Sossen Eckart Hot BBQ Sauce. BBQ sauce with four types of chili – mildly spicy, savory, handmade in Berlin.

Sossen Eckart Hot BBQ Sauce is a barbecue sauce made from tomato puree, raw cane sugar, onions, red wine vinegar, and mustard powder, spiced up with a blend of four types of chili. Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, garlic, and pepper round it off. One chili on Eckart's scale, 250 ml, handmade in Berlin.

How hot is hot? At Eckart's, the answer is right on the bottle: his sauces are rated from zero to three chilies. A hot BBQ sauce is initially a standard BBQ sauce made from tomatoes, vinegar, and spices. It is the chilies that give it the heat that slowly spreads across the palate. This is due to capsaicin, the substance the tongue perceives as heat or burning. Eckart’s Hot BBQ Sauce is based on the recipe for his mild BBQ sauce and adds four types of chili. With one chili on the scale, the heat level is quite mild according to the manufacturer. It bears the N°5 on the label.

Tomaty, savory, with a friendly warmth

The opening note belongs to the tomato, rounded off by the sweetness of raw cane sugar. Red wine vinegar and onions provide freshness and spice, while mustard powder and Worcestershire sauce add savory depth. Mustard and chili complement each other, as both bring their own unique kind of heat.

Then come the chilies. Eckart describes the blend of four varieties as balanced; it warms without masking the flavor. Those expecting a burning hot sauce will find this to be more of a light, pleasant heat.

Because the base is the same as the mild BBQ sauce, you will taste the difference immediately. The tomato and spice notes remain the same, with the added warmth of the chilies.

For everything that goes on the grill

This sauce is made for grilling. Serve it as a dip at the table with bratwurst, pork neck steak, and chicken drumsticks. In a burger with a grilled patty, it gives the whole thing a bit of fire.

As a marinade for chicken wings, mix it with a little oil and let the meat marinate for an hour. Grilled vegetables like bell peppers and zucchini also benefit from a spoonful. A dollop adds a savory accent to baked potatoes with herb quark. It brings a gentle heat to oven-baked spareribs that even guests who usually prefer mild food will enjoy.

Our tip: Place the mild and the hot BBQ sauce next to each other on the table. This way, everyone can choose how much fire they want on their plate.

Note: Allergen information: The sauce contains mustard powder, malt vinegar from barley, and anchovies (fish), the latter two via the Worcestershire sauce. Once opened, keep it in the refrigerator; according to the manufacturer, it will last for many weeks.

A face and a scale on every bottle

A look at the bottle shows who is behind it. Thomas Eckart's portrait is on every label, along with the words "Handmade in Berlin." The chili scale lets you know what you are in for before you even open it.

Since 2009, the Munich native has been cooking sauces in Berlin by hand, together with his team. Berlin has long been his home, where he has lived for more than half his life. He reduces the sauces instead of adding water and avoids flavor enhancers and preservatives. The only objection he has to this variety, he says himself, is that the bottle empties too quickly.

For barbecue fans with a craving for some fire

The sauce is for anyone who likes their BBQ sauce with a bit of spice but doesn't want to shed any tears. It’s perfect for a barbecue with friends or a bratwurst in the garden. It is a great choice as a gift if you are unsure of your host's preferences: mildly spicy almost always works.

The BBQ Sauce contains no chili at all. The Mango Sauce is the hottest in the range with three chilies. For an overview of all varieties, check out the Eckart page. This sauce is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians, nor for anyone avoiding mustard, barley, or fish.

A mildly spicy BBQ sauce with four types of chili, handmade in Berlin – for bratwurst, burgers, and your next barbecue with friends.