You may not have realized this, but if you are a Hot Ones TV show fan, you've likely seen the sauces from Chile Lengua de Fuego sampled by celebrities like Gordan Ramsey, Mila Kunis, Jimmy Kimmel and Jeremy Renner. The brand's sauces have been in the lineup on Seasons 16 (Bhutila Fire), Season 19 (Turmeric Bomb) and 21 Chipotle Chocolate Ghost Pepper), and retail buyers at ECRM's recent Condiments, Sauces & Spreads Session had the opportunity to try them all.

ECRM's Joseph Tarnowski also had the opportunity to sample them before sitting with Founder Carlos Castillo to learn more about the company and its products.

Growing up on chili peppers

Carlos started the company a few years ago in Honduras. Growing up he loved chili peppers, often eating them raw, He didn't like the sauces that were available and so started experimenting with some himself. A couple of years after launching, he entered a competition in Texas, coming away with an armful of awards. 

Soon after he received a call from Hot Ones, which wanted to include one of his sauces on the show. The rest is history.

"Our sauces go well with everything," he says. "It's something that should be art of the culinary and gastronomic life. You get a release of endorphins from the burn, and so you remember that you felt good about the experience."

Now he's looking to take his sauces to the mainstream via getting into mass retail. Along with a RangeMe Pro subscription (since their distributor also has condiments and coffee), Carlos met with buyers at the Session. 

Carlos' ECRM experience

Not only did Carlos enjoy the opportunity to spend quality time with retail buyers at the ECRM Session, but he also found their feedback very helpful. "It's hard to get a sit-down with retail buyers on your own," he adds. "Here we got to sit down with a bunch of them for an affordable price. We also learned a ton and can reflect on what we are doing good and where we need to be going forward to get more retail business."