At the fourth annual New York City Hot Sauce Expo, held in April 2016, Belizean legend Marie Sharp was formally inducted into the Hot Sauce Hall of Fame. Noted for being the “quintessential Central American hot sauce”, Marie Sharp’s signature brand of sauces began as a culinary experiment in her kitchen in 1980 and has since grown to become one of Belize’s leading exports.
After relatives and friends continued to clamor for more of Marie Sharp’s sauces, she began her small business in the Stann Creek District of southeastern Belize. Today, Marie Sharp’s line of signature sauces, jams and jellies have become one of Belize’s most recognizable icons and her products are exported throughout Central America, Europe, and the United States.
Still a friendly “Belize-sized” company, approximately two dozen employees work at the modern factory a few miles outside of Dangriga to produce hot sauces in different strengths, starting with mild and continuing to Belizean Heat, Beware, Fiery Hot and “No Wimps Allowed”.
Marie Sharp’s also produces a line of jams and jellies made from locally-grown fresh tropical fruits, with flavors that include banana, guava, mango, papaya, pineapple, coconut and orange. There’s even a red habanero jelly for aficionados of sweet jellies combined with a bit of heat.
Marie Sharp’s is also the premiere manufacturer of Belizean “season all”, a ubiquitous condiment made with annato that forms the backbone of the country’s cuisine. Annato is the seed commonly referred to as “achiote” in Spanish, a popular ingredient in Mexican and Caribbean foods because of its ability to add a warm golden color to dishes.
Chabil Mar, the premiere luxury resort on the Placencia Peninsula, offers guests an exclusive beachfront experience in tastefully appointed villas. The resort includes a bar and restaurant, with plenty of Marie Sharp’s delicious sauces and jellies on hand for guests to sample as well as dishes made with her signature season all Belizean spice.
On behalf of the staff and management of Chabil Mar, we congratulate Marie Sharp and all of her hardworking employees for their success in becoming one of Belize’s most popular and prosperous companies.
