SHILLY SHALLY, EXPLORERS OF THE DIVERSITY OF HOT PEPPER SAUCES
The Shilly Shally brand offered to the visitors of the last Gourmet Selection show, a trip around the world. A journey through one of the most loved and feared spices: hot pepper.
We don't know which peoples were the first to make extensive use of hot pepper. Latin America disputes this paternity with Asia. Even if gastronomy experts point out that the hot pepper is very likely to have originated in Mexico. And that it eventually reached Asian shores via the merchants sailing between Acapulco (Mexico) and Manila (Philippines), as part of the powerful Spanish empire. There are several hundred types of hot pepper. According to statistics from the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations), 36 million tonnes of hot peppers have been produced worldwide in 2020. Nearly half of them in China.
No matter, at Shilly Shally's, we learn to appreciate this spice, which is a real delight when you know how to use it properly. Above all, by creating six bottled sauces, each representative of a different world cuisine, Shilly Shally gives people the opportunity to taste, appreciate and familiarise themselves with an increasingly intense flavour. 'We have learned, we have educated ourselves to understand that hot pepper is not just an impression of fire in the mouth. It's a real culinary culture of sauces', says Laure Cottet, the brand's Marketing & Communications Manager, with enthusiasm.
A new interpretation of classic hot pepper sauces
The Peruvian-inspired ‘Aji Machu Pichu’ remains relatively smooth and fruity, with a taste of tonka bean; the ‘Al Sahra Cayenne’ is also smooth, with a touch of sweetness due to the presence of dates and caramelised onions. With the ‘Chihuahua Chipotle’, we move on to a Mexican-inspired sauce that has more depth in the mouth, with the characteristic smoky taste of chipotle, but enhanced by tart, sweet raspberry.
Credits : Shilly Shally
Next comes ‘Thai Bird’, which combines the strength of hot pepper with citrus fruit and honey. Then come the two most powerful sauces: ‘Reunion Island’ with its blend of bell peppers, passion fruit, ginger and habanero pepper. And finally, the ‘Carolina Reaper’, inspired by the cooking of the South American, which blends one of the world's hottest peppers, the ‘Carolina Reaper’, with flavours of apple and sweet mustard.
'Our sauces showcase the hot pepper, taking inspiration from existing sauces but also adding ingredients that will sublimate its flavour. We've combined them with foods such as cheese, fish, vegetables or even cocktail recipes to create an ideal taste,’ adds Laure Cottet.
Delicious, exotic and spicy, Shilly Shally sauces are already recognised by the industry. They have also been shortlisted for SIAL Innovation Paris 2024.