Two Golds, Two Bronzes: CZILLI Wins Four European Hot Sauce Awards 202

Four awards, three categories, and a big moment for our small manufactory from Graz: CZILLI was honored four times at the European Hot Sauce Awards 2026.

Gold for CZILLI Classic
Gold for CZILLI Orient
Bronze for CZILLI Scovilli
Bronze for CZILLI Steirer

This means four of our chili crunch varieties are on the European winner's podium.

From a Graz kitchen to the European stage

What began with our passion for good chili oil was continuously refined through many recipes, tastings, and production batches.

Our ambition was clear from the start: CZILLI should be more than just spicy.

It's about crunch, aroma, umami, high-quality ingredients, and a clear culinary signature. We are all the more delighted that precisely these qualities have convinced the international jury of the European Hot Sauce Awards.

"Two golds and two bronzes in a European competition are a strong confirmation for us – and a sign that a small manufactory from Graz can compete internationally."

— Carina and Christof Ziegler

Our four award-winning varieties

CZILLI Classic – Gold in the Chili Oil category

CZILLI Classic is the original and the heart of our brand.

A crunchy chili oil with balanced heat, intense umami, aromatic spice depth, and plenty of crunch. Versatile and precisely the variety with which everything began for us.

CZILLI Orient – Gold in the Asian Style Chili Sauce category

Roasted sesame, creamy sesame paste, selected spices, and a pleasantly dosed heat make CZILLI Orient a particularly aromatic variant.

Orient pairs excellently with Asian dishes, rice, noodles, vegetables, and bowls – but also works just as well as a spicy addition to modern everyday cooking.

CZILLI Scovilli – Bronze in the Chili Oil category

Scovilli is the spicier sister of our Classic.

The same crunchy basic principle, but with chilies with a higher Scoville rating. For all who seek intense flavor, crunch, and significantly more heat.

CZILLI Steirer – Bronze in the Freestyle category

CZILLI Steirer combines chili crunch with a piece of Styrian culinary culture.

Roasted Styrian pumpkin seeds meet chili oil, spices, and intense crunch. This creates our regional interpretation of a modern chili oil – unmistakably Styrian and yet versatile.

Blind-tasted and judged by a European jury

At the European Hot Sauce Awards 2026, more than 200 products from all over Europe were submitted.

The evaluation took place as part of a blind tasting by a mixed jury of chefs, sommeliers, critics, and chili specialists. Aroma, taste, heat profile, creativity, and finish were assessed, among other things.

That CZILLI was awarded across three different categories makes us particularly proud. It shows that not only a single variety was convincing, but that the quality and diversity of our entire range are recognized.

Particularly extraordinary: With CZILLI Classic and CZILLI Scovilli, two products from our manufactory were awarded in the same category.

Handmade in Graz

All CZILLI varieties are produced in small batches.

Our spice blends are carefully prepared, infused with hot oil, and then hand-filled. This way, aromas, heat, umami, and crunch combine directly in the jar.

Wherever it makes sense, we work with regional ingredients and partner businesses:

Our rapeseed oil comes from a Graz oil mill.
Packaging and labels come from the region.
For CZILLI Steirer, we use pumpkin seeds from Styrian farmers.

This results in a product from Graz that combines regional roots with international taste influences.

A milestone for CZILLI

As an independent manufactory, these four awards mean an incredible amount to us.

They confirm the many hours invested in developing our recipes, selecting ingredients, and handcrafted production. At the same time, they motivate us to think ahead, develop new taste combinations, and inspire even more people with high-quality chili crunch.

Thank you to everyone who tries, gives, recommends, and accompanies us on this journey with CZILLI.

Without you, such moments would not be possible.

Would you like to know how Europe's award-winning chili oils from Graz taste?

Discover CZILLI Classic, CZILLI Orient, CZILLI Scovilli, and CZILLI Steirer individually or together in our award-winning Award Collection.

Two Golds, Two Bronzes: CZILLI Wins Four European Hot Sauce Awards 2026