Documentary filmmaker Julien Fréchette founded his Quebec-based brand in 2016 after an eventful trip to Iraqi Kurdistan. He had imagined assemblies of hot sauces to reassure himself, then, following his return to Montreal, he locked himself in a kitchen and a few months later had seven sauces. La Pimenterie was born.

Today it's the largest Francophone hot sauce producer in North America. The company's goal is to create and distribute a unique line of spicy condiments, driven by the desire to put flavour above all. Julien says La Pimenterie is like the city of Montreal: foodie, diverse and vibrant. 

The team sources its ingredients from local pepper producers so they can quality control, and Julien's sauces - of which there are now over 30 - are on the shelves of more than 1,000 retailers across the world. Each offers a balance of flavours, featuring surprising yet delicious culinary pairings, from the cranberry and jalapeño-based Cold Turkey to Newton, which mixes Quebec apples with Mexican chipotle pepper. Among our favourites are the Thai-inspired Curry Verde and Bollywood, which packs a punch thanks to the bhut jolokia - both are available on House of Habanero. 

He’s still passionate about filmmaking, though, and Julien has also more recently travelled the world following chilli peppers, as his next film, called 'Chiliheads', is about the intriguing history of this little spicy fruit.