Claude de Cuba has always been driven by a desire to create something of his own. Fresh out of college, he envisioned opening a restaurant, a place where he could share his passion for food with the world, but as the pandemic swept across the globe, his plans took an unexpected turn. The uncertainty and risks associated with running a restaurant in such turbulent times made him reconsider his dreams.

Rather than abandon them altogether, however, he simply pivoted. Claude realised that while serving food might be risky, selling hot sauce - a product that could be easily packaged, shipped and enjoyed from the safety of your own home - was a much more intriguing pathway. This shift in focus catalysed the launch of Pastiche Plant-Based, allowing him to pursue his passion while adapting to a new reality.

The brand might be from Amsterdam, but Claude infuses flavours of the Dutch Caribbean as he’s originally from Aruba. 

The sauces are incredibly unique, blending Amsterdam-grown peppers with fruit from the tropics and a little bit of Caribbean heat. Papaya Faya, for example, which is a House of Habanero favourite, makes papaya and madame jeanette peppers the stars, while habanero, garlic, onions, gherkins and even cauliflower also get a casting role.