Absolutely. Stuzzi is non-GMO and contains only organically farmed chilies, organic distilled vinegar, and unrefined, sun-dried sea salt from Sicily. And honestly, the salt would also be organic if minerals were legally allowed to be labeled organic (only agricultural products can carry this designation).

You bet it is. Additionally, no peanuts are processed where we work, so if you’ve got a peanut allergy, you’re good to go.

Simply, cleanly.We don’t use any preservatives, artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, thickening agents, or stabilizers. Only 3 simple ingredients: chilies, vinegar, salt.

One of the simplest hot sauce recipes includes chili peppers, vinegar, and salt, often with fermentation used to create another layer of flavor and aroma. This is the premise for Stuzzi Hot Sauce: 3 simple ingredients, when well-sourced and treated with intentional care, can create what we think is tremendous flavor. Other brands also opt to add sweeteners (fruit, vegetables, sugar) to help balance the heat of the chilies, and still others add savory components (garlic, truffle, aromatic spices.)

Think about what happens to an avocado when you slice it in half and leave it on the counter: it turns brown. This is called oxidation, and it is caused by the chemical reactions of food products interacting with oxygen. It’s a naturally occurring process; there are no health risks involved, it’s simply the gradual aging of a natural product.

The founders are 2 chefs, a winemaker, and a tequila maker: we’ve spent our lives obsessing about the perfect bite and the perfect sip! Stuzzi has been purposefully created to elevate all cuisines, not just Italian. The spice excites, the vinegar brightens, the salt balances. Mediterranean, American, Mexican, Korean, Middle Eastern… Go your hardest, it’s great on it all.

Always consult the label on your hot sauce, as the ingredients used will determine this answer.

If fruit or vegetables are used (which oftentimes have some level of sugar in them), your product will most likely need to be refrigerated after opening.

For most 3-ingredient hot sauces (chilies, vinegar, salt), including Stuzzi Hot Sauce, the vinegar manages the preserving on its own, and if fermentation is also used, that acts as a double assurance that no refrigeration is needed after opening: you’re good to go.

Now is as good a moment as any to mention preservatives. If a hot sauce has preservatives added, just like any other food, these added preservatives can extend the shelf life of a product.

However, there are also natural forms of preservatives, which is what we use with Stuzzi: the first is vinegar (a natural preservative—think about pickled things), and the second is the use of fermentation, which alters the pH of the sauce and therefore acts as a preservative.

Generally, an unopened bottle will last longer than an opened one, and how long an opened one lasts depends on the ingredients used and whether preservatives were used. For Stuzzi, we stamp a best-by date on the bottle as a suggestion.

Great question. There’s an entire world of rad sauces out there that you get to sort through and learn about!

Or, you can trust the Professionals (Stuzzi co-founders, naturally) who’ve done the heavy lifting for you. Yes, certain Mexican hot sauces shine with Mexican food, Louisiana-style hot Sauces (vinegar-forward) are bang-on with the fried food of the South, and certain chili-crunch oils are made for a variety of Asian cuisines.

The age-old adage of what grows together, goes together applies to hot sauces, too. But there aren’t many hot sauces that can span the globe in terms of flavor…

We’ve built Stuzzi to do just that. Only 3 ingredients (chilies, vinegar, salt) make a sauce that can easily pair with and elevate a variety of dishes, with vinegar as the brightener (think about what a lemon adds to a dish), spice as the thriller, and salt to balance it all out. 

For us, simplicity is boss, without any of the added artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, sweeteners, or thickeners that can begin to mask the flavors of your favorite dishes.

Stuzzi is Medium+ heat: it’s got enough heat for the spice lover, yet not so much as to overwhelm your favorite dishes. It’s about elevating good food, not covering it up.

It's the chemical compound in chili peppers that creates the sensation of heat. The more capsaicin, the spicier the pepper.

Did you know that birds and reptiles are immune to the effects of capsaicin? And some humans have a higher tolerance than others, which you’ve probably found out for yourself.

An SHU (Scoville Heat Unit) is a tricky thing these days. The SHU scale was created by American pharmacist Wilbur Scoville to measure the capsaicin (among other things) in certain peppers.

Essentially, it’s a measure of spiciness. The thing is, our hot sauce-obsessed world has become fixated on HOW MANY SHU’S DOES YOUR SAUCE HAVE, which in our mind does not equal flavor or deliciousness; it’s simply a barometer for heat.

Don’t get us wrong, there are certain moments where we love a good chili pepper assault, especially with fresh peppers (for example, Thai chilies) where the heat is purposefully incorporated into the flavor profile of a dish.

But for hot sauce as a condiment that’s meant to pair well with a wide variety of dishes, we believe in balance, mouthfeel, flavor and heat.

We want a hot sauce that has a conversation with the dish, rather than running right over it.

To wit, we couldn’t even tell you how many SHU’s Stuzzi has, because to us it’s irrelevant.

If you ever find that you’ve taken it too far, whether you are a seasoned heat pro or a cautious beginner, you have options! You can eat a bite of meat (protein), which will coat your tongue and ease your mouth back to balance.

You can also drink a glass of milk (protein and fat), or, my personal favorite, eat a spoonful of butter.

The fat also coats the palate, helping to soothe.

One last wild one, although this one is more a trick than a scientific protein/ fat option: if you have hit the roof in spice, you are sweating, wondering if you’ll ever get back to baseline, drop a pinch of salt under your tongue.

The salt promotes salivation, which helps to cleanse the mouth, while the intense saltiness distracts the body from the pain.

This is not a joke.

In the words of Stuzzi’s co-founder, Chef Ethel Hoon, ‘First and foremost, fermentation is a flavor enhancer. It unlocks the peppers’ aroma and flavor potential, adding bright, citrusy top notes and compelling umami flavors. Second, fermentation is a method of preservation; it lowers the pH, which reduces the amount of distilled vinegar needed in the final sauce. This allows us to bottle without any nasty preservatives, resulting in a far superior tasting sauce that does not need refrigeration.’

There are plenty of studies about how hot sauce contains small amounts of vitamin C and antioxidants, and how it may help reduce inflammation and maybe even reduce cancer.

Hot sauce may even boost your metabolism, aiding in weight loss. But we are not doctors, and we love hot sauce because it makes our endorphins soar.

It makes you feel alive (similar to how you feel after you work out) due to your body’s reaction to the capsaicin (see above note).

Also, it’s delicious. That alone is reason enough for us. 

No, hot sauce does not cause ulcers. If you already have an ulcer, however, it can aggravate symptoms, so go easy.

Research indicates that it is safe to eat hot sauce during pregnancy.

It’d be a shame to go that many months without spice, honestly.

Not that we know of.

Rome was founded by wolves, and so was Stuzzi.

Two chefs, a winemaker, and another guy who makes tequila. Meet them here.

Now you’re asking too many questions. Just kidding. The Italian Alps. Literally. 

When you place your order for Stuzzi, we will send you a confirmation email with all tracking information included.

Stuzzi ships all over the United States. Delivery times vary depending on the destination and which delivery option you choose. Shipments typically arrive within 2-7 business days. 

If you are unhappy with Stuzzi, email us within 7 days of receipt and we will refund your order.