Your first time?!?!

[Gemini Crow Sauce Company]

No, not that first time!!!!
 
Was hoping people would like to share their experiences with their first time creating a hot sauce in their kitchen, whether it be for fun, or for the masses?
 
I have been brainstorming and have a ton of idea's for different kind of hot sauces I'd love to create, and while i have the slightest knowledge on how to begin, in all honesty, I have no real idea of what to do or how to do it? Life doesnt currently offer me a tremendous amount of free time to pursue this hobby, so I'd be up for sitting on the side lines and learning from you guys, so i can jump in with a bit of confidence in creating an edible and tasty hot sauce!
 
Looking forward to seeing how this thread progresses!

 

[Tigeris]

Well, the first time I tried to make a sauce I decided on doing a ferment.  I didn't weigh it down with cheesecloth or anything, though.  The mash floated and it developed a black film all over the top.  I ended up tossing it.
 
The next time I did a simple cooked sauce with a ton of citrus.  That came out wonderfully, although I underestimated the heat of my peppers and it is a little too hot for me.

 

[poypoyking]

My first time was 3 years ago, and I was trying to recreate Marie Sharp's Habanero Hot Sauce.  Habaneros, carrot, onion, garlic, lime juice, and vinegar if I remember correctly.  I wanted it to look a bright orange, so I used orange habaneros.  Well, the sauce ended up a very toxic yellow, so I just canned it instead of bottling it and tried a double batch with red habaneros instead.  That came out the orange that I wanted and the taste was what I was hoping for.
 
I also learned to avoid using a teflon coated pan, use an immersion blender instead of a standard blender when possible, and deseed to improve the look.
 
I actually just found some pictures from those first two batches
 

 

 

[yeroc40]

here is my first time today following a caribbean red recipe.  I plan on doing a ferment when the rest of the pepper ripen.  Seemed easy enough, I think you could bottle right after this, but for simplicity now (kids naptime is over) I put it all in one qt jat to bulk age and will work into smaller bottles later.  Similar to homebrewing I suppose.  I can make adjustments then before bottling too.

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