Crystal Hot Sauce facts for kids
Crystal Hot Sauce is a popular brand of hot sauce. It comes from Louisiana, a state in the southern United States. A family-owned company called Baumer Foods has made it since 1923. Each year, millions of gallons of Crystal Hot Sauce are sent to 75 different countries around the world. This sauce is reddish-orange and has a medium level of spiciness. People often say it has a strong dark chili flavor. It also has a milder vinegar taste compared to other hot sauces like Tabasco.
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The Story of Crystal Hot Sauce
Early Days in New Orleans
Crystal Hot Sauce started in New Orleans, Louisiana. The company, Baumer Foods, had a famous lighted sign. This sign showed a chef stirring a pot of hot sauce. Steam from the factory looked like it was coming out of the pot. The sign was a well-known landmark in the Mid-City area. Many people saw it from Interstate 10.
The sign also advertised fruit preserves. These preserves were even used in U.S. military meals during World War II. However, the company no longer makes these preserves today.
Hurricane Katrina's Impact
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans very hard. The storm damaged much of the Baumer Foods factory. The famous sign was also damaged. After the hurricane, the company moved its factory. It relocated to Reserve, in St. John the Baptist Parish. This new location is up the Mississippi River from New Orleans.
The well-known sign was rebuilt. A copy of it was placed on a new apartment building. This building stands on the same spot where the old factory used to be. As of 2025, the company's main office is in Metairie. This is a suburb near New Orleans.
Bottle Design Changes
For a long time, Crystal Hot Sauce bottles had a green wrapper. The word "Crystal" was written on this wrapper. After Hurricane Katrina, the writing was removed from the label.
Today, the dark green wrapper still covers the bottle. It now says both "Crystal" and "Louisiana." These words are written in white cursive letters.
Popularity Around the World
Crystal Hot Sauce is very popular in Saudi Arabia. This is because many oil workers from Louisiana introduced it there.
What's in Crystal Hot Sauce?
The ingredients for Crystal Hot Sauce are simple. They are listed on the product's packaging. The sauce is made from aged red cayenne peppers, distilled vinegar, and salt.
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