Piri-Piri & Co, a farm dedicated to the cultivation and production of hot sauces in Albufeira, won two Gold awards at the European Hot Sauce Awards 2026, considered the main European hot sauce competition.
The brand, managed by Romeu Santos for 15 years at Quinta do Piri-Piri, won in the Extra Hot Chili Sauce categories, with the “Asinhas Infernais” sauce, and Mild Chili Sauce, with “Manga and Honey”.
Piri-Piri & Co’s production is based on more than 180 varieties of chili grown directly on the farm, with Portuguese pepper as the brand’s main reference.
The distinguished products represent different extremes of the range developed by the Algarve company: a smooth and sweet sauce designed to accompany different dishes and an extremely spicy adobo created for gastronomic challenges.
“Infernal Wings” stands out among the hottest sauces
The sauce “Asinhas Infernais – Original Desafio / Infernal Wings” was awarded Gold in the Extra Hot Chili Sauce category.
According to Nathan Austin, Tasting Editor at Republic of Heat, “Hell Wings lands at the end of the range, and the color says death before the bottle is even opened. Beneath the heat is umami and a register of sweet chili that you don’t expect from a sauce on this side of the scale.”
The product is described as an adobo made from piri-piri, vinegar and salt, designed for the annual spicy wings competition organized by Romeu Santos on Thursday.
“Manga e Mel”, winner in the Mild Chili Sauce category, combines mango and honey in a smooth composition, intended to accompany meats, vegetables or salads without dominating the flavors of the dish.
Algarve producer celebrates international recognition
Romeu Santos considers that the distinction reinforces the path developed over the last 15 years in the Algarve.
“Participating in this fantastic competition is always a great honor. Winning is not the most important thing, but it motivates us to do more and better. Without a doubt, after 15 years we have managed to put the Algarve on the international map when it comes to chili. A big thank you to everyone who believed in us and supported us, to our customers of course. Stay spicy!”, he said.
The European Hot Sauce Awards 2026 evaluated more than 200 sauces from various European countries through blind tastings conducted by chefs, sommeliers, gastronomic critics and chili experts.
Neil Numb, founder of the competition, highlighted the trajectory of the Algarve brand: “It’s not a lucky bottle, it’s 15 years of farm work showing up. EHSA exists to bring about exactly this type of result, and we keep an eye out for what Romeu will bring next year.”
The “Manga e Mel” and “Asinhas Infernais” sauces are available through the official platform.
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