Is there a spice that is hot and colorless?

Question

I want to prepare a drink that is hot (spicy) but I don't want to use regular hot sauce because it will affect the color. Is there anything like "clear" hot sauce?

Answer 1

Let a hot pepper (jalapeño or habañero, perhaps) soak in your liquid for however long it takes to achieve the desired hotness.

Answer 2

Hmm, I'd look for pure Capsaicin if all you want is the heat. It's colorless/odorless so could work, but I'm not sure where you can find it.

I've heard of white, hot sauces which may work for you, here is an example

Answer 3

Szechuan (Sichuan) pepper husks can be brewed/simmered in hot water and results in a relatively clear broth that can be very "hot" and a much more interesting taste than refined or artificial capsaicin

It also has that numbing effect that most people find rather interesting

Answer 4

Cajohn's Frostbite it is a clear hot sauce and pretty good for making mixed drinks

Answer 5

I have some habanero powder that has a beige color. I would imagine that wouldn't discolor a clear liquid too much. And believe me, a little bit goes a long way.

Answer 6

Fresh uncooked Ginger paste has quite a kick to it, as does fresh ground Horseradish. The tastes are not much like capsicum, but can be eye-wateringly potent.

Answer 7

There's a style of hot sauce that is basically whole peppers soaking in a vinegar solution; it's probably work, but it'd give a sour note from the vinegar.

You could always make your own ... it tends to be made with green peppers; I'm guessing green or yellow would impart less color.

Also, a quick search suggests that there's at least two brands of 'clear hotsauce' out there -- Panola and Frostbite.