About

Barbaro Mojo makes authentic Cuban-style hot sauce in small batches in Miami, Florida. The company was founded in 2020 by Cuban-American entrepreneur Mario Cruz, who wanted bottled heat that tasted like the food he grew up with: mojo criollo, the sour orange and garlic marinade at the center of Cuban cooking.

Every Barbaro Mojo sauce starts from that mojo criollo base and adds fresh whole peppers, never extracts. The lineup covers one flavor family across five heat levels:

- Jalabao (medium): jalapeño and green bell pepper over the citrus-garlic base. The most awarded sauce in the line.
- Pinazo (medium-hot): real pineapple juice and chunks with Carolina Reaper. The name means "pineapple punch" in Cuban slang.
- Best Day Ever (hot): mango, habanero, and Carolina Reaper. Born from Miami mango season.
- El Havanero (hot): the flagship. Habanero, tomatoes, and sweet onion, garlicky and bold.
- Matanza (extra hot): habanero and Carolina Reaper, limited edition, for experienced chile-heads.

The sauces have earned twelve honors across five blind-judged national competitions, including 1st Place for Best Latin Hot Sauce at the International Flavor Awards, 1st Place for Best Cuban Hot Sauce at Old Boney Mountain, a Grand Prize for product packaging at the Scovie Awards, and podium finishes at the Fiery Food Challenge and Zest Fest. Every one of those competitions judges blind, from coded cups, with no brand names visible.

The name comes from the Cuban expression "Que Barbaro!", what a Cuban says when something is incredible.

All sauces are gluten-free and vegan. Available online at barbaromojo.com, wholesale via Faire, and in person at Bodega Ortega in Coconut Grove, Miami.