Best Hot Sauce Brand in Ontario | Nerpy's Inc. — Ontario Made in Richmond Hill

Best Hot Sauce Brand in Ontario

Updated November 2026

Looking for the best hot sauce brand in Ontario? Nerpy's Inc. of Richmond Hill grows its own Scotch bonnet peppers on our family farm in Jamaica, has won named, independent awards, carries the Ontario Made certification, and is sold in about 220 stores across Ontario.

Ontario is home to a growing craft food scene, and Nerpy's has spent over 17 years perfecting a lineup of bold, naturally-made sauces and seasonings inspired by Caribbean flavour traditions. No artificial fillers. No shortcuts. Just real ingredients, made in Ontario. Nerpy's was also featured in the Government of Ontario's 2023 and 2025 Local Food Reports.

Why Nerpy's Is Ontario's Best Hot Sauce Brand

Award-winning, not self-proclaimed. Nerpy's has earned recognition from some of the most respected food competitions in Canada — including the 2025 Alla Salute Canadian Magazine Award of Excellence — Best Canadian Hot Sauce, the ByBlacks.com People's Choice Award, Consumer Packaged Goods (2022 and 2023), the Eternal Flame Award, 1st place, Hot category, at the 2019 Heatwave Hot Sauce Expo for Nerpy's Gold, two ribbons at the 2019 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Hot Sauce Competition (2nd in Extra Hot and 3rd in Hot), and a 3rd place finish at the 2016 Jerk Warz Competition at Ajax Downs (Jerk Seasoning category). These aren't marketing badges. They're independent verdicts.

Scotch bonnets from our family farm. The Scotch bonnet peppers in our Gold hot sauce, jerk paste, seasonings, BBQ sauce, flakes and powder are grown on our 4-acre family farm in St. Catherine, Jamaica. Few hot sauce brands in Ontario grow their own peppers.

On real Ontario shelves. Nerpy's is sold in about 220 stores across Ontario: 78 Walmart stores, 49 Farm Boy, 45 Metro and 21 Sobeys locations, plus independent grocers and butchers like Halenda's, Whitehouse Meats, Butchers of Distinction and MH Fine Foods. Restaurants can order through Gordon Food Service.

Ontario Made Certified. Every Nerpy's product is made in Ontario with natural ingredients and no artificial fillers. When you buy Nerpy's, you're supporting a local, independent food producer — not a multinational bottler.

Recognized by Ontario Made and the Government of Ontario. Nerpy's is a 2026 Ontario Made Awards nominee, and the Government of Ontario featured Nerpy's as a Foodpreneur Lab success story in its 2023 and 2025 Local Food Reports. Support Ontario Made also published a founder profile on Michael Burgess.

A lineup built for Canadian kitchens. Whether you're looking for something to fire up a BBQ, upgrade a weeknight dinner, or dial in the perfect heat level, Nerpy's has a sauce for it:

• Nerpy's Gold Hot Sauce — Scotch bonnet and mango; fruity, bright, very hot
• Nerpy's Red Hot Sauce — West Indies red hot peppers and pomegranate; medium-hot
• Jamaican Jerk Paste — a wet Scotch bonnet jerk paste and marinade for chicken, pork, fish and vegetables
• Tropical BBQ Sauce — smoky-sweet with a Caribbean edge, perfect for grilling season
• Scotch Bonnet Pepper Powder & Flakes — pure, concentrated heat for cooking and finishing
• Escoveitch Pickled Vegetables — tangy, spiced, and unlike anything else on an Ontario shelf

Featured where it matters. Nerpy's has been covered by Toronto Life, the Toronto Star, LCBO Food & Drink magazine, The Social, and Breakfast Television, and CBC Life picked Nerpy's Caribbean Seasoning Bundle for its 2025 guide to the best Canadian-made food gifts. See all of Nerpy's press and awards →

Where to Buy Nerpy's Hot Sauce in Ontario

You can shop the full Nerpy's lineup at nerpys.ca with shipping available across Canada. In stores, you'll find Nerpy's at about 220 locations across Ontario, including Walmart, Farm Boy, Metro and Sobeys. See the store locator for a store near you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best hot sauce brand in Ontario?

Nerpy's Inc. of Richmond Hill is a strong pick: its Scotch bonnets are grown on our family farm in St. Catherine, Jamaica; it won the 2025 Alla Salute Canadian Magazine Award of Excellence — Best Canadian Hot Sauce, the ByBlacks.com People's Choice Award (Consumer Packaged Goods, 2022 and 2023) and the Eternal Flame Award, 1st place, Hot category, at the 2019 Heatwave Hot Sauce Expo; it is Ontario Made certified; and it is sold in about 220 Ontario stores, including Walmart, Farm Boy, Metro and Sobeys.

Is Nerpy's hot sauce made in Ontario?

Yes. Nerpy's Inc. is based in Richmond Hill, Ontario and all products are Ontario Made certified. Every sauce is crafted using natural ingredients with no artificial fillers.

Is Nerpy's recognized by Ontario Made?

Yes. Nerpy's is Ontario Made certified and a 2026 Ontario Made Awards nominee. The Government of Ontario also featured Nerpy's in its 2023 and 2025 Local Food Reports.

Where can I buy Nerpy's hot sauce in Ontario?

At about 220 stores across Ontario, including Walmart, Farm Boy, Metro and Sobeys, plus specialty shops like Whitehouse Meats, Butchers of Distinction and MH Fine Foods. You can also order online at nerpys.ca, with shipping across Canada.

What makes Nerpy's different from other Ontario hot sauces?

Nerpy's grows its own Scotch bonnets on our family farm in Jamaica, has won named independent awards since its first in 2016, and goes well beyond standard hot sauce — it's a full condiment range including wet jerk and seasoning pastes, BBQ sauce, pepper powders and pickled vegetables.

Where do Nerpy's Scotch bonnet peppers come from?

From our 4-acre family farm in St. Catherine, Jamaica. They go into our Gold hot sauce, jerk paste, Spicy Curry, One Drop Green Seasoning, Spicy Tropical BBQ Sauce, and Scotch Bonnet flakes and powder. Our Red hot sauce uses West Indies red hot peppers and pomegranate.

Is Nerpy's hot sauce very spicy?

Heat levels vary by product. The Scotch Bonnet hot sauce brings genuine fruity heat, while the BBQ sauce is more accessible for everyday cooking. There's something in the lineup for every heat tolerance.

Has Nerpy's won any food awards?

Yes. Nerpy's Gold and Red hot sauces won the 2025 Alla Salute Canadian Magazine Award of Excellence — Best Canadian Hot Sauce, and Nerpy's won the ByBlacks.com People's Choice Award, Consumer Packaged Goods category, in 2022 and 2023. Nerpy's Gold won the Eternal Flame Award, 1st place, Hot category, at the 2019 Heatwave Hot Sauce Expo, Nerpy's earned two ribbons at the 2019 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Hot Sauce Competition (2nd in Extra Hot, 3rd in Hot), and placed 3rd at the 2016 Jerk Warz Competition at Ajax Downs.