Jamaican pantry guide · Yado Market
Pickapeppa sauce is Jamaica's famous sweet-and-tangy brown sauce, made in the hills of Manchester since 1921 and aged in oak barrels.1,2 Here's what it tastes like, what's in it, how the Original compares with the Spicy, Hot and Gingery Mango flavors, the classic cream cheese dip, and where to buy Pickapeppa in Chicago or online.
Quick answer: what is Pickapeppa sauce?
- A Jamaican table sauce from The Pickapeppa Company, Shooter's Hill, Jamaica, made since 1921.1,2
- Made from cane vinegar, sugar, tomatoes, onions, raisins, mangoes, peppers and spices, then aged for about a year in oak barrels.1,3
- Sweet, tangy and only mildly hot. People use it like a steak sauce or Worcestershire, and pour it over cream cheese.1,5
- The mango flavors (Spicy, Hot, Gingery) are fruitier, and the Spicy and Hot ones carry more heat.
At a glance
- PriceSpicy Mango $11.59 · Original, Hot & Gingery $8.99
- Size5 fl oz (148 ml) bottle
- HeatMild (Original, Gingery) to medium (Spicy, Hot)
- UseA spoonful at a time: dip, glaze, marinade
- Get itPickup at 1651 E 87th St, Chicago, or US shipping
The story
What Is Pickapeppa Sauce?
Pickapeppa is a brand-name Jamaican condiment made by The Pickapeppa Company. The recipe goes back to 1921, when Norman Nash started the company in Shooter's Hill, a small village in the hills of Manchester parish near Mandeville.1,2,3 It is still made there today.
The original Pickapeppa sauce is a thick, dark brown sauce. The ingredients are blended and aged for about a year in oak barrels, a bit like rum, before bottling.2,3 Jamaicans sometimes call it "Jamaican ketchup", though the taste is closer to a fruity steak sauce.1,4
It became a favorite in the U.S. South after a New Orleans distributor started importing it in the 1980s.4
Taste
What Does Pickapeppa Taste Like? Is It Spicy?
The Original tastes sweet and tangy first (cane vinegar, sugar, tomato), then ginger, raisin and mango come through, with a little garlic and black pepper at the end.5 It is not a hot sauce: the heat is a gentle warmth, and you would need several spoonfuls to really feel it.5 Think of it as a cross between Worcestershire, A1 steak sauce and mango chutney.
The mango flavors are fruitier and brighter. Spicy Mango has a real kick from Scotch bonnet peppers and is noticeably hotter than Gingery Mango.7,9 Retailers rate Spicy Mango from about 10,000 Scoville heat units, a medium heat for a pepper sauce.7,9 Gingery Mango gets its warmth from ginger rather than chili, so it is the gentlest.10
Compare
Pickapeppa Flavors: Original vs Spicy, Hot and Gingery Mango
Pickapeppa makes one classic brown sauce and a family of mango sauces. Here's how they compare, so you can pick the right bottle.
Heat:
Sweet, tangy, savory. Tomato, raisin, mango, ginger and thyme, oak-aged.1,5
Best on: Cream cheese, steak, burgers, gravies
Shop Original →Heat:
Sweet ripe mango with Scotch bonnet heat, raisins and a little turmeric.8,9
Best on: Wings, jerk chicken, shrimp, patties
Shop Spicy Mango →Heat:
Mango and hot pepper: sweet, fruity and hot, made for people who like more burn.
Best on: Jerk pork, grilled fish, fried chicken
Shop Hot Mango →Heat:
Mango with fresh ginger, tangy like a smooth mango chutney. Little to no chili heat.10
Best on: Salmon, pork chops, stir-fries, dips
Shop Gingery Mango →Heat dots are a rough guide from tasting notes, not lab tests. Every bottle lists its full ingredients on the label.
Shop the guide
Buy Pickapeppa Sauce at Yado Market
All four Pickapeppa flavors (Original, Spicy Mango, Hot Mango and Gingery Mango) are on one page: pick your flavor there. Pair them with Jamaican water crackers for the cream cheese dip, or jerk seasoning for wings. Pick up at our Chicago store or get it shipped anywhere in the U.S.
Compare
Pickapeppa vs Worcestershire Sauce
People often compare the two because both mix sweet, sour, savory and spice. The big differences: Worcestershire is fermented with anchovies, while Pickapeppa is made from fruit, vegetables, vinegar and spices, and it is sweeter, thicker and has more heat.6
| Pickapeppa (Original) | Worcestershire | |
|---|---|---|
| Base | Cane vinegar, tomato, mango, raisin1 | Vinegar, molasses, anchovies, tamarind6 |
| Fish | None (vegan-friendly)4,6 | Yes, anchovies6 |
| Texture | Thick, like a steak sauce | Thin and runny |
| Heat | Mild warmth5 | Almost none |
| Swap | Use the same amount of Pickapeppa in place of Worcestershire (e.g. 1 tsp for 1 tsp) for a fruitier, spicier result.6 | |
In the kitchen
How to Use Pickapeppa Sauce
Pickapeppa is an all-purpose sauce: it works cold as a dip and hot as a glaze.2,4 A little goes a long way, so start with a spoonful.
Recipe · 5 minutes
Pickapeppa Over Cream Cheese (the Classic Dip)
You need
- 1 block (8 oz) cream cheese
- 1/4 to 1/3 cup Pickapeppa (Original or Spicy Mango for a kick)
- Crackers: Excelsior water crackers, plantain chips or toast
- Optional: chopped scallion or cilantro
Steps
- Take the cream cheese out of the fridge 15 minutes before, so it spreads easily.
- Unwrap it onto a small plate with a rim.
- Pour the sauce over the top and let it run down the sides.
- Sprinkle scallion and serve with crackers and a small knife.
This is the way Pickapeppa is most famously served.1,5
Recipe · 45 minutes
Pickapeppa Mango Glazed Jerk Wings
You need
- 2 lb chicken wings, patted dry
- 1 to 2 tbsp jerk seasoning: Walkerswood Mild, Walkerswood Hot & Spicy or Grace Hot
- 1 tsp baking powder (for crispy skin), salt
- 1/2 cup Pickapeppa Spicy Mango or Hot Mango
- 1 tbsp butter, juice of 1/2 lime
Steps
- Rub the wings with jerk seasoning, baking powder and a pinch of salt. Rest 15 minutes (or overnight in the fridge).
- Bake on a rack at 425°F for 35 to 40 minutes, turning once, until crisp (air fryer: 380°F for about 22 minutes, shaking halfway).
- Warm the Pickapeppa, butter and lime in a small pan for 1 minute.
- Toss the hot wings in the glaze and serve right away.
Want it milder? Use Gingery Mango and mild jerk. Want it hotter? Hot Mango with Walkerswood Hot & Spicy.
No bottle?
Best Substitute for Pickapeppa Sauce
Nothing tastes exactly like it, because of the oak aging and the mango and raisin. These kitchen mixes get close:
- Closest: 2 tbsp Worcestershire + 1 tbsp mango chutney + 1 tsp ketchup + a drop of Scotch bonnet hot sauce.
- Quick: A1 or another brown steak sauce with a squeeze of lime.
- For the mango flavors: mango chutney thinned with a little vinegar and hot sauce.
Going the other way, Pickapeppa replaces Worcestershire 1:1 in most recipes.6
Storage
Does Pickapeppa Need to Be Refrigerated?
Unopened bottles keep in a cool, dark cupboard until the date on the label. After opening, keep it in the fridge for the best flavor and color, and shake well before using. That is the storage note on all our Pickapeppa flavors.
Pickapeppa is vinegar-based, so it lasts a long time. The color can darken over the months, which is normal; check the best-by date on the bottle.7
Chicago & online
Where to Buy Pickapeppa Sauce Near Me
Yado African & Caribbean Market carries Pickapeppa Original, Spicy Mango, Hot Mango and Gingery Mango, plus the jerk seasonings, Jamaican crackers and Caribbean sauces to go with them.
- Chicago: order online and pick up at our store, 1651 E 87th St, Chicago, IL (South Side).
- Anywhere in the U.S.: most orders ship within 2 business days.
- Looking for the Original? Pickapeppa Original is on the same page as the mango flavors.
★★★★★ 4.7 from 900+ verified customer reviews.
Shop Pickapeppa sauceFAQ
Pickapeppa Sauce FAQ
Is Pickapeppa sauce spicy?
The Original is only mildly spicy: sweet and tangy with a gentle warmth.5 Spicy Mango and Hot Mango have a real Scotch bonnet kick, and Gingery Mango is the mildest of the mango sauces.7,10
What is Pickapeppa sauce made of?
The Original lists cane vinegar, sugar, tomatoes, onions, raisins, sea salt, ginger, peppers, garlic, cloves, black pepper, thyme, mangoes and orange peel.1 Spicy Mango is mango, sugar, vinegar, raisins, Scotch bonnet peppers, onions, spices, salt, ginger and turmeric.9 Always check the bottle for the current list.
What does Pickapeppa taste like?
Like a fruity, slightly spicy steak sauce: sweet and tangy first, then ginger, raisin and mango, with garlic and pepper at the end.5
Is Pickapeppa the same as Worcestershire sauce?
No. Worcestershire contains anchovies and is thin; Pickapeppa has no fish, is thicker, sweeter and a bit hotter. You can swap them 1:1.6
Is Pickapeppa sauce vegan?
Pickapeppa sauces are described as vegan-friendly: there is no meat, fish or dairy in the ingredient lists.4,6 Check the label if you have allergies.
Why do people put Pickapeppa on cream cheese?
It is the classic way to serve it: the sweet-tangy sauce over cool cream cheese makes an easy cracker dip for parties.1,5
Does Pickapeppa need to be refrigerated after opening?
Keep unopened bottles in a cool cupboard. After opening, store it in the fridge for the best flavor.
Where is Pickapeppa sauce made?
In Shooter's Hill, Manchester, Jamaica, near Mandeville, where The Pickapeppa Company has made it since 1921.1,2
What's the difference between Hot Mango and Spicy Mango?
Both are Pickapeppa mango sauces with pepper heat. Spicy Mango has the yellow label and Hot Mango the orange label. Try both: some people find one sweeter, the other sharper.
Where can I buy Pickapeppa sauce near me in Chicago?
At Yado African & Caribbean Market, 1651 E 87th St, Chicago. Order online for store pickup or U.S. shipping.
Sources
- Pickapeppa Sauce, Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org
- Pickapeppa Sauce: Taste Jamaica's Most Versatile Condiment, Uncommon Caribbean. www.uncommoncaribbean.com
- Pickapeppa Sauce, a Jamaican Original, Inside Journeys. insidejourneys.com
- Pickapeppa Is The Sweet And Tangy Jamaican Sauce You Should Know, Tasting Table. tastingtable.com
- Pickapeppa Sauce Review, PepperScale. pepperscale.com
- Swap Out Worcestershire Sauce For This Spicier Alternative, Tasting Table. www.tastingtable.com
- Pickapeppa Spicy Mango Hot Sauce, HotSauce.com. www.hotsauce.com
- Pickapeppa Spicy Mango Sauce, WebstaurantStore. argo.webstaurantstore.com
- Sauce Pickapeppa à la mangue, Île aux Épices. ileauxepices.com
- Pickapeppa Gingery Mango Sauce reviews, KIWIreviews. www.kiwireviews.nz
