In the culinary world, the Midwest might be best known for its heartier, milder dishes like tater tots, butterburgers and custard, but that doesn’t mean Wisconsinites don’t know how to bring the heat. These hot sauce suppliers from across the state are kicking things up a notch.

Bushel & Peck’s | Beloit

This local grocer is known for its lineup of house-made hot sauces — especially its Cherry Bomb Hot Sauce, made with hot cherry bomb peppers, garlic and a hint of curry. Its selection offers a rainbow of flavors in greens, oranges and reds.

Mandy’s Mood Foods | Madison

Mandy Shipler, the founder of Mandy’s Mood Foods, spent more than a year perfecting her recipes at FEED Kitchens in Madison before her sauces hit the shelves. From fruity to smoky, her flavors are now available at grocery stores in south central Wisconsin, including Metcalfe’s and Festival Foods.

River Valley Ranch & Kitchens | Burlington

Run out of the local community grocery store in Burlington, River Valley Ranch & Kitchens offers a variety of products including mushrooms, cheese, wine and beer — and hot sauce. Its Cherry Bomb mixes sweet with heat, and Smoke Bomb blends smoky with spicy. 

Rubi Reds | Wisconsin Rapids

Rubi Reds’ Sweet Hot Pepper Relish might look a little different from your typical hot sauce, but it still brings all the heat with the help of a classic Wisconsin ingredient: All of Rubi Red’s products are made with fresh local cranberries.

Dashelito’s | Madison

Each bottle of Dashelito’s hot sauce features a picture of owner Robert Grether’s son Dashel, the company’s namesake. Flavors like Sweet Heat, Blackout, Red Honey and Undertow have won awards in competitions such as the Wisconsin State Fair, the Chili Pepper Awards and the Scovie Awards.

Hellfire Hot Sauce | Lake Geneva

Four of this Lake Geneva company’s hot sauces — including Fiery Fool, Fear This!, Devil’s Blend and Kranked — have been featured on Hot Ones, a talk show inviting celebrities from chef Gordon Ramsay to NBA star Shaquille O’Neal to answer questions while eating chicken wings with increasingly spicier hot sauces. Those who prefer their spices milder might want to try the Gourmet Red created in 2009, which won an award for its mixture of sweet and heat. 

Savory Accents | Madison

All of Savory Accents’ chilies — from jalapenos to Carolina Reapers — are grown fresh in its gardens in Verona. Products are not limited to hot sauces and also include seasonings, rubs, oils and vinegars.

Ghost Valley Farms | Madison

Taking seeds from chile peppers found all over the world and planting them in Wisconsin soil, owner Eric Slavens started Ghost Valley Farms to fill a local need. The farm’s over 30 varieties of organically grown peppers are the foundation for really hot, spicy sauces from Mad Cow to Satan’s Goatee.