Hot Sauce Awards Overview – All About the Chili Sauce Awards Scovie, ZestFest, Berlin & More

Our Pikantista Awards

Our Pikantista Hot Sauces – developed from projects like Pika Pika and Chili Mafia, and shops like chili-saucen.com and chili-plants.com – have been honored multiple times with the German Chili Award (Hanover 2018, 2019) and in the Ultra-Hot Category 2018 of Zestfest, TX, USA (with the Lady Scorpion Hot Sauce). Years of passion are behind this – and that's exactly what makes us true Pikantistas.

Both for Pikantistas who simply want to know more about the scene, and for small chili sauce manufacturers who need specific information, it's worth delving deeper: How are the sauces judged? When are the registration deadlines? When do the events take place so you can attend as a visitor? And what do participation and procedures cost?

How do Chili Sauce Awards work?

Chili sauce awards are often initiated by hot sauce enthusiasts and manufacturers. Worldwide, there are numerous small events where, in addition to chili challenges and stalls from small manufacturers, chili sauce awards are also presented. However, these are usually regionally limited and therefore only regionally relevant.

Some hot sauce awards in the USA have a long tradition. However, during the Corona pandemic, some of them did not take place, and their future is uncertain. We list the most relevant awards and expect a professionalization of these events in the near future.

You surely know: There are only a few European award winners. This is due, on the one hand, to costs and, on the other hand, to a lack of information. That is precisely why we want to help hot sauce fans and manufacturers with this text by providing all the necessary information.

Judging Criteria at the Hot Sauce Awards

At the Hot Sauce Awards, products are judged in a variety of categories – barbecue sauce, wing sauce, and other specific subcategories like fruit, habanero, or Louisiana-style. There are also chili sauces categorized by chili variety or heat level. The exact judging criteria are usually not published. Factors such as aroma, consistency, heat, texture, and taste are included in the evaluation.

The names of the judges are also not published, but they are often described as "chefs and specialist journalists." Some products – especially the extremely hot ones – undergo separate judging rounds so that the judges can recover from the heat. Pikantista!

• Normally, 3 bottles (at least 100 ml) per product are requested for the jury. They should be sent to the organizer by post in good time.
• Your product must be correctly labeled and packaged for resale – with all nutritional information, ingredients, etc. – to be eligible to participate in the competition at all.

Which Hot Sauce Awards are there?

Berlin Chili Fest – Heat Awards

• Location: Berlin / Germany
• Format: Public festival with professional jury evaluation
• Special feature: Digital evaluation via QR code based on 7 characteristics
• Jury: Expert chili specialists, including Fabian aka Pikantista
• Each jury member blindly evaluates 8 hot sauces – based on heat, aroma, taste, consistency, afterburn, balance, and originality
• One of the most modern award formats in Europe with transparent, digital evaluation

The Berlin Chili Fest Heat Awards are a highlight of the European chili scene. As a jury member, I personally experience how fair and professional this competition is – blind tasting, digital evaluation, transparent documentation. For European manufacturers, this is one of the best platforms to present their hot sauces.

Scovie Awards

• Location: Albuquerque / USA
• First Event: 1997
• Initiator: Dave DeWitt, the "Pope of Peppers"
• Participation Fee: $90 per category (discounts for registration in 3+ categories)
• More than 100 subcategories
• Between 2003 and 2015, Garden Fresh Salsa products won a record 258 Scovie Awards – after which Campbell Soup acquired the company for $250 million.
• Blind tasting with 80 judges (according to the organizer) – Extra-Hot chili sauces are tested and judged by volunteer judges.
• Deadline: September 12

The Scovie Awards are among the most respected awards in the industry, recognizing excellence in categories such as sauces, barbecue, and salsa since 1997. An award that every manufacturer should have on their radar.

ZestFest

• Location: Irving, Texas / USA
• Event Format: Festival with Hot Sauce Awards and public attendance
• Known for: Ultra-Hot category and wide product range
• Our Lady Scorpion Hot Sauce was honored here in the Ultra-Hot category in 2018 – a moment you, as a true Pikantista, will understand.

ZestFest is one of the most famous chili and hot sauce festivals in the USA. Here, passionate producers meet an equally passionate audience – the pure Pikantista feeling.

German Chili Award

• Location: Hanover / Germany
• Known years: 2018 and 2019
• One of the few European awards with real relevance for German-speaking manufacturers
• Our hot sauces were awarded here twice in a row

The German Chili Award is particularly interesting for European manufacturers, as shipping costs and logistical effort are significantly lower than for US competitions. For all Pikantistas in the DACH region, this is the award to watch.

Other Awards Worldwide

In addition to the ones mentioned above, there are numerous regional chili sauce competitions worldwide – from small farmer festivals to specialized food award programs. Many of them emerge and disappear again, so it's worth regularly searching for current events in your region. The hot sauce scene is growing, and the professionalization of awards is in full swing.

Tips for Participating in Hot Sauce Awards

Are you considering submitting your own chili sauces? Here's the most important information in brief:

• Register early: Most awards have fixed deadlines – for example, September 12 for the Scovie Award. If you're too late, you're out.
• Correct labeling: Your product must bear all legal information – nutritional values, ingredients, allergens. Without this, you will not be admitted.
• At least 3 bottles: The jury generally needs 3 bottles of at least 100 ml per submitted category.
• Choose the right category: With over 100 subcategories in the Scovie Awards alone, it's worth taking a close look. A wrongly chosen category costs points – and money.
• Factor in costs: Registration fees plus shipping costs apply per category. For US awards, customs and international shipping fees are added.
• Prefer regional awards: For European manufacturers, awards like the Berlin Chili Fest Heat Awards or the German Chili Award are often the better choice – lower costs, less logistics, same relevance.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about Chili Sauce Awards

What are the most famous Hot Sauce Awards worldwide?

The most famous include the Scovie Awards in Albuquerque (USA, since 1997), ZestFest in Irving, Texas, and the Berlin Chili Fest Heat Awards and the German Chili Award in Europe. The Scovie Awards are considered the most respected awards in the industry, with over 100 subcategories and around 80 judges in blind tasting.

How are chili sauces judged at the awards?

The exact judging criteria are rarely published. Generally, factors such as aroma, heat, consistency, texture, and overall taste are included in the evaluation. At the Berlin Chili Fest Heat Awards, 7 specific characteristics are judged: heat, aroma, taste, consistency, afterburn, balance, and originality – documented digitally via QR code.

What does it cost to participate in Hot Sauce Awards?

This varies depending on the competition. For the Scovie Awards, registration costs $90 per category (with discounts for 3 or more categories). European awards like the Berlin Chili Fest Heat Awards or the German Chili Award often have lower participation fees and significantly lower shipping costs for European manufacturers.

Which awards are most sensible for European manufacturers?

For European manufacturers, the Berlin Chili Fest Heat Awards and the German Chili Award are particularly relevant – lower costs, no customs problems, shorter shipping routes, and the same industry relevance as US competitions.

Can I attend the Hot Sauce Awards as a visitor?

Yes! Many awards take place as part of public festivals – such as ZestFest in Texas or the Berlin Chili Fest in Germany. The judging sessions themselves are usually closed, but you can experience the atmosphere on site and directly sample the awarded sauces.