bottles
1 ea. Small Funnel
1 ea. Recipes and Tips
1 ea. Growing Hot Peppers
Having never made a hot sauce before, I decided to try out what appeared to be the simplest recipe in the book – plus I already had the majority of the ingredients and only had to get a tomato from the market to make this happen.
GARLIC LOVER’S HOT SAUCE
Pepper Mash Method
2 Tbs. Cayenne Mash
1 tsp. Garlic Powder
1 ea. Plum Tomato
1/4 cup Distilled White Vinegar
1 tsp. Black Cumin
1/2 tsp. Curry Powder
1 tsp. Allspice
1 Tbs. Sugar
1/2 tsp. Salt
Dry Spices
White Vinegar
To remove the excess moisture and seeds from fresh tomatoes, cut the tomato in half across it’s middle leaving a the stem on one half. Hold the half with the skin side up and gently squeeze the liquid and seeds out. If you wish to remove the skin, place the seeded tomatoes into boiling water for 3 minutes. The skin will loosen and peel right off. Seeded tomatoes can also be roasted just like peppers. Roasting also removes more moisture. The best substitute for fresh tomato is canned tomato juice.
Cayenne Pepper Mash
Combine all ingredients and blend (or use a food processor)
Pour sauce into sauce pan and heat until boiling
Hot Pack Instructions
This is the most important step in the process. Your hot sauce must be properly canned in order to assure freshness, flavor and shelf life. The procedure is the same as you would use for canning tomatoes.
Your hot sauce bottles must be clean before starting. Wash them with soap and water and rinse them thoroughly. Do not wash the caps with the white paper seal inside them. If the paper seal gets wet it will be ruined. The seal will sanitize itself later in the process.
Place a wire rack on the bottom of a pot of boiling water. Place the bottles on the rack making sure they are completely full of water. Let them boil for at least 5 minutes.
When you are ready to pack your sauce, remove a bottle from the boiling water with tongs and drain out the water. Your sauce should also be at the boiling point. Hold the bottle with a dry towel and fill it with sauce using a measuring cup to help you pour. Place the dropper cap on the bottle and screw the cap on tight. Turn the bottle upside down for 10 minutes. This will sanitize the lid. Let bottles cool completely before refrigerating.
Freshly packed Garlic Lover’s Hot Sauce
Now I have to let the hot sauce age for 1 week in the refrigerator – the longer the sauce ages, the more complex the flavor will become. Properly packed hot sauce will last six to nine months unopened.
The Leener’s Kit was easy to use, but I would say that with only the mash provided in the kit, you can only make 2 of the 12 recipes included. In fact, they should replace the Cayenne Mash with Habanero Mash since 6 of the recipes call for Habaneros or Habanero mash. As I said, the kit is great for those wanting to understand the basics of hot sauce making but you will find yourself very limited by the recipes and ingredients in the box. Stay tuned for a report on how the hot sauce tastes next week…
I wonder how many HSBers have bought kits like this before branching out into their own hot sauce making adventures.
Chilehead Comments: 53 Comments
Posted by: Nick Lindauer - Categories: Uncategorized
Permalink: How to Make: Garlic Lover’s Hot Sauce
One year ago: ErricJ's Hot Sauce Collection
Two years ago: Funny Stuff
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53 Comments
Ethan on 4/9/2007 at 7:53 am said:
I’ve never used their kit, but I’ve been buying my bottles and caps (a dozen or two each season) for four or five years now. Always a good experience, and fair prices and shipping costs.
Wow, I still need my caffeine. Complete sentences are good 
I’ve been buying bottles from Leeners for several years now, just to clarify…
Sheesh
NIck – What’s the price tag on these kits, or do you prefer not to post prices, and are they worth the investment?
Dan@ BLP Labels on 4/9/2007 at 8:58 am said:
NIck – What’s the price tag on these kits, or do you prefer not to post prices, and are they worth the investment?
Duh check web site… Just kidding. I know you need a cig and coffee. YOU-MAKE-KIT BRAND
HOT SAUCE KIT $29.95
Complete instructions and recipes for making ten different hot sauce styles using fresh peppers or our pepper mash. We teach you how to select and prepare fresh ingredients like cayenne, habanero and jalapeno peppers. Then we have you blend them with the five exotic spices included in the kit to make hot sauces which match your taste exactly. Our Homemade hot sauce kit includes instructions, recipes, 4 oz. pepper mash, five spice packets, three 5 oz. hot sauce bottles with screw on caps. Hot pepper safety and handling tips too! The recipes and instructions are free.
Bret on 4/9/2007 at 9:43 am said:
Duh check web site… Just kidding. I know you need a cig and coffee. YOU-MAKE-KIT BRAND
HOT SAUCE KIT $29.95
Complete instructions and recipes for making ten different hot sauce styles using fresh peppers or our pepper mash. We teach you how to select and prepare fresh ingredients like cayenne, habanero and jalapeno peppers. Then we have you blend them with the five exotic spices included in the kit to make hot sauces which match your taste exactly. Our Homemade hot sauce kit includes instructions, recipes, 4 oz. pepper mash, five spice packets, three 5 oz. hot sauce bottles with screw on caps. Hot pepper safety and handling tips too! The recipes and instructions are free.
Dude – I’m lazy by nature and yes… I can always use a smoke and some java.
Thanks for the info!
Nick Lindauer on 4/9/2007 at 11:06 am said:
The kits are worth it for a beginner, but once you get the concept down, the value of the kit is no longer there – with the kit your only going to be able to make at most 3 hot sauces and lord knows that won’t last any chilehead very long.
Thanks Nick!
Leeners uses Pedologs mash, you will be fighting the fact that it already contains 12-15% salt and is fermented. See Jims site for any further info. I must add, yeah it’s great to play around with, but thats about it.
I was going to chime in here and caution about the use of salt if you’re using commercial mash. Unless things have changed lately, any mash you get in these kits is already going to be way, waaay salty. You shouldn’t need to add any, as Jack points out.
These kits seem more gimicky than practical. If anyone is interested in making their own hot sauce, there are dozens and dozens of recipes on the web for all types of sauces. You can purchase most all necessary ingredients right at the local grocery store and there are dozens of glass companies for bottles. I use Sunburst Bottle in Sacramento, CA for my test batch and sample bottles, caps and shrink bands. Good prices and selection for smaller quantities.
Jim Campbell- StepUpForCharity.org on 4/9/2007 at 3:06 pm said:
I was going to chime in here and caution about the use of salt if you’re using commercial mash. Unless things have changed lately, any mash you get in these kits is already going to be way, waaay salty. You shouldn’t need to add any, as Jack points out.
Good point Jim, and I forgot to add: “fermented” also is a nice way of saying ” rotted”. Nuff said
Re: more gimicky than practical.
Oh, I dunno Gildo- most folks like the ‘one stop shop’ idea. While I agree that the kit would turn out some expensive sauce, most people are willing to pay for convenience. We’re a different group here on the blog 
Years ago I looked at doing something similar with the original FireGirl. We kicked a lot of ideas back and forth as to what to include in the kit to make it ‘better’ but decided it would be too pricey.
Gildo on 4/9/2007 at 5:11 pm said:
These kits seem more gimicky than practical. If anyone is interested in making their own hot sauce, there are dozens and dozens of recipes on the web for all types of sauces. You can purchase most all necessary ingredients right at the local grocery store and there are dozens of glass companies for bottles. I use Sunburst Bottle in Sacramento, CA for my test batch and sample bottles, caps and shrink bands. Good prices and selection for smaller quantities.
Great plug gildo…great plug
the truth on 4/9/2007 at 6:51 pm said:
Great plug gildo…great plug
Truth, if you have a problem with me, than let’s take it over to the Boiler Room. I’ve completey had it with your crappy remarks and your punk as attitude. Grow up!
Gildo on 4/9/2007 at 8:19 pm said:
Truth, if you have a problem with me, than let’s take it over to the Boiler Room. I’ve completey had it with your crappy remarks and your punk as attitude. Grow up!
Boyz Boyz What do I here stress from long day at the office.
I think it’s a great idea for beginners, but at the same time, it could make the beginning sauce maker think that you have to use mash to make a good hot sauce. We all know that’s not the case.
I think it would be a great gift for someone who loves hot sauce and has never gone through the process of actually making it.
Bret on 4/9/2007 at 8:57 pm said:
Boyz Boyz What do I here stress from long day at the office.
Gildo..
What are you talking about? Are you still wearing those Wal Mart clothes cause they may be to tight!!! I said nice plug!!! enought with your complex that everyone is picking on you.Like you have said before everyone has a right to comment..So my little man take it easy!!! As for me growing up and you calling me a punk..ha ha Send me a email i will give you my Number we can talk
Both of you GROW UP !!! or I will personally kick the CRAP out of the two of you idiots
Love yas xoxo
Lisa on 4/10/2007 at 7:35 am said:
Both of you GROW UP !!! or I will personally kick the CRAP out of the two of you idiots
Love yas xoxo
Cool can we watch
the truth on 4/10/2007 at 5:25 am said:
Gildo..
What are you talking about? Are you still wearing those Wal Mart clothes cause they may be to tight!!! I said nice plug!!! enought with your complex that everyone is picking on you.Like you have said before everyone has a right to comment..So my little man take it easy!!! As for me growing up and you calling me a punk..ha ha Send me a email i will give you my Number we can talk
Truth, if your comment was genuine, than I apologize. As far as the Wal Mart clothes and little man comments, I’ll let those slide.
Now I’m not one to do alot of commenting, however, I DO read all posts and comments.. Lately people have made comments in sarcastic manners which in my opinion are NOT appropriate on here. It sucks to be a manufacturer and hold my tounge, but I (we) do it out of respect and professionalism.
Derogatory comments and attacks have no place here on the blog, it seems to demolish everything that we are to regulars, reviewers, newcomers and passer buyers. We (whether you want to be part of it or not) are a FAMILY! It is proved in every auction that goes on , every gift that is given, every email passed and every phone call made.
So aside from Nick blogs rules and regulations try to use some moral judgement sometimes… you just might be surprised how you don’t type that comment….
Love to all of you
Lisa
Lisa on 4/10/2007 at 2:03 pm said:
Now I’m not one to do alot of commenting, however, I DO read all posts and comments.. Lately people have made comments in sarcastic manners which in my opinion are NOT appropriate on here. It sucks to be a manufacturer and hold my tounge, but I (we) do it out of respect and professionalism.
Derogatory comments and attacks have no place here on the blog, it seems to demolish everything that we are to regulars, reviewers, newcomers and passer buyers. We (whether you want to be part of it or not) are a FAMILY! It is proved in every auction that goes on , every gift that is given, every email passed and every phone call made.
So aside from Nick blogs rules and regulations try to use some moral judgement sometimes… you just might be surprised how you don’t type that comment….Love to all of you
Lisa
FUFA!!! LOL
Now for all you acts of penance you shall all send me your most prized possession from your hot sauce collection
and yes Kristi, you may still anticipate damnation he he he he
Lisa on 4/10/2007 at 2:12 pm said:
Now for all you acts of penance you shall all send me your most prized possession from your hot sauce collection
and yes Kristi, you may still anticipate damnation he he he he
WHEN WILL IT END!!!!
and you ms.FA you will be right behind her. lol
(It sucks to be a manufacturer and hold my tounge) NOW HOLD YOUR TONGUE AND SAY THAT
Bret on 4/10/2007 at 3:48 pm said:
(It sucks to be a manufacturer and hold my tounge) NOW HOLD YOUR TONGUE AND SAY THAT
You truly are a sick man!
Funny, but sick. xoxo
Bret on 4/10/2007 at 3:48 pm said:
(It sucks to be a manufacturer and hold my tounge) NOW HOLD YOUR TONGUE AND SAY THAT
Bret
to me!
catching up
you are
Lisa on 4/10/2007 at 3:14 pm said:
and you ms.FA you will be right behind her. lol
As I told you last night, FUFA!!!
And then you wonder why we say the things we do Chris K from the blog!
Bret started it
chrisk on 4/10/2007 at 4:59 pm said:
Bret started it
Me
Not
ChrisK
typed it
backwards,
Now I
just passed up
Aaron
Allright
Quit
Messing
With
Around!
the
Thread
Too much beer
Arizona Jack on 4/10/2007 at 7:20 pm said:
Aaron
hey thats cheating! ha!
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I’ve never used their kit, but I’ve been buying my bottles and caps (a dozen or two each season) for four or five years now. Always a good experience, and fair prices and shipping costs.