A fierce showdown took place on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025, heading for the main event of the Great East Coast Chile Festival 2025, equipped with South African titanium media.
The contest, held at the Northwood Crusaders Sports Club in Durban North, featured a selection of curated entries in five hot contest categories, including chutney, medium, hot and super hot, with an additional specialist section for fermented hot sauces.
Approximately 80 participants sealed professionally labeled bottles with a complete list of ingredients and adhered to the festival's strict standards. After a strict pre-approval process, the bottles were shipped internationally from across South Africa. To ensure fairness, all sauces were decanted into branded containers before review. Only one person was aware of the source identity, maintaining the anonymity of the entries throughout the rating.
A panel of respected judges, including chefs, restaurateurs, food and drink managers, media representatives, food critics and culinary influencers, rated entries based on color, texture, aroma and consistency, scoring with 5 points each.
With five to six expert judges per category, the competition maintained a fair and focused process. It is especially essential when evaluating heavily seasoned entries.
“This competition is about defending the incredible talent behind every bottle,” says Nick Papadopoulos, founder of the Great East Coast Chile Festival. “This is a platform that focuses on royal artisans, the artisans of chili peppers, who are passionate creators who combine tradition, flavors and innovation. By creating a space where their work is respected and rewarded, we are helping to build sustainable businesses and open new opportunities in our local and international markets.
Winners will be announced during the festival on Saturday, April 26th, 2025, and will receive framed certificates of 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each category.
The Artisan Chili Sauce Competition confirms Durban's growing status as a leader in Africa's spice trade and culinary innovation, an important feature of the festival, which combines culture, cuisine and community.
Sheetal Cross, director of Titanium Media South Africa, said, “Celebrating Chilean culture is not just about creating meaningful economic opportunities, but also meaningful economic opportunities. Through upcoming ecommerce stores, local Chilean creators will provide access to global markets and integrating digital platforms to integrate crafts. Building stronger ecosystems for craft producers, merging tradition, technology and empowerment.”
Festival participants will also have the opportunity to browse and purchase directly from vendors who showcase victory and feature chile products, featuring many spicy dishes, ranging from traditional Durban “bunny chows” to Asian-style hot wings. The Festival Marketplace offers an immersive flavor experience that celebrates creativity, quality and fiery fun.
Participants look forward to various activations at this year's festival.
・Chilean Meal Champion Challenge
・Hottest Bunny Chou Competition
・Live entertainment and fun kids' zone
・Relaxed chill zone
・Celebrity influencers appear
Tickets for the Great East Coast Chile Festival are available online at Quicket. A variety of ticket options allow you to spend the perfect day, from individual passes to family packages.
To be an event, media invitation, media RSVPS, sponsorship opportunities, become a vendor or take part in the competition, contact Nick Papadopoulos: +27 84 505 0113, hello@thegreateastcoastchillifest.co.za or www.thegreateastcoastchillifest.co.za.
For industry-related news, click here.
