Hot sauce sales soar as Britons spice it up

THE HEAT is on, and we're not talking about the rising temperatures that hit Britain last week.

- By Jon Coates CONSUMER EDITOR

Sales of hot sauces have soared in the past year and it’s all down to Sriracha.

Made from deep-fermented chilli peppers, distilled vinegar, pickled garlic, sugar and salt, it can be used both for cooking and dipping.

And retail experts say it has helped introduce younger diners to hot sauces, which has been dubbed the “Sriracha effect”.

A supermarket giant has reported an almost 20% rise in demand for them, with an extra 2.5 million bottles sold in the past 12 months alone.

And Tesco has also seen a 65% rise in sales of Sriracha, which originates in the Thai seaside town which gives it its name.