Appointment with Barbecue Sauce

It is said that Christopher Columbus himself, returning from one of his trips to the Caribbean, brought sauces back in his suitcases. Other sources specify that barbecue sauces appeared when the first American colonies were established in the 17th century. However, cookbooks only began mentioning barbecue sauces 200 years later.

However, it would take some time before this type of condiment was commercialized. Indeed, it was not until 1923 that the first BBQ sauces appeared on grocery store shelves, introduced by a certain Louis Maull, whose company Maull Co. still exists today, producing sauces and condiments in the USA. Nevertheless, it was not until 1951 that the barbecue sauce trade truly developed, with Heinz becoming the first national distributor to commercialize barbecue sauce.

This sauce is generally composed of a blend of sour, sweet, spicy, or smoky flavors. However, ingredients and quantities vary greatly depending on the region and country. Barbecue sauce is mainly used in two ways: either as an accompaniment to meat or as a marinade, brushed on the grilled food just before, during, and after cooking.

 And you, what do you eat our BBQ sauce with?