Spotlight: Olfs Hot Spize
More and more hot sauce brands are popping up across Europe, brands that not only make seriously great sauces, but do it in a way that’s just a little different. A perfect example? Olfs Hot Spize, straight out of Germany. Hamburg, to be exact. Oliver, the founder of the brand, shares the story behind his amazing sauces with us, and the passion just radiates off him.
Olfs Hot Spize in the Spotlight
Time to shine the spotlight on Olfs Hot Spize! During our ‘in the spotlight’ feature, the brand gets the attention it truly deserves on our website and socials for an entire week. We’ll introduce you to the brand, the people behind it, and maybe even more importantly, the story behind the sauces.
When did you start Olfs Hot Spize, and why?
The idea came to life in 2020. That was the year I became a dad and went on parental leave. And as if that wasn’t enough, the pandemic hit on top of that, so I was spending a whole lot of time at home. I spent hours in the kitchen, because cooking has always been my biggest passion. I love great food, and I love spicy food. But the hot sauces on the shelves in Hamburg’s supermarkets? They just didn’t do it for me. Sure, they were hot, but actually delicious? Nope. And that’s exactly where the idea was born: I’m going to make my own hot sauce!
I shared my very first creation with friends and family. And before I knew it, I had fans begging for more! That’s when I thought: why not turn this into a business? For two years, I worked on the sauces every evening after my family had gone to sleep. Writing a business plan, coming up with designs, you name it. In mid-2022, I launched a crowdfunding campaign that raised the startup capital for Olfs Hot Spize. And that’s how it all began.
Before you launched your own hot sauce brand, you worked as a sound engineer and in the advertising world. Did that experience help shape or influence the creation of Olfs Hot Spize?
That’s right! I worked as a sound engineer for almost 15 years. In my field, I was heavily involved in advertising. Every day I collaborated with creative people, saw hundreds of ad campaigns, and helped shape the sound behind them. That experience really helped me know what to look out for, especially when it comes to design and copy, while working on Olfs Hot Spize. On top of that, a few super creative people from the industry are always there for me with advice and support whenever I need creative input or anything like that.
You’re from Hamburg, which is known as a pretty progressive city. Do you see that reflected in the food scene and the popularity of hot sauce?
Absolutely! Since starting Olfs Hot Spize, I’ve gotten to know and appreciate so many young food startups. Super cool to see! Hot sauce isn’t quite as established in Germany as it is in other European countries, but younger generations are discovering more and more just how delicious and versatile chili actually is. And that passion just keeps growing!
What’s your biggest inspiration when it comes to developing flavors?
I’m a perfectionist. For me, a sauce is only truly ready when I’m making tiny little tweaks to the flavor rather than still overhauling it completely. It usually starts with an idea for the base flavor, and the rest develops along the way. Because of that, some sauces end up straight in the bin, while others lead to awesome new ideas. That’s why new varieties often take a bit longer than originally planned!
Dit bericht op Instagram bekijken
You also develop real ‘seasonal products’; hot sauces that are only available during a certain part of the year. Why did you choose this approach instead of making those flavors available year-round?
I do my best to source ingredients as locally as possible. Vegetables and fruit come from a regional wholesaler, and the chili peppers come from Germany or Austria. Sometimes availability is limited to certain seasons, like with white truffles, the absolute star ingredient of my autumn/winter variant “Truffle White.” During the summer months, they’re simply way too expensive.
And then there’s the flavor profile of the fresh fruit I use for “Sweet Yellow“, in summer it’s just totally different from what you get in winter. My family is always thrilled when a piece of freshly flown-in mango shows up! The aroma of fresh summer fruit is simply unbeatable and sadly just can’t compare to what’s available in winter. That’s why my “Special” variants will stay seasonal for now.
What’s your favorite ingredient to work with, and which ingredient has surprised you the most?
White truffle is definitely one of my favorites! It’s just incredible how versatile it is. The ingredient that surprised me the most? The apple. Almost all Hot Spize sauces contain a specific apple variety. It’s just a subtle hint, but it rounds out the flavor perfectly. And honestly, it works every single time!
What’s your favorite pepper?
Scotch Bonnet and Ghost Pepper.
You recently had a super cool collaboration with legendary photographer Paul Ripke. What would your absolute dream collaboration be, and what kind of sauce would come out of it?
Yes, exactly! We created a special edition in collaboration with Paul Ripke. It’s a limited edition with strawberry and melon, called “Hot Spize Strawberry Pink.” The heat is relatively mild, but it pairs amazingly well with light spring and summer dishes. Working with Paul was a great experience and a whole lot of fun.
My biggest dream? Creating a sauce for, or even together with, the Hot Ones team from the US, a sauce that actually gets tasted on the show. You know, that legendary show where superstars give interviews while eating chicken wings. Those wings are coated with different hot sauces, getting hotter and hotter, while the celebrities battle the heat and still manage to give incredibly interesting interviews. I’d give anything to be part of that one day. Not necessarily with the “hottest” hot sauce, but simply because Hot Spize combines both heat and flavor. Getting someone like Rihanna or James Hetfield to try it? That would be absolutely insane.
What’s a spicy dish or “house specialty” that everyone should try?
We recommend everyone to try making a Chili Con Carne, or of course a Chili Sin Carne, with our Hot Spize Chocolate Brown. The flavor profile of a chili, combined with cacao, Carolina Reaper, coffee, and a hint of cinnamon, is simply unbeatable. An absolute crowd-pleaser at parties! The matching recipe will be available soon alongside our new recipe cards. Until then, just make your favorite chili and finish it off with a little Hot Spize Chocolate Brown.
Check out all of Olfs Hot Spize Hot Sauces here!
