Interview

Can This 80s Inspired Hot Sauce Brand Conquer New England? | Retro Burn Hot Sauce Podcast Interview

Manchester, New Hampshire is home to some incredible artisan creators, and this week we are diving deep into the lineup from Retro Burn Hot Sauce. Known for their 70s and 80s thro…

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Episode Chapters

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  1. The Reaper Catching Up (Intro Teaser)
  2. Welcome to Fire & Flavor: Meeting Jennifer & Brian
  3. From Gardening to a Hot Sauce Business
  4. Empowering Students: Bringing the Community into the Kitchen
  5. Lava Lamps & Cassette Tapes: The Story Behind the Vibe & Logo
  6. Sourcing Challenges: Navigating the Short New Hampshire Growing Season
  7. Why Retro Burn Mills 100% of Their Seeds & Skins
  8. Sunday Bloody Mary Sauce Tasting (2/5 Lava Lamps)
  9. Breaking the Secret: The Launch of Retro Burn Infused Pastas!
  10. Flavor Forward vs. Challenge Culture
  11. The Manchester Regulatory Hurdle & Commercial Commercial Kitchens
  12. The Logistics of Scaling Up (Writing a HACCP Plan, Wix vs. Shopify)
  13. Collaborating on Custom Restaurant Sauces (Consuelos Shoutout!)
  14. It Takes 2 Sauce Tasting (3/5 Lava Lamps)
  15. The Pain of Processing Teen-Tiny Bird's Eye Chilies
  16. Headaches of Small-Batch Production & Kitchen Workflow
  17. Breaking Out: The Boston Hot Sauce Fest & Summer Pop-Ups
  18. Smoke on the Pineapple Sauce Tasting (5/5 Lava Lamps)
  19. Cashmere Heat: Previewing the Roasted Pumpkin Fall Seasonal Sauce
  20. Essential Advice for New Sauce Makers Hitting Their First Festival
  21. The New England Craft Community & Friendly Competition
  22. Where to Buy Retro Burn Sauces & Local Delivery Details

Transcript Highlights

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  • [laughter] That's sweet.
  • Um and then the other one which we haven't made or tried yet is going to be smoky reaper um with garlic and um oregano.
  • ingredients are distilled vinegar, Thai chili peppers, water, onion, garlic, honey, lime juice, sea salt, and Thai basil.
  • I don't like I told you I don't use sugars and and I don't use that stuff, but this one particular sauce needed a little bit of something and there was no way I was going to do...
  • It's like kind of sweet.
  • I can't I can't even savory.

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Episode Notes

Manchester, New Hampshire is home to some incredible artisan creators, and this week we are diving deep into the lineup from Retro Burn Hot Sauce. Known for their 70s and 80s throwback aesthetic and commitment to small-batch quality, the makers sit down with Fire and Flavor to talk about their culinary philosophy, local roots, and how they balance intense heat with complex flavor profiles. Instead of chasing extreme shock value, this interview focuses entirely on the craft. We put three of their standout creations to the test, exploring how unique ingredients come together to create a true flavor bomb. Sauces Tasted in This Episode: 🍹 Sunday Bloody Mary: A savory, brunch-inspired profile that redefines what a breakfast sauce can be. 🌿 It Takes 2: A beautiful combination of Thai chili and Thai basil that delivers a sharp, aromatic punch. 🍍 Smoke on the Pineapple: A masterful balance of sweet fruit heat and deep, smoky undertones. Whether you are a Queen City local looking to support small businesses or a craft sauce enthusiast who appreciates flavor over pure brutality, this conversation delivers an inside look at the New England specialty food scene. 00:00 - The Reaper Catching Up (Intro Teaser) 00:17 - Welcome to Fire & Flavor: Meeting Jennifer & Brian 01:01 - From Gardening to a Hot Sauce Business 03:01 - Empowering Students: Bringing the Community into the Kitchen 05:28 - Lava Lamps & Cassette Tapes: The Story Behind the Vibe & Logo 09:08 - Sourcing Challenges: Navigating the Short New Hampshire Growing Season 14:08 - Why Retro Burn Mills 100% of Their Seeds & Skins 15:15 - Sunday Bloody Mary Sauce Tasting (2/5 Lava Lamps) 25:24 - Breaking the Secret: The Launch of Retro Burn Infused Pastas! 28:05 - Flavor Forward vs. Challenge Culture 32:25 - The Manchester Regulatory Hurdle & Commercial Commercial Kitchens 35:23 - The Logistics of Scaling Up (Writing a HACCP Plan, Wix vs. Shopify) 41:26 - Collaborating on Custom Restaurant Sauces (Consuelos Shoutout!) 43:22 - It Takes 2 Sauce Tasting (3/5 Lava Lamps) 45:58 - The Pain of Processing Teen-Tiny Bird's Eye Chilies 48:53 - Headaches of Small-Batch Production & Kitchen Workflow 54:42 - Breaking Out: The Boston Hot Sauce Fest & Summer Pop-Ups 01:00:47 - Smoke on the Pineapple Sauce Tasting (5/5 Lava Lamps) 01:04:56 - Cashmere Heat: Previewing the Roasted Pumpkin Fall Seasonal Sauce 01:07:31 - Essential Advice for New Sauce Makers Hitting Their First Festival 01:15:14 - The New England Craft Community & Friendly Competition 01:18:31 - Where to Buy Retro Burn Sauces & Local Delivery Details Subscribe to Fire & Flavor for more deep dives into the artisan hot sauce community. Find Retro Burn Hot Sauce: IG 📸: retroburnhotsauce Web 🌐: https://retro-burn.com ---- Follow on IG 📸: fire.and.flavor 🔥 If you love hot sauce then subscribe & turn up the heat! 🔥 Available on all major streaming platforms! 🎧 #hotsauce #spicy #foodie #hotsaucelover #ManchesterNH #CraftHotSauce #ArtisanMade #SmallBatch #HotSauceReview #SupportLocal #QueenCity