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There’s not a lot to do in Dangriga, but one unique Belizean activity is a visit to the original Marie Sharp’s factory for a hot sauce tasting. Yes, that Marie Sharp—the hot sauce that’s on every table in Belize!
It all started in Hope Creek, just a few miles from Dangriga.
Until recently you could actually get a factory tour and see them making this iconic sauce, but due to health regulations, that is no longer allowed.
But you can still pop by for a quick tasting of all Marie Sharp’s products. There are more than you think. It’s more than hot sauce—it also includes jams and wines!
Would I go way out of my way to stop here? Probably not. But it’s worth a quick stop if you are in the area.
Read on for a bit of history about Marie Sharp and her hot sauce, and details on what to expect and how to plan your visit to the factory.
Who is Marie Sharp?
In the early 1980’s, Belizean legend Marie Sharp started growing habanero peppers on her farm (Melinda Estate plantation) at the request of a doctor friend who was making hot sauces. She grew way more than he needed and ended up with bushels of homeless habaneros.
So she decided to make hot sauces of her own! She started out of her home and shared generously with her friends. They loved the sauces so much that they convinced her to turn it into a business.
Her friends were obviously right because business picked up pretty quickly. By 1987 she was exporting sauces to the US under the brand name “Melinda’s”. She claims to be the original habanero hot sauce back in the day.
Then of course, the US bit back, as her shady distributer secretly trademarked the name “Melinda” and started making their own hot sauces under the brand Melinda’s (they are still making sauces). They began a legal battle, but in the end it was just too costly for Marie Sharp to continue fighting. She was spending money on lawyers and losing money every day because she couldn’t sell her hot sauces given that her distributors had sole distribution rights.
So she relinquished her business name in exchange for getting out of her distribution contract.
And Marie Sharp started her hot sauce business all over again under her own name. A little wiser now.
It set her back by about five years, but it sure didn’t stop her from building her Belizean hot sauce empire. You won’t see any Melinda’s hot sauces on the tables of Belize.
The hot sauce world recognized Marie Sharp’s accomplishments by inducting her into the Hot Sauce Hall of Fame in 2016. Take that, Melinda!
What makes Marie Sharp’s sauces special
By the time you visit the Marie Sharp’s factory, you will undoubtedly already be familiar with this Belizean staple. It is truly on every table in Belize. And since Belizean food is not inherently spicy, Marie Sharp’s is always there to add a little pizzazz, as much or as little as you would like.
These sauces are made to live on the table next to a hearty plate of rice and beans and stewed chicken, fried chicken, or fish. Add a few drops of hot sauce, mix, then decide if you want more. You can always add more, but you can’t take it back!
Marie Sharp’s sauces are built on fresh habanero peppers and other vegetables, grown right there on the farm. They also have a gentle sweetness and body that comes from vegetables like carrot (an important ingredient in many of Marie Sharp’s sauces), which helps round out habanero heat.
They grow almost everything that goes into the sauces right there on the farm, although they do occasionally have to import some fruits and vegetables from Mexico when they are out of season in Belize.
All that hot sauce takes work! Marie Sharp’s now has over 100 employees at the factory and distributes products to over 40 countries.
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Inside the tasting: how to find your favorite hot sauce
The Marie Sharp’s factory hot sauce tasting experience is pretty straightforward.
Since you can’t visit the factory anymore, there is a video that walks you through the experience. I didn’t actually get offered the video—I only found out about it by reading reviews on Google Maps after the fact! The video gets good reviews, so make sure you ask for it.
On to the tasting.
You will get to taste every single product that Marie Sharp’s makes!
- 18 hot sauces, from mild to danger
- 8 jams
- 3 jellies
- 1 marmalade
- 1 chutney
- 1 apple wine
You’ll start with a cup of orange-colored juice for palate-cleansing, a pack of crackers, and a little paper list of everything you are going to taste.
It’s time to tackle the rack of hot sauces!
You can go in whatever order you want, but it makes sense to go from mild to spicy. Take a piece of cracker and dab on however much sauce you are willing to try.
And work your way down the line. If you’re sensitive to heat, take it slow.
Once you have forged through the hot sauces, they will bring you the jams and jellies (so sweet!) and finish up the tasting with the apple wine. I didn’t care for it, but a couple I met loved it!
Make sure to ask about ingredients if you have allergies. Pepper sauces can include fruit, garlic, or other add-ins depending on the blend.
Souvenir hot sauces
Once you are done with the tasting, you can stock up on your favorites right there at the factory store.
Hot sauces make a great souvenir or gift. But they are a pain in the butt to lug around. So I would only stock up here if it is one of the last stops on your Belize itinerary.
This store is where you are going to have the best selection of Marie Sharp’s hot sauces, so if there is an unusual one you just have to have, I would get it here. Otherwise, you’ll probably find these sauces for a little cheaper at any local supermarket in Belize.
If you’re flying, you’re going to have to put the full-sized hot sauce bottles in your checked luggage. For travel, keep bottles sealed, then double-bag them. Put them upright in the middle of your suitcase, wrapped in a shirt or other soft item.
My favorite Marie Sharp’s hot sauce
I actually don’t find Marie Sharp’s sauces to be painfully hot, even at the “Beware” level. That doesn’t mean they don’t have kick. It just means that the actual flavors are able to come through the peppers.
That said, my favorite Marie Sharp’s hot sauces are on the milder end!
My top three from the tasting were:
- Hot Nopal Green Habanero Sauce
- Garlic Pepper Sauce
- Mild Habanero Sauce
I liked the Hot Nopal Green Habanero Sauce so much that I brought it to my friends and family in Mexico as gifts. Risky move, bringing Mexicans hot sauce—but they loved it too! (I was able to get the Nopal Green at a supermarket in Caye Caulker)
Marie Sharp’s Tasting Tickets and Hours
Marie Sharp’s Fine Foods Limited (the official name!) is open for visitors 8am-4pm Monday through Friday, and 9am-3pm on Saturday. It is closed on Sunday, so plan accordingly.
The tasting cost BZ$15 when I went in December 2025.
They take credit cards, but I recommend you bring cash as a backup. When I was there, they also didn’t have a lot of small bills for change, so the people there before me had to grab some extra hot sauces instead of getting change.
You don’t have to reserve—I just showed up. If you have a large group, however, you should probably give them a call in advance to set something up.
Because schedules can change, confirm hours and tasting availability before you go. A quick call (or asking your hotel host) will save you from showing up when they are closed.
How to get to Marie Sharp’s Factory from Dangriga
The Marie Sharp’s factory is technically in a small town called Hope Creek. From Dangriga, it’s a short trip on the Hummingbird Highway to get to the factory.
The easiest way to get there is if you have your own car rental. Just drive down Hummingbird Highway until you see the large signs for Marie Sharp’s factory.
The next most efficient way is to take a taxi, but of course that’s going to cost you. And you’ll want to negotiate so the taxi waits there for you to make sure that you have a ride back. Since the factory is a mile off the main road, you won’t find another ride back.
Another option is to arrange for a tour. My hotel in Dangriga offered a tour to Marie Sharp’s for US$40 for one person, and an additional US$10 per person. I think this also included the tour fee. If you have a few people, this can be quite a reasonable option.
If, like me, you are relying on public transportation, it gets a bit trickier—but still totally doable.
You’ll start by getting a local bus on at the bus station (basically any bus heading out of Dangriga). The bus ride costs BZ$2-3 each way. When you get on the bus, ask the driver to drop you off at Marie Sharp’s, just after the bridge. They’ll know.
Once you get dropped off, you have to walk about a mile down a dirt road to get to the factory. You could try your hand at hitching a ride on the off chance that someone is driving down the road. Of course, always trust your gut with hitchhiking.
To get back to Dangriga after the tasting, head back out to the main road and wait for another local bus to come by and flag it down. Or, again, try your hand at hitchhiking. Given the high price of gas, it’s a good practice to offer a few dollars for the ride. It’s hot out there with no trees for shade, so you’ll probably want to get whatever ride you can.
I was with a local and we actually ended up getting a ride back into town with one of Marie Sharp’s sons!
Key Takeaways for Marie Sharp’s Factory Tasting
Going to Marie Sharp’s factory for a hot sauce tasting is a worthwhile detour on any visit to Dangriga.
You’ll get a chance to try all the Marie Sharp hot sauces —not the ones you find on every Belizean table—and discover your new favorites. After your visit, you’ll notice you start reaching for that tangy heat almost without thinking.
If you find one (or more!) that you love, you can stock up at the factory store. Back in your kitchen at home, one drop of your favorite Marie Sharp’s hot sauce will take you right back to your vacation days in Belize.
