Our Story

Hi there! I'm Mike, the main man behind Spicy Latvia. I've had a lifelong obsession with chilli peppers, hot sauces and spicy food... and now I'm excited to share this passion with you!

My family has grown chilli peppers in some pretty exotic locations over the years. I remember my father growing Birdseye chillies in Tuvalu & Vanuatu in the 80s & 90s, he would make chilli powder from them and prepare delicious curries for anyone who was lucky enough to be invited to dinner. As a kid I would sometimes eat them fresh off the plant.

I moved to Latvia in 2018, and quickly realised fresh chillies and spicy products weren't easy to find, and almost immediately started growing my own supply. What started as a windowsill project in Riga quickly grew... from 3 greenhouses in Kaibala to the 4th 100m2 masterpiece which went up in April 2024.

Latvia now has a growing spicy food scene, and we're happy to be part of that. We are proud creators of the Burning Banshee hot sauce that powers permanent hot wing challenges at Banshee Bar and Thirsty Bulldog pub in Riga old town - go check it out for yourself!

I also believe our pickled jalapeños are the crunchiest and tastiest you can find anywhere in Latvia. Follow us on social media @spicylatvia for updates and to see which markets we'll be attending next. You can often find us at Āgenskalns market on Saturdays.

I wouldn't be able to do all this without considerable support from my wife Baiba (who deals with all my panics calmly and helps in the greenhouse, at markets and with Latvian translations) and various members of our Latvian family- notably Osvalds & Dzidra who look after the greenhouse and watering systems in my absence!