FIREWALKER is Asheville's own hot sauce, made in small batches with locally grown produce, and there's a bottle for every heat level. Green Glow keeps it mild, the Original brings citrus, garlic and a habanero kick, and Running with the Reaper is for folks who want the Carolina Reaper on their eggs. Mango Blaze, Classy Cayenne and SmokeJumper Chipotle round it out.

Where to buy: bottles are about $8 at the French Broad Food Co-op, Ingles, Hickory Nut Gap Farm and Mother Ocean Seafood Market, or order bottles and gift boxes on the FIREWALKER website.

FIREWALKER Hot Sauce Company is Franco Donohue's Asheville hot sauce brand, and it started as a first batch cooked up in a small apartment kitchen here in town. It's still made in small batches with locally grown produce, all vegan and gluten free with no added sugar.

The lineup runs from mild to seriously hot: Green Glow, the Original (citrus and garlic with a habanero kick), Classy Cayenne, Mango Blaze, SmokeJumper Chipotle, and Running with the Reaper, built on the Carolina Reaper. There's no storefront. Grab a bottle at the French Broad Food Co-op, Ingles, Hickory Nut Gap Farm or Mother Ocean Seafood Market, or order bottles, cases and $25 gift boxes on their website.

You've probably had it without knowing. It's on the table at local restaurants like The Blackbird and The Corner Kitchen, and locals on Reddit name it among the town's go-to hot sauces.

FIREWALKER Hot Sauce Company

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Asheville Hot Sauce, Mild to Reaper

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