Some people discover their passions later in life, but Cordell Hunter was practically born into his. Hunter’s mother craved everything spicy while pregnant, so much so that he jokes he tried habanero before he even took his first breath. Unsurprisingly, he grew up to love the heat.
In 2020, while deployed to Poland in the Army, Hunter found that the local food and military rations had little flavor and no heat. “Hot sauce doesn’t exist in Poland,” he says. “You can’t even find Tabasco.” To add a little kick to his meals, Hunter decided to take matters into his own hands. He ordered a DIY pepper-fermentation kit and began researching and experimenting with a variety of sauce blends. He slowly began to ponder the idea of turning his inspired hot sauce creations into a business.
After completing his military service, Hunter returned to Colorado Springs, where he was originally stationed. His return prompted a reintroduction to an active lifestyle in the mountains and a realization that while outdoor enthusiasts have special gear for every activity, easily transportable food and flavor enhancements are often an afterthought (think adding flavor to your freshly caught trout on a fishing trip, or to your scrambled eggs while camping.)
“I have always been an avid outdoorsman,” Hunter says. “I take hot sauce pretty much everywhere I go.”
From this passion, his brand Helbjorn Hot Sauce was born. It’s a reflection of his adventurous spirit, and the name perfectly embodies who he is. “I am Norwegian, and my favorite animal is the polar bear,” Hunter shares. “As a fan of Viking culture, I wanted a name that could combine all three concepts. Hel, literally means hell and represents the Norse underworld, while bjorn means bear, honoring my favorite animal.”
Helbjorn hot sauces are made with completely shelf-stable recipes that require no refrigeration. Using only whole ingredients, Hunter naturally balances the heat with real fruit pairings, creating a signature lineup of sauces across a wide range of Scoville levels (the Scoville scale measures the spiciness of chili peppers). The brand’s Pure Adrenaline sauce creatively fuses habanero peppers with orange juice, while Helicious features extra-hot ghost peppers, blueberries and honey.
To solve portability issues, Hunter designed a 12-ounce bottle kit featuring a pouring funnel and a small, lightweight travel bottle. Equipped with a carabiner, this mini bottle clips onto a backpack, climbing harness or lifejacket. He also introduced a 3-ounce, TSA-friendly glass bottle so travelers never have to leave the house without their heat.
Most importantly, every Helbjorn Hot Sauce purchase leaves a lasting impact. Hunter donates 10 percent of his proceeds to Of Mountain and Men, a local nonprofit ministry that pairs positive mentors with underserved youth to help them build character, learn leadership lessons and develop responsibility through various wilderness activities.
“My ultimate goal is encouraging more kids to get outdoors,” he says. “I help accomplish this by providing a balanced combo of heat and flavor to your indoor and outdoor meals.”
Helbjorn Hot Sauce
helbjorn.com
Use the promo code BLACKBEAR10 to receive 10% off your online order from October 1 through November 30.