The use of hot peppers and spicy condiments can be traced to ancient civilizations, especially in regions where chili peppers are native.

The origins of hot sauces can be traced to the Americas, where indigenous people had been using chili peppers for thousands of years long before the arrival of Europeans. Chili peppers, originally cultivated in the Americas, were a central part of the diet of pre-Columbian civilizations such as the Aztecs, Mayans, and Incas. They used chili peppers in many forms, including dried, crushed, or as part of a sauce, often combined with ingredients like tomatoes, cacao, and other native spices. Early references to hot condiments can be found in these ancient cultures, where sauces made with chili peppers were used to add flavor and heat to foods.

The commercial hot sauce as we know it today started to take shape in the 19th century, particularly in the United States. One of the first commercially successful hot sauces was created by a man named Edmund McIlhenny in 1868, who developed the famous Tabasco sauce in Louisiana. His creation was made from Tabasco peppers, vinegar, and salt, and it quickly became popular due to its unique heat and flavor. As industrial food production grew in the 20th century, hot sauces became more widely available and diverse, with many regional variations emerging, from the smoky, tangy sauces of Mexico to the fiery Sriracha of Thailand.