Bringing the Caribbean heat to New Zealand with Fire Down Below hot sauce

BY BRIDGETT LESLIE

“Trinis have always been enthusiastic about hot sauce, it’s like wine for France.” Since the start of the pandemic, Avin and Candice Panchorie have been introducing their unique take on the classic Caribbean hot sauce to New Zealanders. The Panchories, based in New Plymouth, began cooking up their traditional West Indian-style condiments to share with friends. Born out of frustration from not finding commercial options that quite captured what the couple was looking for, they turned their passion into profit. And thus, Fire Down Below was born! With only one mission statement guiding them forward: “I’ll just move forward until I meet an insurmountable obstacle,” and, till now, it hasn’t happened …luckily till now they haven’t found any reason to stop!

This small-batch artisan blend of chilli peppers is perfect for adding depth to traditional dishes and creating an entirely new level of heat and flavour in all your favourite foods. It is also an opportunity for food lovers to delve into Trinidadian history. “Almost every family in Trinidad has a recipe for their own hot sauce.” Just as Trinidadian cuisine has unique flavours and spices sourced from abundant natural resources, their sauces also have complex flavour profiles with intense heat. Trinidad is home to some of the world’s hottest peppers: Trinidad Scorpion, Moruga Scorpion, and 7 Pot.

The passion for hot sauce in Trinidad has existed for centuries. Even street vendors offer hot sauce-laced dishes like Doubles (curried chickpeas sandwiched between two flatbreads), Roti (a flattened bread filled with vegetables or meat), and Pholourie (deep-fried small balls of spiced dough). That love for spice and hot sauce is visible at different heat levels on Kiwi palates. According to Avin, “The tastebuds of the locals here run the gamut from ‘Sprite is spicy water’ to people who can handle much hotter than me.” The brand caters to all levels of heat. Like the mild classic, medium ring of fire and hot inferno range.

There is also etiquette attached to how hot sauces are served. “Trinidad has a peculiar superstition that you don’t pass someone hot sauce in their hand. You always put it down and let them pick it up. It’s said they will have a disagreement. To counter this, I deliver all my sauces in little handle bags, so technically, I’m not handing someone a bottle in their hand.” The savvy reliability engineer has expertly navigated the nuanced etiquette of serving hot sauce. But there’s also an intriguing seldom-mentioned gastronomic supply chain that the Fire Down Below hot sauce highlights – New Zealand’s growing chilli industry.

“I get my peppers from some growers here in New Plymouth, and my bulk suppliers come from growers in the upper north island. I honestly had no idea there were so many pepper connoisseurs here in NZ; it was a huge, but pleasant surprise to me.”

Chilli peppers have been a part of New Zealand for centuries, with some believing early Māori settlers introduced them from tropical Polynesia. The main species of chilli pepper grown in New Zealand is Capsicum annuum, which includes several varieties such as: scotch bonnet, jalapenos, cayenne and habanero. The climate in New Zealand is well-suited to growing chilli peppers. Most areas enjoy mild temperatures throughout the year, and there is plenty of sunshine and good soil drainage that helps to produce healthy and robust plants.

As for the Panchorie brand, Avin says,  “I’ve learned that, while I make a mean sauce, I’m horrible at actually growing peppers, so I leave it to the experts.” While he isn’t going to grow peppers, he is certainly keen on growing the brand nationally. “My vision is to one day make it onto a supermarket shelf, which would require scaling up production dramatically and hiring some more staff.”   

No matter how you like your food spiced up – from mild to wild – Fire Down Below has something for everyone, including those in Canada. It’s perfect for jazzing up your traditional dishes or even taking your favourite foods up another notch on the heat scale. Plus, its eye-catching packaging and captivating aroma make it a great gift for any family member or friend who may enjoy a bit of Caribbean heat!

To find out more about Fire Down Below, please visit:

https://www.firedownbelownz.com/