The Making of Ataro Hot Sauce

??**Hot Sauce Lovers!**??

Let me tell you a story about my journey to producing one of the best hot sauces you'll ever taste.?

On March 3 2022, a spicy idea was birthed – to create an authentic and premium hot sauce inspired by my West African cuisine. It began with a simple wish: to share a taste sensation that was not just about the heat but also about flavour, culture, and a touch of passion.

Let me digress. I remember taking homemade hot sauce to a Flavour Fair organised by Big Green Egg in the Netherlands in 2017.? At Ataro stand, we served over 200 Nigerian Suya BBQs with homemade hot sauces. Every one of the Dutch people who tasted the hot sauce was weeping from the spice yet coming back for more. That day, I concluded that the Dutch are truly adventurous - several people lined up, asking for the fiery African hot sauce.?

Back to my story.?

Deciding to bottle my homemade hot sauce was exciting and also scary. I started mixing up samples like a mad food scientist in my kitchen. By the way,? I have a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech ) in Food Science and Technology, and I love experimenting with recipes. The initial stages were all about experimentation. I began with small samples, tweaking the ingredients. With every taste and test, I inched closer to that perfect blend of fire and flavour.?

Next, I needed to find an artisan kitchen for filling and packaging. I wanted the sauce to be all-natural. No fluff. If I have to sell it, it has to be good for everyone’s health. In June 2022, I found the perfect kitchen. Another series of tests and tastes occurred until the perfect taste of Ataro Hot sauce was agreed upon. Then, we decided to produce two blends - hot and mild. Then I asked my producers also to produce some Jollof (Tomato) sauce—story for another day.?

After that, we had to develop an initial branding to launch quickly. From strategy to branding to the look and feel of the packaging, it was another long ride of indecision and second-guessing. Again, we agreed on a concept.?

Then came the packaging. Has anyone ever tried designing a label? It's wild! But, hey, that's my forte. I love creativity and experiments. After several back-and-forths with my designers, we nailed it!?

The website was next. We had to switch designers once because patience and mediocrity aren't my strongest suit. But, in the end, it's looking ??.

Now, marketing. Juggling my annual women's leadership conference in the Netherlands, the Rise & Lead Summit, with this sauce launch was no small feat. But thanks to the loyal Ataro community on our mailing list, the tester batch was a hit!

With a team of 2, we quietly launched a tester batch to our Ataro email community list, and you all... the love was REAL! I want to give a massive shoutout to everyone who got their taste buds on that and gave me a thumbs up (or fiery breath). With all the feedback and observations, we're ready to go into final development.?

Brace yourselves because Ataro Hot Sauce is hitting the shelves BIG TIME. Now is your opportunity to join our community of Fiery Taste Lovers. Pre-order now, secure your bottle and experience the authentic taste of West Africa.

I’m passionate about Ataro Sauces because I have always wondered why West African convenient food products are not fully represented on major European shelves. Let's change the narrative.

?And to all you occasional entrepreneurs out there with a dream – dive in! It’s a wild ride, but there's nothing like seeing your passion come to life. Now, who's ready for some heat? ??????

Pre-order here.

About Ataro Foods: Since 2014, Ataro Foods has been dishing out authentic West African flavours to adventurous food lovers in Europe. Our mission? Taking African food global, one product at a time, while making a difference in communities.

Ready for the hottest party of the year? Join us for the launch in December, happening in both the Netherlands, with an extraordinary cooking workshop. Stay tuned for the date!

[Pre-Order Here ] or visit www.ataarofoods.com

#AtaroAdventures #FieryFoodLovers #VibrantTaste