Shaking the bottle…
Popping the lid…
Here it comes!
Small batches ✳ Real ingredients ✳ No ordinary heat
This started as a way to bring a taste of home to Japan, but now feels like its created a home of its own.
It was just supposed to be for myself, but I started giving it out to friends, and anyone else missing a little spice in their life, but when they kept coming back for more, I knew I had something special. Those early bottles were individually illustrated and delivered by bike all over the city, and when it came time to expand, those same friends redesigned the label, and a local restaurant offered their kitchen. I worked through the day and cooked through the night as bottles passed from hand to hand, and new faces kept appearing and asking for a taste.
Now, it feels like it's time to expand again for this sauce that was made for (and now by) the growing community around it.
One bottle for the bright days, one for the deep ones. Mango Habanero for everyday heat — Smoky for when you want something with a backbone.
This smoky combination was discovered at a Jamaican food festival on a small Tokyo rooftop, barely big enough for the crowd squeezed onto it. Now, Smoky Mango Habanero is an absolute necessity anytime jerk is served.
This is probably the laziest and most frequently relied on recipe in our kitchen. I try to limit it to just weekends, but there’s really no better way to start any day.
Both saucesThese crispy, deep-fried wings, from our very first food event, are still talked about. The sauce caramelises, the heat builds slowly, and they’re impossible to stop eating. Definitely cool down with the blue cheese dip.
There’s just something about the bright flavours of the OG Mango Habanero on pan-fried white fish or prawns. Add a kick of acidity and freshness with the cucumber, tomato, and red onion relish.
The Smoky variant turns a classic shakshuka into something deeply rich.
If you run a shop, restaurant, or bar in Japan, and you're considering stocking Aku's Hot Sauce, send us a message and tell us a little about your business. We sell both sauces wholesale, and batches are cooked to-order.