Sauce That’s Jalapeño Business

If you have a burning love for hot sauce, meet your new flame: Painted Desert Hot Sauce. Creator Trevor Stockman has always been a lover of hot foods and firmly believes “if it doesn’t have some level of spice, it doesn’t have any flavor at all.” He found that the cheap stuff was too bland and the gourmet stuff was too expensive at the rate that he went through it. “It came down to, do I want the money or do I want the flavor?” he says. 

Growing up in a family full of chefs, he decided he’d just start making his own. That quickly snowballed (fireballed?) into making big batches. His wife, clearly also a fan of the bold, pushed him into full business mode by creating a LLC. Trevor is currently in the military but is hoping that Painted Desert pans out as a retirement plan when he completes his service.

He does it all by hand; the only machine used is a blender. Each batch uses fresh peppers and then ferments for 10 days. The heat is so intense he has to wear gloves and a mask while concocting. Despite the vibrant colors, there are no dyes, additives or seed oils; unexpected ingredients like bourbon or carrots help create the look and taste.

The name and branding is a nod to Arizona, where Trevor was raised. There are five flavors to choose from. A single bottle is $9, or you can buy a sampler pack that comes in a fun box. Trevor is working on getting Painted Desert in various stores but you can find him now at various farmers markets, including the one in downtown Southern Pines on May 31. You can also order online.