It's the 27th Fiery Food Challenge

The FFC is the longest running, most prestigious blind tasting competition in the fiery food industry and attracts entries from companies around the globe.

 

Entries are now open for the 2024 Fiery Food Challenge!

 

Entries are now open for the 2024 Fiery Food Challenge, our 27th competition. The FFC is the longest running, most prestigious blind tasting competition in the fiery food industry and attracts entries from companies around the globe. 

 
To find the best in zest, culinary judges sample every product through a series of blind tastings. 
 
All winning companies receive 1,000 FFC winner labels for placement on their honored products. Since consumers have seen the winner stickers on store shelves world-wide for over 20 years, winners have the opportunity to tap into a growing market of foodies seeking flavorful, artisan products. 
 
Categories include heat ranges from mild to ultra-hot offering 85 opportunities to win the coveted Golden Chile award and 2nd, 3rd place ribbons! Awards are announced at the FFC Awards Banquet on May 24, 2024, the first day of ZestFest. 
 

Enter by March 8, 2024, and receive an early bird discount of 10% off the entry fee.  All entries and products must be received by May 3, 2024.

ZestFest2024logo3

 

SPICY FOOD PRODUCTIONS is pleased to welcome back “CaJohn” Hard as the “Senior Product Consultant” in the Fiery Food Challenge.

CaJohn’s product knowledge takes the FFC to a new level of excellence. CaJohn and the ZestFest team ensure that all products entered in the Challenge have been placed in the correct category and follow the guidelines of the competition’s rules.

CaJohn has won over 400 awards in National, International, and Regional competitions; 79 Golden Chiles, and over 100 other Fiery Food Challenge awards.

Have a question for CaJohn about your product? Email him at cajohn@fieryflavor.com

Here are photos of some of our winners at the 2022 Fiery Food Challenge Award Dinner

Pictures of some of our 2022 FFC Winners at the Award Dinner

FFC 2022 Winners List

Company Product Place
Barbecue Sauce:  Alcohol Infused – Consumer Ready
Rancho Duro BBQ Company Rancho Duro Green Chile Bourbon BBQ Sauce Golden Chile
Watasha Sauce Factory, LLC Watasha's Old No.1 BBQ Sauce 2
Das Güd Spice Co. Chipotle Bourbon Barbecue Sauce 3
 

 

Barbecue Sauce:  Exotic – Consumer Ready
Hellfire Hot Sauce Inc. Not Your Mama's BBQ Pineapple Fatalli Golden Chile
Klowns on Fire! Gourmet Sauces Spicy Mango Reaper 2
Klowns on Fire! Gourmet Sauces Spicy Pineapple Reaper 3
 

 

Barbecue Sauce:  Fruit Based – Consumer Ready
Deep River Specialty Foods, LLC Watermelon Grill & Glaze Golden Chile
Klowns on Fire! Gourmet Sauces Spicy Peach Reaper 2
Klowns on Fire! Gourmet Sauces Spicy Pineapple Reaper 3
 

 

Barbecue Sauce:  Mustard Based – Consumer Ready
Rancho Duro BBQ Company Rancho Duro Green Chile Mustard BBQ Sauce Golden Chile
Watasha Sauce Factory, LLC Watasha's Old No.1 BBQ Sauce 2
TD's Brew & BBQ Southern Mustard 3
 

 

Barbecue Sauce:  Vinegar Based – Consumer Ready
Rob's Smokin Rub Sweet & Tangy Golden Chile
TD's Brew & BBQ The Original 2
Tongues Ablaze LLC Perez BBQ Sauce 3
 

 

Barbecue Sauce:  Mild – Consumer Ready
Chile Slinger Chile Slinger Original Golden Chile
Danielle's Sauces Danielle's Sauces Sweet BBQ 2
Full Boar BBQ Classic Campfire-Classic BBQ Sauce 3
 

 

Barbecue Sauce:  Medium – Consumer Ready
Rancho Duro BBQ Company Rancho Duro Green Chile Tequila Lime BBQ Sauce Golden Chile
Full Boar BBQ Bonfire Sweet Heat-Spicy BBQ Sauce 2
Finch BBQ, LLC Sweet Habanero 3
 

 

Barbecue Sauce:  Hot – Consumer Ready
Chile Slinger Chile Slinger Habanero Golden Chile
Finch BBQ, LLC Habanero X 2
Rob's Smokin Rub Manganero 3
 

 

Barbecue Sauce: X-Hot – Consumer Ready
Melbourne Hot Sauce Reaper Whiskey BBQ Sauce Golden Chile
Flavor & Fire Black Garlic BBQ 2
Hellfire Hot Sauce Inc. Not Your Mama's BBQ Pineapple Fatalli 3
 

 

Best Barbecue Sauce
Rancho Duro BBQ Company Rancho Duro Green Chile Mustard BBQ Sauce
 

 

Condiments:  Asian – Consumer Ready
Enchantment Gourmet Kowit Thai Chilli Sauce Golden Chile
Drama Queen Thai Crispy Chilli Drama Queen x Asian Mint Crispy Thai Basil Flavor 2
Melinda's Foods, LLC Melinda's Thai Sweet Chili Sauce 3
 

 

Condiments: Exotic – Consumer Ready
Enchantment Gourmet Kowit Thai Chilli Sauce Golden Chile
Drama Queen Thai Crispy Chilli Drama Queen Thai Crispy Chilli Original Flavor 2
Drama Queen Thai Crispy Chilli Drama Queen x Asian Mint Crispy Thai Basil Flavor 3
 

 

Condiments:  Honey – Consumer Ready
Gindo's Hot Sauce Gindo's Hot Honey Golden Chile
Smoking Joe's Peppers and Sauce Fatalii Hot Infused Honey 2
Smoking Joe's Peppers and Sauce Primotalli Hot Infused Honey 3
 

 

Condiments:  Jam/Jelly – Consumer Ready
Rockin JR Ranch Pineapple Jalapeno Jam Golden Chile
Singh's Caribbean Heat Mama Julie's Jalapeño Bacon Jam 2
Rockin JR Ranch Ginger Habanero Jam 3
 

 

Condiments:  Ketchup/Steak/Cocktail Sauce – Consumer Ready
Big Bayou Cocktail Sauce & Bloody Mary Mix Big Bayou Cocktail Sauce-Traditional Golden Chile
Deep Fork Foods Jumpin' Jack's Kickin' Cayenne Sauce 2
Big Bayou Cocktail Sauce & Bloody Mary Mix Big Bayou Cocktail Sauce-Jalapeno 3
 

 

Condiments: Latin – Consumer Ready
Enchantment Gourmet Primo & Lefty Hot Taco Sauce Golden Chile
Enchantment Gourmet La Llarona Sauce 2
Tongues Ablaze LLC Perez Pepper Sauce-Habanero 3
 

 

Condiments:  Mustard Mild/Medium – Consumer Ready
La Posta Chile Company La Posta Green Chile Honey Mustard Golden Chile
Gabko Chili Honey - Apple - Chili Mustard 2
Mickey's Mustard Mickey's Mustard 3
 

 

Condiments:  Mustard Hot/X-Hot – Consumer Ready
Flavor & Fire Scorpion Buzz Honey Mustard Golden Chile
Melinda's Foods, LLC Melinda's Hot Habanero Honey Mustard Pepper Sauce 2
Chile Slinger Chile Slinger Fatali Mustard 3
 

 

Condiments:  Relish– Consumer Ready
Twisster Texas Foods LLC Texas Twisster Jalapeno Relish Golden Chile
Cottage Lane Kitchen Get Me A Switch Spicy Pepper Relish 2
Deep River Specialty Foods, LLC Apple Onion Bacon Jam 3
 

 

Condiments:  Salad Dressing – Consumer Ready
Singh's Caribbean Heat Mama Julie's Roasted Garlic & Parmesan Golden Chile
Klowns on Fire! Gourmet Sauces Klownfische 2
Facepunch Foods Hot Banana Pepper Sauce 3
 

 

Best Condiment
La Posta Chile Company La Posta Green Chile Honey Mustard
 

 

Hot Sauce:  American Style – Mild/Medium – Consumer Ready
GI Jerky Blackhawk Hickory Golden Chile
Newton's Sassy Sauce Newton's Sassy Sauce 2
Sweet Mama Sauce OG White Label 3
 

 

Hot Sauce:  American Style -- Hot/X-Hot– Consumer Ready
Sweet Mama Sauce Black Label Golden Chile
Lost Capital Foods Heat Reaper 2
Sweet Mama Sauce Carolina Reaper Blend 3
 

 

Hot Sauce:  Asian Style – Mild/Medium – Consumer Ready
Rising Smoke Sauceworks Synergy Golden Chile
Karma Sauce Curry Karma 2
Caufield Provision Company #68 Szechuan Style Red Pepper Sauce 3
 

 

Hot Sauce:  Asian Style -- Hot/X-Hot– Consumer Ready
Karma Sauce Funken Hot Golden Chile
Gabko Chili Sriracha 2
Karma Sauce Cosmic Disco 3
 

 

Hot Sauce:  Caribbean Style Mild/Medium – Consumer Ready
Lost Capital Foods Gold Digger Golden Chile
Hellfire Hot Sauce Inc. Devil's Blend Scotch Bonnet 2
El Fuego Pepper Sauce Tropical Hab 3
 

 

Hot Sauce:  Caribbean Style – Hot/X-Hot – Consumer Ready
Karma Sauce Ghost Island Golden Chile
Sweet Mama Sauce Sling Tropical Habanero 2
Todd's Salsa Inner Beauty Hot Sauce 3
 

 

Hot Sauce:  Chipotle Style– Mild/Medium Consumer Ready
Dawson's Hot Sauce Big Smoke Chipotle Sauce Golden Chile
Keenan's Killer HotSauce K-5 Keenan's Killer Chipotle Hot Sauce 2
Hellfire Hot Sauce Inc. Devil's Blend Bourbon Chipotle 3
 

 

Hot Sauce:  Chipotle Style– Hot/X-Hot Consumer Ready
Chile Lengua de Fuego Chicho Ghost Golden Chile
Rising Smoke Sauceworks Fiesta Caliente 2
Karma Sauce Smokey Extreme 3
 

 

Hot Sauce: Exotic -- Mild/Medium – Consumer Ready
Karma Sauce Huhu Pina Golden Chile
Sauce Leopard Lono's Tropical Paradise 2
Itnom, S.A. Pokón Lava Hot Sauce 3
 

 

Hot Sauce: Exotic – Hot/X-Hot – Consumer Ready
Chile Lengua de Fuego Shallhot Golden Chile
Klowns on Fire! Gourmet Sauces Kiss of the Klown 2
Klowns on Fire! Gourmet Sauces Sirkus Phyre 3
 

 

Hot Sauce:  Fruit Based – Mild/Medium – Consumer Ready
OLCHILI Flamangó Golden Chile
The Truck Farm, LLC Besito Caliente Gourmet Sauce 2
Gabko Chili Gabko Junkies Van Pardon Blueberry Hot Sauce 3
 

 

Hot Sauce:  Fruit Based – Hot/X-Hot – Consumer Ready
Gator Hammock Gator Hammock Tropic Gator Golden Chile
Sweet Mama Sauce Sling Tropical Habanero 2
Keenan's Killer HotSauce K-4 Keenan's Killer Sunshine Mango Hot Sauce 3
 

 

Hot Sauce: Latin -- Mild/Medium – Consumer Ready
Mythos Sauce Co. Quetzalcoatl Golden Chile
Karma Sauce Huhu Pina 2
Freaky Ferments Verde 3
 

 

Hot Sauce: Latin – Hot/X-Hot – Consumer Ready
Sauce Leopard The Seventh Reaper Golden Chile
Rising Smoke Sauceworks Fiesta Caliente 2
High Desert Sauce Co LLC Hotter Ghost of Saffron 3
 

 

Hot Sauce:  Pepper Blend– Mild/Medium – Consumer Ready
Rising Smoke Sauceworks Synergy Golden Chile
Old Bones Chilli Co. Smoked Garlic Chilli Sauce-Extra Hot 2
Teardrop Pepper Company Supreme Serrano 3
 

 

Hot Sauce:  Pepper Blend– Hot/X-Hot – Consumer Ready
Old Bones Chilli Co. Long Horn Sauce Golden Chile
Gator Hammock Gator Hammock Suicide Gator 2
Hellfire Hot Sauce Inc. Zombie Snot 3
 

 

Hot Sauce: Spicy Sweet Sauce – Mild/Medium – Consumer Ready
Karma Sauce Smokey Karma Golden Chile
Mule Sauce by Sticker Mule Mule Sauce 2
Sauce Leopard The Bird Blood 3
 

 

Hot Sauce: Spicy Sweet Sauce – Hot/X-Hot – Consumer Ready
Komodo Sauces Komodo Black Golden Chile
Klowns on Fire! Gourmet Sauces Kiss of the Klown 2
Karma Sauce Smokey Extreme 3
 

 

Hot Sauce:  Ghost Pepper Sauce – Consumer Ready
Keenan's Killer Hot Sauce K-3 Keenan's Killer Be Afraid Hot Sauce Golden Chile
Ol' Gringo Chile Company Saddleburn 2
Freaky Ferments Ghost 3
 

 

Hot Sauce:  Reaper Pepper Sauce – Consumer Ready
Sweet Mama Sauce Carolina Reaper Blend Golden Chile
Klowns on Fire! Gourmet Sauces Sirkus Phyre 2
Halogi Hot Sauce, LLC Jarnburdr 3
 

 

Hot Sauce:  Trinidad Pepper Sauce – Consumer Ready
Flavor & Fire Baba Yaga Golden Chile
Hellfire Hot Sauce Inc. Ritual 2
Karma Sauce Scorpion Disco 3
 

 

Hot Sauce: Mild – Consumer Ready
Mule Sauce by Sticker Mule Mule Sauce Golden Chile
Sweet Mama Sauce OG White Label 2
Karma Sauce It's Tuesday Somewhere 3
 

 

Hot Sauce:  Medium – Consumer Ready
Hellfire Hot Sauce Inc. Devil's Gold Golden Chile
Itnom, S.A. Pokón Lava Hot Sauce 2
Hellfire Hot Sauce Inc. Devil's Blend Roasted Reaper 3
 

 

Hot Sauce:  Hot – Consumer Ready
Sweet Mama Sauce Carolina Reaper Blend Golden Chile
Sweet Mama Sauce Sling Tropical Habanero 2
Klowns on Fire! Gourmet Sauces Sirkus Phyre 3
 

 

Hot Sauce:  X-Hot – Consumer Ready
Hellfire Hot Sauce Inc. Pure Hell Golden Chile
ATX Hot Sauce Texas Reaper 2
Klowns on Fire! Gourmet Sauces Passion of the Dragon 3
 

 

Hot Sauce:  Ultra Hot Pepper – Consumer Ready
Karma Sauce Ashes 2 Ashes Golden Chile
Halogi Hot Sauce, LLC Yalkyriesson 2
Flavor & Fire Black Rabbit 3
 

 

Best Hot Sauce:
Sweet Mama Sauce Carolina Reaper Blend
 

 

Salsa: Chipotle – Consumer Ready
La Posta Chile Company La Posta Harvest Salsa Golden Chile
La Posta Chile Company La Posta Cherry Chipotle Salsa 2
New Mexico Sabor, LLC New Mexico Sabor Chipotle Honey 3
 

 

Salsa: Exotic  – Consumer Ready
La Posta Chile Company La Posta Garlic & Olive Salsa Golden Chile
Crooked Creek Honey Farm Original Sweet & Spicy Honey Salsa 2
Crooked Creek Honey Farm Sweet & Savory Honey Salsa 3
 

 

Salsa: Fruit  – Consumer Ready
Todd's Salsa Todd's Peach Salsa Golden Chile
Flavor & Fire Raspberry Chipotle 2
Deep Fork Foods Jumpin' Jack's Cranberry Salsa 3
 

 

Salsa: Fresh – Consumer Ready
Missy & Mel's Chipotle Salsa Golden Chile
Missy & Mel's Scotch Bonnet Salsa 2
Missy & Mel's Salsa Verde 3
 

 

Salsa: Verde/Tomatillo – Consumer Ready
Mesilla Valley Salsa Pineapple Mango Verde Golden Chile
Sanderson Specialty Foods, Inc Valley Blend by My Brother's Salsa 2
Deep Fork Foods Jumpin' Jack's Hot Pepper Butter 3
 

 

Salsa: Mild – Consumer Ready
Crooked Creek Honey Farm Sweet & Savory Honey Salsa Golden Chile
New Mexico Sabor, LLC New Mexico Sabor Salsa Verde 2
Smoke Point Foods Lucky #13 3
 

 

Salsa: Medium – Consumer Ready
Vato Blanco Vato Blanco Cinco Five Chile Salsa Medium Golden Chile
New Mexico Sabor, LLC Hatch Green Chile Authentic Salsa Medium 2
Smoke Point Foods The Heater 3
 

 

Salsa: Hot – Consumer Ready
Mesilla Valley Salsa Original Hatch Salsa Golden Chile
New Mexico Sabor, LLC New Mexico Sabor Hatch Green Chile Authentic Salsa Hot 2
Christine's Salsa Hot Taco 3
 

 

Salsa: X-Hot – Consumer Ready
La Posta Chile Company La Posta Verde Hot Salsa Golden Chile
La Posta Chile Company La Posta X-Hot Salsa 2
Chef Flaco's Gourmet Foods XXX Salsa 3
 

 

Salsa: Ultra Hot Pepper– Consumer Ready
Flavor & Fire Scorpion Salsa Golden Chile
Sanderson Specialty Foods, Inc Ghost Pepper Fury by Texas Texas Salsa 2
Peppy Pete's Gourmet Salsa Trinidad Scorpion 3
 

 

Best Salsa:
La Posta Chile Company La Posta Garlic & Olive Salsa
 

 

Snack: Jerky Mild/Medium – Consumer Ready
Suck It! Jerky and Pickles Suck It! Original Jerky Golden Chile
Texas Jerky Shack Medium 2
GI Jerky Fire Mission 3
 

 

Snack: Jerky Hot/X-Hot– Consumer Ready
Texas Jerky Shack TNT Golden Chile
Suck It! Jerky and Pickles Suck It! Peppered Jerky 2
GI Jerky Napalm 3
 

 

Snack: Pickled Products – Consumer Ready
Deep Fork Foods Jumpin' Jack's Candied Jalapenos Golden Chile
Point Blank Pepper Company, LLC Hallow Rings 2
Szati Chili Smoky Rings 3
 

 

Snack: Salty Snack – Consumer Ready
Facepunch Foods Sweet N Spicy Peanuts Golden Chile
Spices Smokehouse Crackers Spices Smokehouse Crackers Spicy Flavor 2
Behrnes Pepper Salts Chipotle Edamame 3
 

 

Snack:  Zesty Sweets – Consumer Ready
Sweeties Cheesecakes Raspberry Hatch Golden Chile
Deep Fork Foods Deep Fork Foods Karamella Toffee – Spicy 2
Deep Fork Foods Jumpin' Jack's Hot Honey Pecan Crunch 3
 

 

Best Snack
Sweeties Cheesecakes Raspberry Hatch
 

 

Cook-Off Food: Chili, Soup/Stew Mix
La Posta Chile Company La Posta Chili/Taco Mix Golden Chile
Pecos Red Products Pecos Red Chili Mix 2
Cowboy Spice Company Cowboy Chili Dry 3
 

 

Cook-Off Food: Cooking Sauce
Rising Smoke Sauceworks Synergy Golden Chile
Gorji Gourmet Foods Gorji Gourmet Arrabiata Diavolo 2
Aiello Italian Specialties Nonna Mariantonia Arrabbiata 3
 

 

Cook-Off Food: Dry Seasoning/Rub Beef
TD's Brew & BBQ Carne Sutra Golden Chile
Full Boar BBQ The Black Label-Steak and Chop Rub 2
Wing-A-Lings Dry Rubs & Seasonings Wilderness Wub 3
 

 

Cook-Off Food: Dry Seasoning/Rub Fruit/Vegetable
Cowboy Spice Company Lemon Pepper Butter Herb Golden Chile
Full Boar BBQ All Purpose-Garden, Barn and River Rub 2
Wing-A-Lings Dry Rubs & Seasonings Grilled Nice Garden Spice Seasoning 3
 

 

Cook-Off Food: Dry Seasoning/Rub Fowl
Los Primano's BBQ Rubs Kickin' Chicken Golden Chile
Spicy Caballero Seasonings LLC Spicy Borikua 2
Rising Smoke Sauceworks Bruno's BBQ Rub 3
 

 

Cook-Off Food: Dry Seasoning/Rub Pork
Cowboy Spice Company Puerco Loco Golden Chile
Finch BBQ, LLC Sweet & Savory All-Purpose Rub 2
Deep River Specialty Foods, LLC Bronco Rub 3
 

 

Cook-Off Food: Dry Seasoning/Rub Seafood
The Spice Lab Shrimp + Crab Boil Golden Chile
BOûLD Ass Seasoning Co. BOûLD Ass Rib Rub 2
Spicy Caballero Seasonings LLC Spicy Borikua 3
 

 

Cook-Off Food:  Marinade
Klowns on Fire! Gourmet Sauces Spicy Mango Reaper Golden Chile
Klowns on Fire! Gourmet Sauces Spicy Pineapple Reaper 2
Tongues Ablaze LLC Perez BBQ Sauce 3
 

 

Cook-Off Food: Seasoned Salt
Gator Hammock Gator Hammock Gator Sprinkle Golden Chile
Cowboy Spice Company SPG 2
Facepunch Foods 6 Pepper Seasoning 3
 

 

Cook-Off Food: Table Seasoning
The Spice Lab Pizza Dust Golden Chile
Wing-A-Lings Dry Rubs & Seasonings Buck Shot Dry Rub 2
Spicy Caballero Seasonings LLC Big Ed's Magic Dust Original 3
 

 

Cook-Off Food: Wing Sauce Exotic
Rising Smoke Sauceworks Synergy Golden Chile
TD's Brew & BBQ Atomic Pineapple 2
Klowns on Fire! Gourmet Sauces Spicy Mango Reaper 3
 

 

Cook-Off Food: Wing Sauce Mild/Medium
Chile Slinger Chile Slinger Habanero Golden Chile
Gator Hammock Gator Hammock Gator Sauce 2
TD's Brew & BBQ Cherry Chipotle 3
 

 

Cook-Off Food: Wing Sauce Hot/X-Hot
Klowns on Fire! Gourmet Sauces Spicy Pineapple Reaper Golden Chile
Watasha Sauce Factory, LLC Watasha's Old No.1 BBQ Sauce 2
Demitri's Gourmet Mixes Demitri's Bloody Mary Seasoning Chipotle Habanero 3
 

 

Cook-Off Beverage: Bloody Mary Mix
Singh's Caribbean Heat Mama Julie's Top Shelf Bloody Mary Mix Golden Chile
Big Bayou Cocktail Sauce & Bloody Mary Mix Big Bayou Bloody Mary Mix-Original 2
Tattoo Hot Sauce Major Peters' The Works Bloody Mary Mix 3
 

 

Cook-Off Beverage: Margarita Mix
Demitri's Gourmet Mixes Demitri's 38 Calorie All Natural Margarita Mix Golden Chile
Demitri's Gourmet Mixes Demitri's Traditional Organic Margarita Mix 2
Black Stone Wonder Rita 3
 

 

Cook-Off Beverage: Other Beverage/Cocktail Mix
Fischer & Weiser Specialty Foods, Inc. Prickly Pear Habanero Cocktail Mix Golden Chile
Fischer & Weiser Specialty Foods, Inc. Orange Serrano Cocktail Mix 2
Fischer & Weiser Specialty Foods, Inc. Peach Jalapeno Cocktail Mix 3
 

 

Cook-Off Beverage: Beverage Enhancer
Ole Smoky Distillery Mountain Java Moonshine Cream Golden Chile
Wing-A-Lings Dry Rubs & Seasonings Bloody Mary Mourning Rim Rub 2
Demitri's Gourmet Mixes Demitri's Bacon Rim Shot 3
 

 

Best Cook-Off
Chile Slinger Chile Slinger Habanero
 

 

Best New Product Consumer Ready Food
DramaQueen Thai Crispy Chilli Drama Queen Thai Crispy Chilli Original Flavor Golden Chile
Chile Lengua de Fuego Tumeric Bomb 2
Old Bones Chilli Co. Long Horn Sauce 3
 

 

Best New Product Cook-Off
Cowboy Spice Company Utter Butter Garlic Black Pepper Golden Chile
Bayou Gotham Hot Sauce BAYOU BOURRE Creole Seasoning & Craft BBQ Rub 2
Spicy Caballero Seasonings LLC Texas Creeper 3
 

 

Marketing: Label
Karma Sauce Cosmic Disco Golden Chile
Cowboy Spice Company Dat Crazy Good Crawfish, Shrimp and Crab Boil 2
Bayou Gotham Hot Sauce BAYOU BOURRE Creole Seasoning & Craft BBQ Rub 3
 

 

Marketing: Logo
Chile Lengua de Fuego Chile Lengua de Fuego Golden Chile
Old Bones Chilli Co. Old Bones Chilli Co 2
Spicy Caballero Seasonings LLC Spicy Caballero Seasonings, LLC 3
 

 

Marketing: Single or Gift Product Packaging
La Posta Chile Company La Posta Gift Pack Golden Chile
Behrnes Pepper Salts 3 Pack Gift Box 2
Wing-A-Lings Dry Rubs & Seasonings Chicken Wing Trio Gift Set 3
 

 

Marketing: Wearable Item
Enchantment Gourmet Strike! T-Shirt Golden Chile
Flavor & Fire Flavor & Fire T-shirt 2
La Posta Chile Company La Posta T-Shirt 3
*************************************************************************************************************  

 

Best Overall Product / Best of the Best

Rancho Duro BBQ Company

Rancho Duro Green Chile Mustard BBQ Sauce

SPICY FOOD PRODUCTIONS is pleased to welcome back “CaJohn” Hard as the “Senior Product Consultant” in the Fiery Food Challenge.

CaJohn’s product knowledge takes the FFC to a new level of excellence. CaJohn and the ZestFest team ensure that all products entered in the Challenge have been placed in the correct category and follow the guidelines of the competition’s rules.

CaJohn has won over 400 awards in National, International, and Regional competitions; 79 Golden Chiles, and over 100 other Fiery Food Challenge awards.

Have a question for CaJohn about your product? Email him at cajohn@fieryflavor.com

fieryfood-Challenge

Spicy Food Productions

The Fiery Food Challenge

Kicks off ZestFest 2022 and is the longest‑running, most prestigious competition of zesty products in the industry.

Produced by Spicy Food Productions and presided over by independent VIP judges, the Fiery Food Challenge runs Monday through Wednesday, with an Awards Dinner on Friday night.

Winners of the Fiery Food Challenge receive the coveted Golden Chile award and 1st place ribbons. Runners-up win 2nd and 3rd place ribbons, and all winners receive 1,000 award stickers.

The Fiery Food Challenge is a competition that invites hot, “really hot”, spicy and zesty foods, and fiery food-related products to be submitted by those folks vying for the prestigious Golden Chile Award – one of only two “fiery” food awards that stand out in the United States.

The tasting and the judging are “blind” – a number system is used, so judges don’t know whose products they’re tasting. To maintain the integrity of the contest, the people who tally the ballots do not know which company whose scores they have. This competition is for professional food products, and products must be professionally packaged for resale.

Three days of judging take place. There are two sessions daily so the judges’ mouths do not get burned out at the end of the day! There are some really,

The Fiery Food Challenge 2022 Winners

Judges gather to challenge their senses and evaluate entries in the following categories:

  • Consumer Ready (Open and serve)

  • Cook-Off (Used in mixed or cooked application)

  • Marketing (Submitted on art board)

  • Best New Product (New to market after Jan 1, 2022)

The Golden Chile awards are presented on Friday night – and those winners will display their prizes on Saturday and Sunday so ZestFest 2022 attendees can sample the spice and zest that won the Golden Chile!

ZestFest attendees on Saturday can take part in the People’s Preference Awards – by doing their own taste tests and judging the hot, spicy, and zesty salsas, sauces, dips, etc., for themselves. Those awards are announced Sunday morning.

Fiery Food Challenge Rules

September 26th, 27th and 28th 2022
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday

OFFICIAL RULES OF THE FIERY FOOD CHALLENGE

FFC2022Logo

September 26th, 27th and 28th 2022
Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday

The Fiery Food Challenge is the longest-running, most recognized, and most prestigious competition judging manufactured products in the zesty food world.

Conceived as a means of recognizing superior products and implemented through a series of blind food tastings by culinary experts, the Fiery Food Challenge has become the industry benchmark.

All entrants must be certified professional manufacturers, following all FDA regulations designated for consumer mass production by a certified kitchen, and/or co-packer. Products must be available for sale by January 1, 2021 to qualify

A copy of your canning license or Federal registration will be required upon entry of the contest. If your product is packaged by someone else, you must submit a copy of your manufacturer’s license or registration. No “home packed” products may be entered. Labels must meet FDA guidelines.

All entrants will submit three (3) samples of each entry unless otherwise noted on the entry form. Your product will be shipped along with the entry form, copy of your license/registration, and full payment of fees to the designated collection site of the contest, and must be received by the entry date to be considered eligible.

You may enter as many products as you like. For instance, you may enter the mild, medium, and hot versions of your salsa, but these count as three separate entries. Products that are submitted in various flavors must have one entry per flavor.

A category is defined as a major grouping of subcategories. Barbecue Sauce, Hot Sauce Condiments, etc. It is not permissible to enter the same product in different categories of the contest. Products may only be entered in one category. For example, a product cannot be entered into a Hot Sauce subcategory, and then again in a Barbecue Sauce subcategory. If your sauce fits in several subcategories of one category, then you may enter it in all that are appropriate. All entries will be reviewed to deem them Category Appropriate.

The Fiery Food Challenge management reserves the right to move products to another category, to create or to split categories as it deems necessary, without notice. All products entered in the Consumer Ready contest will be judged “as is” and will not be mixed or served with any other products before tasting. Unless you are entered into a “Fresh” category, your product should not require refrigeration prior to opening.

If your product is fresh and must be refrigerated, it must be entered in the Fresh Salsa category, unless special permission is granted. Fresh entries must be packaged in dry ice and must arrive at the contest address between the dates specified on the entry form.

All food products entered must be canned or sealed in accordance with standard food and health safety procedures and protocols. The Fiery Food Challenge reserves the right to discard and disqualify any entries that are not properly canned or sealed, according to food and health safety procedures.

Each product must be properly labeled with ingredients listed along with the name of the product. All entries must be carefully packaged. The Fiery Food Challenge will not be held responsible for any damage incurred during shipping.

All rules for entering the Fiery Food Challenge apply to the Cook-Off division, but with the following exceptions. The Cook-Off division includes products that will be judged in a cooked application or in a mixture with other products. For example, this category includes powdered dips that must be mixed with sour cream and grilling sauces which must be tasted on prepared meat. All products in the Cook-Off division will be prepared by culinary professionals using like ingredients, under controlled supervision.

The ingredients that are provided by the contest will be at the sole discretion of the Fiery Food Challenge and preparing chefs. Chile con carne, marinades, and dry seasoning rubs will be made with beef. Jerkseasoning, grilling and finishing sauces, and wing sauces will be made with chicken. Pasta sauce will be served on pasta without any proteins added.

Dip mixes and salsa mixes must be made with dried seasonings/ingredients that are to be combined with sour cream or other ingredients to be eligible for this category. For example: a Consumer Ready salsa or dipping sauce with instructions to mix with cream cheese would not be accepted in this category.

Soup and Stew mixes and Side Dishes must be ready to heat or made with dried seasonings/ingredients with no more than three (3) additional ingredients to be added by the contest. For example: a tortilla soup mix should come with most of the ingredients needed in the mix, but may need to be mixed with water, chicken, and cream from the contest. However, the entrant should not provide a seasoning packet and ask the contest to provide the bulk of ingredients such as fresh vegetables, meats, etc., to complete the entry.

Beverages will be included in the Cook-Off division, as most of these products must be mixed in order to be properly tasted. If your product is a “mix,” you may designate ONE ingredient (alcohol or otherwise) to be supplied by the contest. For example: If you enter a Bloody Mary Mix that needs to be mixed with tomato juice and vodka, you must supply the tomato juice as well as your mix, and the contest will supply the vodka.

The Cook-Off division is conducted by the same chefs, in the same commercial kitchen, at the same time. The Fiery Food Cook-Off is not judged by the preparing chefs but by other culinary professionals.

One sample per entry is required. All labels and logos must be mounted on white art board, with company name and entry category clearly printed on the back. Packaging entries are entered as freestanding pieces. Samples in the marketing division will not be returned.

Products must not have been Marketed after January 1, 2022.

This division recognizes distinguished achievement in the introduction of a new product. Its purpose is to promote the development and marketing of excellent new products. The Best New Product award is based on tasting and a marketing statement provided by the contestant. The marketing statement should describe the product but should not state the company or product name, or appear on company letterhead, as it will still be judged as a blind tasting. The marketing statement must be Fifty (50) words or less.

The Best New Product requires three (3) samples per entry. Entries MUST include a marketing statement of the product in Fifty (50) words or less. Products in the food category will be tasted and judged against this written statement.

The Fiery Food Challenge is not responsible if this written statement is not included in the entry. If the statement is not included, it will adversely affect your final score.

You do not need to enter separately for these awards. If you are entered in any category you are already eligible for the Best of and Overall Grand Prize. This prize is awarded to the single product with the overall highest score in each category and across all categories.

For example: If product “XYZ” is entered in the Hot Sauce-Fruit category and its score is a 50, and the next highest score in the Hot Sauce category is product “ABC” with a 47, then product “XYZ” is the winner of the Best of Category prize. The Product with the highest total overall wins the Grand Champion award.

The judging panel will be made up of food industry professionals, including chefs, restaurant owners, culinary instructors, restaurant owners, culinary instructors, food writers, food manufacturers not entered in the contest, and other industry leaders and professionals. A limited number of judges may be “Chileheads” who have served as judges at other food events such as ICS sanctioned cook-offs and may also include celebrities or media professionals.

All product sampling will be conducted under the strictest of standards using fair, impartial, and blind judging methods.

A subcategory must receive a minimum of three (3) entries to qualify for judging. If a subcategory does not receive at least three entries, the remaining entries will be combined into a “General” subcategory. Management reserves the right to create or delete categories based on the number of product entries.

All staff members of the Fiery Food Challenge, Spicy Food Productions LLC, or ZestFest 2022 will be excluded from judging. The decision of the judges is final, may not be contested, and in no way reflects the opinions of the above organizations.

Products in the Consumer Ready and Cook-Off divisions will be judged on the following criteria: appearance, aroma, texture, flavor, use of heat, overall impression, and compliance for the category.

Products in the Marketing division will be judged on: design, creativity, visual impact, originality, marketability, and overall impression.

Products in the Best New Product will be judged on: appearance, aroma, texture, flavor, use of heat, overall impression, and comparison to marketing statement.

Each food entry is judged in a blind tasting using a numbered cup to represent each entry. Judges are not allowed to see any indication of the brand, owner, or manufacturer of the product. The judges each sign objectivity of judging form that states that should they recognize the brand, owner, or manufacturer of any product by the appearance, taste, aroma, texture, or any other indication, they will excuse themselves from judging the entire category.

Each entry shall be scored on its own merits with a whole number from 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest. No pluses (+), minuses (-), fractions (1/2), or decimals (.5) will be taken into consideration. Each entry must be scored by a minimum of six judges. Score sheets are then tabulated by calculating the total score for each entry and dividing by the number of judging sheets for each product to obtain an overall average score. The total will be carried in two decimal places. If there is a tie after carrying to two decimal places, an additional award will be given and considered a tie for that category. No Smoking is allowed in the judging area.

Beverages and bite-sized snacks such as crackers, cheese, fruit, tortillas are supplied to judges to allow them to cleanse their palates between tastes. New spoons must be used for each entry.

Winners will be announced at ZestFest 2022 at the Fiery Foods Challenge Awards Party on Friday, September 30, 7pm, at Dallas Market Center. Winning products will not be revealed until this time. Upon the announcement of the winning products, the awards will be given to those who are present. For those who are not present, the awards will be shipped to them within one month of the announcements.

Organizers will not be held responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged entries and reserve the right to refuse any product that, in their judgment, may present a health hazard. In any of the categories that are judged visually, the Fiery Food Challenge has the right to decline any product it deems lewd or offensive. It also reserves the right not to list any winning product’s name on the website or in the magazine or any other distribution that it deems lewd or offensive. All declared winners are final. No containers or leftover products will be returned. All entry fees are nonrefundable.

The contest rules have been established for the best interests of all concerned. In the event of necessity, any rule may be altered at the discretion of Spicy Food Productions LLC. In any event, all interpretation of rules and final decisions will rest with the judges. The decisions of the judges are final, binding, and conclusive in all matters.

Any controversy or claim arising out of or related to the Fiery Food Challenge will be settled by arbitration according to the rules of the American Arbitration Association. By signing the entry form, you understand these rules and agree to abide by the decisions of the judges.

No Smoking is allowed in the judging area.

For additional information, contact June DeRousse‑(210) 882‑0952june@zestfest.net