tabasco

Tabasco is a brand of hot pepper sauce produced by the McIlhenny Company on Avery Island, Louisiana. The original recipe was created in 1868 by Edmund McIlhenny. It blends mashed peppers—primarily a variety known as Tabasco peppers—with salt and vinegar, then ages the mash in white oak barrels for up to three years before it is diluted with more vinegar and bottled. This aging process contributes to its distinctive tang and moderate heat.

The flagship product is Tabasco Original Red, but the line has expanded to include several flavors such as Green Jalapeño, Chipotle, Habanero, Garlic, and Sweet & Mild. The heat level is modest compared with some other hot sauces, typically described as medium, with the Original Red commonly cited around 2,500 to 5,000 Scoville heat units. The flavor is vinegary and pepper-forward, allowing it to complement foods rather than overwhelm them.

Tabasco sauce is distributed worldwide and is widely used in cooking as a table condiment and flavor enhancer. The McIlhenny Company remains family-owned and operating from Avery Island, producing numerous varieties and other pepper-based products beyond the original sauce.

The name Tabasco comes from the Mexican state of Tabasco, after which the pepper cultivar used in the sauce is named. The Tabasco pepper (Capsicum frutescens) contributes the core heat and aroma to the sauce.