Image courtesy of California Hot Sauce Expo.

Tickle or torment your tastebuds at the 2nd Annual California Hot Sauce Expo 2016, presented by High River Sauces, at Rainbow Lagoon on Saturday, July 16 and Sunday, July 17.

Returning to Long Beach for the second year in a row, High River Sauces hand-picked 36 of the greatest hot sauce companies from around the United States and the world to participate from over 100 submissions, including purveyors from Panama, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico.

Eight hot sauce companies from the Los Angeles metro area will participate in the Expo, including Long Beach’s own Hot Licks and Proper Pickles, Deaf Mans BBQ, El Machete, Jabberwocky Hot Sauce, Purple Panda, Tabanero and Woodland Hills Hot Sauces.

“We are so thrilled to be heading back to Long Beach for the California Hot Sauce Expo,” stated Ed Currie, Founder and CEO of PuckerButt Pepper Company. “Not only do I get to bring the HEAT to the West Coast, but we are going to bring the Guinness World Record-Winning Smokin’ Ed’s Carolina Reaper Eating Challenge. We are expecting giants from all over the globe to try to win this title from Wayne Algenio.”

To compare, Smokin’ Ed’s Carolina Reaper, which beat former Guinness World Record-holder Trinidad Scorpion “Butch T,” has an average of 1,569,300 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), while jalapeño peppers carry 2,500 to 8,000 SHU.

Steve Seabury, owner of the multi-award-winning High River Sauces and co-producer of the expo is more than excited to share his “passion for the mighty pepper” with Long Beach, not to mention Los Angeles County.

“This is a special opportunity for West Coasters to be able to meet the chefs, sample their sauces and purchase the best hot sauces available on the market,” said Seabury in a statement. “If you crave a little kick to your dish then I will see you at the California Hot Sauce Expo in July. This will be one party that you will not want to miss!”

Guinness Book of Records will host and judge The Smokin’ Ed’s Carolina Reaper Eating Challenge and Stoli Vodka will present the 2nd Annual Bloody Mary Mix-Down featuring Los Angeles’ top mixologists competing against last year’s winner Frank Andrade for a chance to be flown to compete at the 2017 National Championship. The “California Margarita Mix-Down Championship” will also feature the region’s best bartenders.

For more information about more eating competitions and general info regarding the Hot Sauce Expo 2016, click here.