Special editions

In spite of the huge range and diverse variety, more and more chili sauce manufacturers are choosing to launch special collector’s edition sauces. The products are usually presented in lavish packaging, sometimes hand-signed and numbered by the company’s owner, only available in very limited numbers. As with any limited and unique product, this business practice acts as a call to action for passionate collectors to start investing in this sauces. Rare sauces like this can achieve prices of several hundred euro. We don’t think much of such spiralling prices as they bear no relation to actual cost of the goods. The special edition chili sauce that we stock are limited and special edition sauces, which are suitable for daily use and are good value for money.

What makes the Chili Food special edition chili sauces so special?

Every special edition sauce in a product range has to have a unique selling point. For example, Chili Food uses local contract (outdoor) farming near Bad Dürkheim to grow some of their own chili varieties (bhut jolokia, habanero, cayenne, jalapeño). This allows us to produce unique specialities such a the special editions jolokia and habanero chili sauces with 50% chili content. We reap all the rewards of regional outdoor farming with the chili’s unique and intense aroma. In summer 2013, the habanero and bhut jolokia harvests failed, meaning we were unable to produce any special edition chili sauces. In 2014 the situation was considerably better and we were rewarded with a good harvest and some delicious special edition sauces from our regionally-grown chilies.

What approaches can be seen from classic sauce produces around the globe?

A special edition chili sauce from a US manufacturer often stands out with elaborate packaging, an especially high degree of spiciness or a special label. As such, most major sporting occasions, historic events and figures from public life have been immortalised as a special edition chili sauce. Unfortunately, it is rare for the contents of a special edition chili sauce to differ greatly from that of the standard product. Other than perhaps a heightened degree of spiciness, little extra is offered. Special edition chili sauces are a marketing tool for big manufacturer to increase their sales figures and strengthen their brand. This is hardly reprehensible behaviour since practically every industry works according to this principle. We advise you not to buy any overpriced collector’s sauces, but rather to concentrate on the product itself. Flavour and spice level should still be the most important factors when making your choice. There’s nothing wrong with special and collector’s edition sauces, but these should be more reasonably priced around, 10, 20 or 30 euro. However, we cannot understand the justification behind prices that are much higher than this.