Hot sauce is made from the hot pepper. There are many different types of hot pepper and they can actually be difficult to distinguish. Most people are used to seeing a green jalapeno pepper but are not sure what it is when it is red. The interesting part about peppers is that when left on the plant to maturation process actually causes them to change color. So, a single pepper can go from green, to red, to orange to yellow.
All of the different stages have different flavors, properties, levels of heat, and amounts of vitamins. The hottest pepper in the world, the Bhut Jolokia will turn brown at its peak.
When peppers are young they will usually start out green. Many of them, such as jalapenos are harvested at this point. But, can be left on the plant longer, if left they will normally turn red. Red peppers are usually a little more expensive because they are more rare and less common, supply and demand.
The aging process of a pepper and the flavor have a lot to do with each other. Some peppers reach their peak heat quickly other must age for a little while it is really dependent on the individual pepper. The amount of water and the amount of heat that peppers are subjected to will also influence the heat. One thing is certain, the smaller the pepper the hotter. Habaneros are some of the hottest peppers in the grocery store and they are also some of the hottest.
As a pepper ages on the plant it will usually become sweeter and a little more mild. The vitamin content of the pepper will also rise as it is left on the plant, pulling more nutrients out of the ground.
Peppers are often used ornamentally and many growers have taken pepper growing to an art and experiment with ways to bring out different colors. Peppers are a great way to spice up your food, add some color to a kitchen, or make a great hot sauce.