The Pepper That Started It All: Tabasco

How a Louisiana Sauce Took Over the World

In 1868, a man named Edmund McIlhenny planted pepper seeds on Avery Island, Louisiana. From those seeds came the legendary Tabasco Sauce, made with just three simple ingredients: red peppers, vinegar, and salt.

At the time, most food was plain and unseasoned. McIlhenny’s sauce was a fiery revelation. By 1870, he patented his recipe, and soon Tabasco bottles were traveling the globe. Soldiers carried it in their rations, chefs stocked it in their kitchens, and households embraced it as a pantry staple.

Today, Tabasco is sold in nearly 200 countries and labeled in 22 languages. Its global reach proves that sometimes, the boldest flavors come from the simplest recipes.

At Wild Side, we share the same spirit: starting small, thinking big, and bringing fire to tables everywhere.