Some people still call it “siracha sauce” while others refer to it as “sriracha sauce”. In some respects, both are correct. It might just be the most famous and loved chili sauce in the world, much like Heinz ketchup is the most ubiquitous tomato ketchup.
Today, you will not only see sriracha chili sauce bottles in Asian restaurants worldwide, you are also likely to see them in numerous non-Asian eateries as well. Many upscale restaurants even incorporate sriracha sauce into their dishes and dipping sauces.
But what are the origins of this world-famous chili sauce, who concocted it, and where did it all begin?
Sriracha Sauce Has Its Origins in Thailand
The very first version of sriracha sauce dates back to the 1930’s and was created by a Thai woman named Thanom Chakkapak in the town of Si Racha, Thailand, an area on the east coast of Thailand’s gulf. Thanom used common everyday ingredients available in Thailand like chili peppers, sugar, garlic, vinegar, and salt to create her chili sauce, and these ingredients are still used in today’s version of sriracha sauce.
The original sauce created in Thailand was much milder than the modern-day popular condiment found everywhere. It has a thinner consistency and is sweeter than the current sriracha sauce that most of us are familiar with today. Thanom Chakkapak started selling her sauce in Thailand and it was sold nationally, never really gaining international repute. In fact, there are multiple brands of this version of the sauce still being sold in Thailand today. It is used as a dipping sauce in Thailand.
The History and Evolution of Today’s Modern Sriracha Sauce
The person we have to thank for today’s globally popular sriracha sauce is a man named David Tran. David was a Vietnamese immigrant with Chinese roots who escaped from Vietnam after the Vietnam war. He chose to flee Vietnam because of the political instability and turmoil and he eventually was allowed to live in the USA as a refugee in 1980 where he began making Los Angeles his home.
Not one to waste time, David Tran got down to work and founded his company in 1980 and named it Huy Fong Foods, the famous name that can be found on sriracha bottles sold everywhere today (there are other competing product brands, however). David chose the ‘Huy Fong’ name to pay tribute to the freighter ship named Huy Fong which transported him and other refugees to the USA. He began making and selling his own version of Sriracha sauce under his newly-founded company name. While his chili sauce was inspired by the one from Thailand, it was vastly different.
David Tran’s version of sriracha sauce was less sweet than the Thai version and it was spicier and also more sour. It called for different types of chilies, too. It also has a thicker and more viscous consistency.
He initially sold his chili sauce to Asian restaurants in the Chinatown area of Los Angeles and the sauce was a hit. It quickly grew in popularity and his business grew quickly because people loved his spicy sauce with its pronounced garlic flavor. It began appearing in restaurants nationwide, including ones that were non-Asian. Huy Fong sriracha sauce and its characteristic and distinctly-shaped bottle with its green cap and rooster logo became famous.
Why Huy Fong Sriracha Became Famous Globally
- It is a versatile chili sauce: The spicy and garlicky sauce with its tangy component enhances and complements various types of foods and has a universal appeal.
- People loved the sauce and spread the word virally: The company did not spend any money on marketing or advertising as the sauce’s popularity grew organically and naturally through word of mouth. That allowed the sauce’s popularity to grow quickly on a low budget.
- Chef and restaurant wonders endorsed the product: Restaurants started offering sriracha sauce to their customers and various chefs began incorporating the sauce into their menus and dishes. This solidified the sauce even further. Many celebrity chefs increased its visibility by using the product on television cooking shows.
- The rise in popularity of Asian food: The increase in popularity of various Asian cuisines around the world, including Vietnamese food (think pho), helped spread the word about Huy Fong sriracha sauce.
- Foodie culture trends: The rise of ‘foodie’ culture, especially the growing popularity of ethnic foods in the US, played a significant role in sriracha’s boom. Its unique flavor profile helped it stand out in a crowded condiment market.
- The rise in popularity of spicy food: Spicy food has become more popular over the years as more people get used to adding spiciness to their foods. Many consumers today prefer less bland food. This only helped increase the popularity of sriracha sauce, along with other hot chili sauces.
- It is relatively inexpensive: Because sriracha sauce is quite inexpensive, it allows consumers and chefs to purchase and use the product in an economical way.
- The increase in sriracha-infused products: Sriracha sauce is now used to flavor many products like popcorn, chips, ketchup, mayonnaise, sriracha ranch dressing, sauces, etc. And the number of products that are flavored with sriracha is increasing. This helps to boost its popularity.
- Iconic and memorable branding and packaging: Before the arrival of sriracha sauce, it was not common to see the type of distinct packaging that Huy Fong uses. It has a clear, transparent bottle that allows people to see its bright red chili sauce, along with a unique green squirt cap.
- Sriracha has become a cultural icon and achieved cult status: Sriracha chili sauce has now achieved a cult status amongst food lovers and it has become a mainstay cultural icon. The advent of food blogging has only spread the word further. It is even possible to purchase sriracha t-shirts, key chains, cookbooks, and much more. There even is a documentary on sriracha sauce that was produced in 2013.
Today, Huy Fong produces and sells millions of bottles of sriracha sauce globally every year. Since David Tran never trademarked the name ‘sriracha’, there are multiple competing brands producing their own version of sriracha sauce, each with its own distinct flavor profile. Hence, the term ‘sriracha sauce' is generic. However, Huy Fong is the most famous brand of them all. Huy Fong sriracha sauce is a true success story and illustrates just how fast and far food culture can spread globally.