Inspired by a 2016 student-run holiday auction that demonstrated huge demand for his homemade hot sauce, President Houshmand turned his gardening hobby into a fundraiser for students.
In 2017, the University began producing and selling Houshmand’s Hazardous Hot Sauce, with all proceeds benefiting the Rowan University Student Emergency Scholarship Fund.
The president grows the hottest varieties of peppers and other vegetables on the West Campus Farm with help from students. Dr. Houshmand himself leads all the gardening work.
The effort has directly and indirectly led to millions of dollars in donations to the University, with online customers ordering from as far away as Japan and Australia.
Snag a give-away, buy sauce and swag, support scholarships!
Houshmand’s Hazardous Hot Sauce, apparel and gifts are also available at Barnes & Noble Rowan University Bookstore on Rowan Blvd. in Glassboro, New Jersey.
When he was first asked how it tastes, President Houshmand could only describe it as “nasty hot!" This Houshmand’s Hazardous Hot Sauce is great for adding a peppery kick to just about anything. A super-fine blend in an easy-pour bottle, Nastylicious now includes a flavorless natural preservative with no need to refrigerate after opening.
Ingredients: Peppers (Long Hot, Beaver Dam, Jalapeño, Thai and Serrano), vinegar, olive oil, salt, garlic, spices, natural flavor.
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If you have to ask “How hot is it?” then it might be too hot for you. For everyone else: Nasty is a rich mix of hot and even hotter peppers including chiles that President Houshmand grows from seed and harvests by hand. There’s no water added, so the pepper flavor is intense and pure. A super-fine blend in an easy-pour bottle, Nasty now includes a flavorless natural preservative with no need to refrigerate after opening.
Ingredients: Peppers (Habaneros, Long Hot, Beaver Dam), vinegar, olive oil, salt, garlic, spices, natural flavor.
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President Houshmand’s secret recipe reaches its maximum flavor blast with some of the world’s hottest peppers that he grows from seed and harvests by hand. This scorching, savory, small batch hot sauce is limited to the select harvest available each season and its special price boosts support for scholarships. Get ready for some extreme heat. A super-fine blend in an easy-pour bottle, Nastyvicious now includes a flavorless natural preservative with no need to refrigerate after opening.
Ingredients: Peppers (Habanero, Ghost, Carolina Reaper, Scorpion Moruga and others), vinegar, olive oil, seasonings, salt, natural flavor.
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All three Houshmand’s Hazardous flavors in 2 oz. jars, perfect for a little something for hot sauce lovers, from brave to crazy. Get your Nastylicious, Nasty and Nastyvicious packaged together with the story of the president’s project to help needy students.
Ingredients: n/a
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Grab our newest shirt and wear it even if you didn’t get to taste the limited edition brown ale brewed with our habanero-based sauce and fresh raspberries. The cozy cotton long-sleeve shows off our partnership with Bonesaw Brewing Co. and your support for students.
Ingredients: n/a
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Our newest shirt features design on the front and back, with peppers in Houshmand’s Hazardous Hot Sauces and their Scoville ratings from Long Hots to Carolina Reaper. Promo your favorite peppers for a good cause!
Ingredients: n/a
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Wear your hot sauce courage boldly or just look like you can take the heat with this exclusive brand t-shirt (and know that you’re supporting scholarships for students in need).
Ingredients: n/a
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Get our stylish version of HAZMAT kitchen gear for yourself or your favorite hot sauce fan with this exclusive Houshmand’s Hazardous Hot Sauce apron. Mess-defying black, with adjustable neck strap and two roomy pockets.
Ingredients: n/a
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Beat the heat with your favorite thirst-quencher in this high-quality glassware, laser-etched with the Houshmand’s Hazardous logo (shown filled to highlight the art). Dishwasher-safe.
Ingredients: n/a
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Sip a drink or spoon out soup or chili from this bistro-style mug and show your support for students and Houshmand’s Hazardous. The large handle makes it comfortable for both small and large hands. Dishwasher-safe.
Ingredients: n/a
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Student Rebecca Bradshaw, coach Ringo Adamson and Rowan friend Chetna Macwan earned top honors at the Houshmand's Hazardous Cook-Off.
Wing Wars winners braved three rounds of heat to win at the Houshmand's Hazardous wing-eating contest.
President Houshmand and Rabbi Hersh Loschak finish a batch of Kosher hot sauce.
President Houshmand opened the Cook-Off competition with a bang.
Student Trustee Rbrey Singleton, President Houshmand and Student Government Association President Lauren Bitzer show off some of the peppers grown on campus.
President Houshmand, students and others inspect and prepare Italian Long Hots.
Philadelphia’s ABC Channel 6 interviewed President Houshmand about the hot sauce project.
Freshly jarred Nastylicious comes off the line, ready to be labeled.
President Houshmand samples My Aunt Chilada's Enchiladas, served by Chris Potocki and his daughter, Kristin.
President Houshmand checks on a batch of Ali’s Nasty.
President Houshmand signs a jar for a hot sauce fan.
Competitors brave Houshmand’s Hazardous on wings at Chickie’s & Pete’s.
President Houshmand turned a healthy hobby into hot sauce to help students.
How hot is Nastyvicious? So hot that staff had to wear safety goggles and respirators to prepare and bottle it!
Thanks for expertise and support from colleagues at:
Rutgers Food Innovation Center, Bridgeton, New Jersey
Cornell University Food and Brand Lab, Ithaca, New York
New Mexico State University Chile Pepper Institute, Las Cruces, New Mexico
Verchio's Produce Market
Chickie's & Pete’s
Have questions about Houshmand’s Hazardous Hot Sauce or Rowan University? Call or e-mail:
Office of the President: 856-256-4100
hotsauce@rowan.edu
