Use the discount code VERVE22 for 15% off your order – only available at apostlehotsauce.co.nz.
Pictured above – The humble sauces are Saint Phillip – roasted capsicum and chilli, Saint Peter – kiwifruit and kawakawa verde, Saint Matthew – chocolate and manuka smoked chipotle, Saint John – mango, turmeric and ginger, Saint Andrew – szechuan, blueberry and habanero and Judas Iscariot – spicy smoked barbecue. Photo — Alexanders Art Agency
If you’re looking for the perfect gift this holiday season, make sure to get your hands on some Apostle Hot Sauce.
The sauces, named after some of the twelve disciples of Jesus, are made in Paekākāriki, Wellington, by Lydia Harfield and Mathew Watkins.
They started out at a monthly market in the seaside village and after selling 60 bottles before Christmas 2018, they decided to take it seriously.
“I find it funny now because selling 60 bottles is not viable, but I guess you have to be a bit naive to start a business like ours,” Harfield said.
The couple officially started selling the righteously beautiful saints in December 2019 and during the lead-up to Christmas this year, they have been making 1800-2000 bottles every weekend in a rented kitchen down the road from their home.
The couple behind the saints – Lydia Harfield and Mathew Watkins.
They’re now stocked in 127 locations around New Zealand and around 20 in Australia.
The sauces are not about burning your insides but are a delicate homage to the saints they are named after.
“We love that our saints are so flavoursome with a great balance of spice and each one has so much character,” Watkins said.
“We’ve always been stunned by the beauty of Christian iconography and artwork from the illuminated manuscripts like The Book of Kells to Roman Catholic stained glass.
“We also wanted to pay tribute to their stories, so we incorporated some of these elements into their depiction such as Phillip preparing the bread in the multiplication of loaves.”
While coming up with a name and brand concept the couple noticed how hyper-masculine many other hot sauce brands were with depictions of pain, skulls and flames, Harfield said.
“This certainly didn’t represent our unique flavours with a gentle level of spice, so Apostle seemed a fitting way to stand against the chilli eating boys club.
“We’ve found that because of this our sauce seems to be enjoyed equally by all genders.”
The intricate labels on each bottle have been designed by Harfield and hand-illustrated by tattoo artist
The sauces are not just known for their heavenly taste and glorious design, they’re also sustainably made, so you can feel a bit more righteous when you buy a bottle or ten.
Apostle’s new gift box gives a nod to the ‘Good Book’.
Photos — Alexanders Art Agency
“We try our best in our personal lives to reduce waste so it’s a no-brainer for our business to do the same,” Watkins said.
Customers can return their bottles to one of 23 locations across the country to be washed, santised and reused.
As well as the bottle swap, the couple use local vinegar and chillies that come in packaging which is returned and reused by the producers.
“All our green waste is composted in our garden and all cardboard is recycled.”
If you’re liking the sound of these sauces and want to treat a friend or family member to something special, Apostle have just released a new gift box.
Its design gives a nod to the ‘Good Book’ with gold foil on the front and spine.
The saints have also winged their way firmly into the Australian market with their new distributor, Very Very Goods, run by Apostle’s first stockist across the ditch – Winona in Sydney.
“This is a very exciting step for us because it means our products will be accessible to smaller, artisan stores in Australia who just want to order a little at a time,” Harfield said.
For all the Auckland folk wanting a taste, you can find the saints in Farro, Commonsense Organics, Daily Bread, Refill Nation, Crushes and many more great places.
