About Barbaro Mojo — Cuban Hot Sauce from Miami
¡Qué bárbaro! = Spanish for "Amazing," "Fantastic," "Tremendous," "Savage"
Serial entrepreneur Mario Cruz hosts an annual Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) pig roast for friends and family. On Noche Buena in 2015, his son Kevin wanted to add more heat to their meal. A traditional Cuban pork roast uses a marinade known as mojo which usually contains sour orange, garlic, and other spices. Kevin believed they could use their family's mojo recipe as a base for a killer hot sauce. So that same day, while the pig cooked in the caja china, the duo began cooking up what would be the first unofficial batch of Bárbaro Mojo Cuban Hot Sauce. They poured the first batch into an empty soda bottle for anyone who wanted to eat spicy pork!
The results were amazing! People raved about the taste of the roast and inquired about the secret ingredients. Instead of spilling the beans, he began making a few bottles of his signature sauce every Noche Buena and noticed that every year supplies vanished, often before the end of the meal.
People loved the spicy kick in the "mojo" based hot sauce! On Noche Buena of 2019 (just before COVID-19 hit), they made a tiny batch of 100 bottles and gave them out as gifts on Noche Buena.
When COVID-19 finally hit, while people were stuck at home cooking for themselves, friends started to ask for refills of the Christmas gift they had given them. While quarantined, Mario enlisted his wife to start a business around sharing his newfound passion with the rest of the world. The lockdown also gave them extra time to build and plant their very own pepper garden which is where the base of his amazing sauces came from.
With Mario's background in tech, he quickly made a website and began taking orders. The process of developing new recipes went on for several years after that. Additional flavors were developed, using different peppers and levels of heat.
The name Bárbaro comes from Mario's date of birth and the traditional Cuban celebration that occurs on that day, the feast of Santa Barbara. The label with Mario's face on the bottle began as a joke, but eventually evolved into a branding tool that his kids would not let him change.
Today, Bárbaro Mojo is proudly available in select regional grocery stores and restaurants across the United States, while continuing to bring the heat online. In 2024, Barbaro Mojo's Cuban hot sauces were recognized by top industry judges worldwide for their incredible flavor. With two prestigious Scovie Awards, multiple wins at the Fiery Food Challenge, International Flavor Awards, and Zest Fest, their bold, authentic Cuban flavors are earning top honors and winning over heat seekers everywhere!
Mario & Kevin are incredibly proud of these achievements and can't wait to keep growing in 2025! If you haven't tried Bárbaro Mojo yet, what are you waiting for? One taste, and you'll be saying, "¡Qué Bárbaro!"
Looking for a gift? Browse our Cuban Hot Sauce Gift Sets — curated bundles for foodies, grill masters, and anyone who loves bold flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Barbaro Mojo FAQ
Who founded Barbaro Mojo?
Barbaro Mojo was founded by Mario Cruz in South Florida. Inspired by the bold flavors of Cuban cuisine and a passion for craft hot sauce, Mario set out to create a lineup of Cuban hot sauces that honor traditional mojo flavors while bringing serious heat to the table.
What does Barbaro Mojo mean?
"Bárbaro" is Cuban slang for something amazing, tremendous, or over-the-top great. "Mojo" refers to the classic Cuban sauce. Together, Barbaro Mojo means amazing Cuban sauce — and that is exactly what we aim to deliver in every bottle. ¡Qué bárbaro!
Is Barbaro Mojo really authentic Cuban?
Yes. Barbaro Mojo is made by a Cuban-American founder in Miami, and every sauce is built on mojo criollo, the traditional Cuban base of sour orange (naranja agria), garlic, oregano, and cumin. Rather than a generic vinegar-and-chili formula, the sauces carry the bright, garlicky, citrus-forward profile that defines authentic Cuban flavor.
What's unique about Barbaro Mojo sauces?
Most hot sauces lead with vinegar and capsaicin. Barbaro Mojo starts from the Cuban mojo flavor profile (citrus, garlic, and aromatic spices) and layers selected peppers on top, so each sauce has depth and authentic Cuban character rather than heat alone. The sauces are small-batch, award-winning, and span medium to extra hot.
Where is Barbaro Mojo made?
Every bottle of Barbaro Mojo is crafted in small batches in South Florida. We use real, fresh ingredients — peppers, garlic, citrus, and aromatic Cuban spices — and our small-batch process ensures quality and consistency in every bottle.
Barbaro Mojo awards or recognitions?
Yes. Barbaro Mojo's sauces have earned recognition at the Scovie Awards, the Fiery Food Challenge (Golden Chile), Zest Fest, and the International Flavor Awards, among others. Jalabáo is the most-awarded sauce in the lineup, which is why it is nicknamed the Winningest Cuban Hot Sauce.
How many hot sauces does Barbaro Mojo make?
Barbaro Mojo makes five signature Cuban hot sauces: Jalabáo (jalapeño, medium), Piñazo (medium-hot), Best Day Ever (Miami mango and habanero, hot, 8/10), El Havanero (habanero, hot, 9/10), and Matanza (extra-hot limited edition). Each builds on the same mojo criollo base with a different pepper profile, plus gift packs that combine them.
Barbaro Mojo ingredients and flavor profiles?
Every sauce starts with a mojo criollo base of sour orange or citrus, garlic, and Cuban spices, then adds peppers. Jalabáo uses jalapeño and green peppers (medium, bright and savory); El Havanero uses habanero with red peppers and tomato (hot, bold); Piñazo is a medium-hot flavor punch; Best Day Ever blends Miami mango with habanero (sweet, hot 8/10); and Matanza is the extra-hot limited edition. Full ingredient lists are on each product page.
Does Barbaro Mojo offer variety packs?
Yes. Barbaro Mojo offers several multi-packs: a 4-pack (El Havanero, Jalabáo, Piñazo, Best Day Ever), a heat-forward 4-pack that includes Matanza, an award-winning 3-pack, and a make-your-own 3-pack so you can choose your own flavors. There is also a Chifles tostones bundle that pairs sauces with plantain chips.
Is Barbaro Mojo good for marinades?
Yes. Because the sauces are built on a citrus-garlic mojo base, they work as a marinade as well as a condiment, seasoning and tenderizing at the same time. Use them on pork, chicken, or seafood: coat, refrigerate (a few hours for chicken, longer for pork), then cook. Jalabáo and El Havanero are popular for carne asada and lechón.
Barbaro Mojo customer reviews and ratings?
Barbaro Mojo sauces hold a 5-star average across verified customer reviews, with repeat buyers praising the citrus-forward Cuban flavor and the balanced heat. You can read every rating on our customer reviews page.