Is Cholula Vegan and Cruelty Free? The Spicy Truth

April 26, 2023

Trying to figure out whether Cholula is vegan friendly can be difficult.

Hot sauce often contains many ingredients and some of them may be of animal origin.

To ensure that you are only eating food that aligns with your vegan lifestyle and diet, I’ve looked into the ingredients and production processes of Cholula.

Here’s what I found out.

Is Cholula Vegan?

It’s complicated. Cholula’s main product, its Original Hot Sauce, is vegan, but Cholula is not a completely vegan brand. However, Cholula does have a few vegan varieties.

Cholula is a Mexican hot sauce company that produces various flavors of hot sauce. It is one of the most popular hot sauce brands in the United States. Unfortunately, many of its flavors contain sugar, which is often processed with animal bone char.

Bone char is a black, porous substance made from the bones of animals. It is often used to filter and process sugar.

Cholula does have three flavors that are vegan: Original, Chili Garlic, and Chili Lime. But the non-vegan flavors far outnumber the vegan ones, and therefore, I can’t call it a vegan brand.

So, if you’re looking for a vegan-friendly hot sauce, Cholula may not be the best option.

Is Cholula Cruelty Free?

Yes. Cholula is a cruelty-free brand.

Its products are not tested on animals at any stage of their production. In addition, none of the flavors contain ingredients that are tested on animals, like artificial colors or flavors.

Animal testing is a cruel and outdated practice that often leaves innocent animals disfigured, injured, or dead. Thankfully, more and more companies, Cholula included, are realizing this and are pledging to be cruelty free.

What Is Cholula Made Of?

Here are the ingredients of Cholula Original Hot Sauce:

  • Water
  • Peppers (arbol and piquin)
  • Salt
  • Vinegar
  • Garlic powder
  • Spices
  • Xanthan gum

Let’s break down each ingredient of Cholula Original Hot Sauce:

Water

Water is used as a base in many food products. Water is a vegan ingredient.

Peppers (arbol and piquin)

Arbol and Piquin peppers are chili peppers. They are the main ingredient in Cholula hot sauce and give it its spicy flavor. Arbol and Piquin peppers are both vegan ingredients.

Salt

Salt is a common ingredient in many food products. It is used to add flavor or as a preservative. Salt is a vegan ingredient.

Vinegar

Vinegar is a liquid that has a sour taste. It is made of fermented water and acetic acid. It is used as a preservative or to add flavor. Vinegar is a vegan ingredient.

Garlic powder

Garlic powder is made of ground, dried garlic cloves. It is used to add flavor to food. Garlic powder is a vegan ingredient.

Spices

Spices are dried plants that are used to add flavor to food. Spices are vegan.

Xanthan gum

Xanthan gum is a thickening agent. It is used to thicken or stabilize food products. Xanthan gum is a vegan ingredient.

Why Isn’t Cholula Vegan?

Cholula isn’t vegan even though its main product, Cholula Original Hot Sauce, contains no animal products or by-products. Many of its products contain sugar, which is often processed with animal bone char. Bone char is a black, porous substance made from the bones of animals. It is used to filter and process sugar to make it whiter.

While Cholula does have three flavors that can be considered vegan because they do not contain any animal products, the non-vegan flavors outnumber the vegan ones, so be careful with Cholula.

Is Cholula Mexicali Wing Sauce Vegan?

No. This flavor is not vegan because it contains brown sugar.

This hot sauce is not safe for vegan consumption.

Is Cholula Hot Sauce Original Vegan?

Yes! This flavor is vegan. This hot sauce only contains vegan-friendly ingredients.

This hot sauce is safe for vegan consumption.

Is Cholula Caliente Wing Sauce Vegan?

No. This flavor is not vegan because it contains butter, a dairy product.

This hot sauce is not safe for vegan consumption.

Is Cholula Chili Garlic Hot Sauce Vegan?

Yes! This flavor is vegan. This product does not contain sugar or any animal-derived ingredients.

This hot sauce is safe for vegan consumption.

Is Cholula Chipotle Hot Sauce Vegan?

No. This flavor is not vegan because it contains refined sugar.

This hot sauce is not safe for vegan consumption.

Vegan Alternatives to Cholula

Craving some hot and spicy flavor in your food but don’t want to use Cholula? Here are some of my favorites:

Hot sauce is a popular condiment and ingredient in foods like enchilada sauce and other sauces, tacos, burritos, and dips. Most are gluten free, and they’re a good substitute for dipping sauces, such as barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce, tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, and soy sauce. These hot sauces will surely add some spice to your meals!

If you can’t find a hot sauce product you like, why not make your own? You can find a good hot sauce recipe online and make your own Sriracha or other type of hot sauce easily. You can even alter it to your choosing to make it organic. Choose a recipe from this list:

Final Words

So, there you have it! Cholula is not a vegan brand. Many of its products contain sugar and some even have butter. It does, however, have three flavors that are vegan. Grab those if you’re in need of some hot, spicy goodness in your life!