For many Americans, hot sauce is so much more than just a condiment. It’s a topic people feel passionately about, and geography might help explain some of those opinions.
In honor of National Hot Sauce Day on Jan. 22, the folks at Instacart analyzed purchase data from the online grocery platform to reveal Americans’ hot sauce preferences. When it comes to the U.S. as a whole, the five most-purchased hot sauce brands were Frank’s RedHot, Huy Fong Foods (makers of the beloved Sriracha), Taco Bell, Cholula and Texas Pete.
Instacart’s report also provides a state-by-state breakdown of hot sauce preferences in different parts of the U.S.
“One of the most interesting takeaways was how strong, and sometimes surprising, regional loyalty can be when it comes to hot sauce,” Alex Orellana, Instacart’s trends analyst, told HuffPost. “While Frank’s RedHot is a clear nationwide favorite, there are pockets of deep brand devotion that really stand out in the data.”
He pointed to Texas Pete, which dominates in the Carolinas, Georgia and Virginia ― though interestingly, not in Texas. Meanwhile Louisiana Brand reigns supreme in Louisiana and the nearby states of Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee.
