It might be hard to imagine that the arid desert could possibly deliver such a bounty of distinct foods and flavors, yet they come in abundance: fruity prickly pear cactus, densely sweet dates, mesquite-tinged honey, sweet and hot chiles, you-name-it. Savor these Southwestern sensations with gourmet food products crafted by local artisans.
Credit: Cutino Sauce Co.
1. Cutino Sauce Co., Phoenix
Liven up your dishes with these small-batch, handmade hot sauces that range from the smoky Chipotle to the zingy Habanero. (Tip: don’t miss the limited-edition Ghost hot sauce, released every fall during the peak of ghost pepper season.)
Credit: Rebecca Seitz
2. Sphinx Date Co. Palm & Pantry, Scottsdale
Local flavors are the draw at this farm and gourmet food shop filled with Arizona-made wines, gifts and treats. Try the sweet-and-tangy Medjool Date Salsa made with dates, tomatoes and chiles.
Credit: Rango Honey
3. Rango Honey, Tempe
Add a touch of sweetness to your dishes with pure, raw honey straight from the Sonoran Desert, touting distinct flavors that come from wild sage, mesquite wood, Southwestern wildflowers and bright citrus groves.
Credit: Queen Creek Olive Mill
4. Queen Creek Olive Mill, Queen Creek
This family-owned olive farm is known for its flavorful lineup of extra virgin olive oils, specialty vinegars and pickled snacks—think Meyer Lemon Olive Oil, Tequila Cask Balsamic Vinegar and Mesquite Smoked Almond Stuffed Olives.
Credit: Timbo's Spice
5. Timbo’s Spice, Gilbert
Spice things up with one of these handcrafted seasonings and rubs, such as the Adobo Spice, a chile-forward blend made in collaboration with local Chef Andres Jimenez.
Credit: Arizona Cactus Ranch
6. Arizona Cactus Ranch, Green Valley
Surrounded by wild Engelmann prickly pear cactus, this century-old cattle ranch hand-harvests the fruit buds in late summer to make all-natural prickly pear nectar with no added sugar or preservatives.
Credit: Iconic Cocktail Co
7. Iconic Cocktail Co., Phoenix
Elevate your at-home cocktail experience with specialty tonics, syrups, flavorings and mixers. The Prickly Pear Sour mix pairs perfectly with your choice of spirit for a pleasantly pink—and quintessentially Arizonan—drink.
Credit: Natalia Wrobel Katz
8. Hayden Flour Mills, Queen Creek
Stock up on stone-milled flour, artisan pastas and heritage grains from this flour mill, where you’ll find options like White Sonora Wheat Pizza Flour and Yellow Corn Polenta made from locally grown ingredients.
Article originally published in the 2021 Arizona Official State Travel Guide by Miles Partnership.