Festivities are set to go off with a bang for spice lovers this Christmas.
The Bernie Bumm Sauce Company is launching a range of sauces designed to put a kick into boring buffets and lame leftovers.
“Everybody likes a bit of spice in their life – particularly at this time of year,” said company director Earl, who lives in Gosforth in Newcastle. “It turns something bland into a tasty treat – and you won’t forget it in a hurry.”
The ouch in Bernie Bumm’s sauces come from some of the hottest chillies in the world – including the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion and Smokin’ Ed’s Carolina Reaper. Cheeky chappie Earl, who was a pub landlord and chef, began his quest for spice perfection by creating recipes in his kitchen at home. They proved to be so popular, first with friends and then with customers at the region’s food festivals, that he decided to go into full production.
“It wasn’t fair on my wife and I use such chillies that are so strong that they brought tears to her eyes,” he said. It took the curry-loving 40-year-old a year of trial and sometimes painful error to develop his recipes. The result is a range of six carefully crafted sauces to dip, pour or marinade. Smoky, Garlic, Mild Relief, Oh Boy and the self-explanatory Rim Ripper and Rif of Fire – will still be available through the Bernie Bumm website and at food festivals but they are now being sold at a growing number of stores across Tyneside. Earl would also like to hear from other retailers and wholesalers who are also interested in stocking his saucy range.
The world’s fascination with all things spicy is nothing new. In 1912 an American pharmacist called Wilbur Scoville developed a scale to measure the heat of a chilli. The notorious Smokin’ Ed’s Carolina Reaper has measured 2.2 million on the Scoville Scale – which is why it is the chilli of choice at extreme food challenges.
“My sauces certainly add the wow factor,” said Earl. “They’re brilliant for barbecues, a delight at dinner and they certainly pack a surprise at any time.”
And he added: “For Christmas, if you don’t like sprouts why not dip them into a bit of Rim Ripper? You won’t taste the sprout, you’ll certainly taste the sauce and you’ll have an experience that you’ll never forget!”
For more information about The Bernie Bumm Sauce Company visit its website www.berniebumm.co.uk/
