
The Fresh Chile Company
2023 Machete Hatch Chile Enchilada Sauce (Mild)
This 2023 Machete Hatch Chile Enchilada Sauce (Mild) is a ready-to-use red enchilada sauce made from fresh Hatch red chile peppers, garlic, salt, and citric acid. It is packaged in a 16 oz jar and is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, grain-free, plant-based, fat-free, with no sugar added. The mild heat level makes it suitable for enchiladas, huevos rancheros, and posole; customer reviews note its fresh taste and recommend consuming within about ten days of opening.
- Color
- Red
- Style
- artisan, traditional, heritage
- Category
- Food, Beverages & Tobacco > Food Items > Condiments & Sauces > Marinades & Grilling Sauces
- MPN
fcc-enchi-machete-med-jar
Specifications
Mild Hatch red chile enchilada sauce made with freshly picked, flame roasted chile peppers. Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, no sugar added.
Made with freshly picked Hatch red chile peppers, flame roasted, no dried or dehydrated pods, no preservatives, no sugar added. 16 oz jar.
- Color
- Red · red
- Material
- Red Chile, Garlic, Salt, Citric Acid
- Style
- artisan, traditional, heritage
- Occasion
- everyday, casual
- Condition
- new
- Weight
- 1.6 lb
- Category
- Food, Beverages & Tobacco > Food Items > Condiments & Sauces > Marinades & Grilling Sauces
Additional Attributes
- Flame roasted
- No dried or dehydrated pods
- No sugar added
- No preservatives
- Freshly picked Hatch red chile peppers
- Boiled down fresh peppers
- Mild heat
- 2023 harvest
- One-of-a-kind
- Pairs with enchiladas, huevos rancheros, and posole
Product Insights
This 2023 Machete Hatch Chile Enchilada Sauce (mild) from The Fresh Chile Company delivers the bright, roasted-sweet taste of fresh red Hatch chile, not dried, thanks to pods that are flame-roasted and jarred within 24 hours of harvest in the Hatch Valley's 40-mile Rio Grande appellation—a region NM True certified and measured by NMSU to carry 23% higher pyrazine. The ingredient list is pure: red chile, garlic, salt, and citric acid, no tomato or fillers, resulting in a smooth, pourable, seedless sauce with no added oil and a noticeable but balanced smokiness where garlic supports rather than dominates. At the mild tier of 0–2,000 SHU, it's more approachable than a jalapeño, and the value lands around $0.50 per ounce at its $7.95 sale price, though the listed $12.95 reflects full price; it also holds a 4.67-star rating. The main tradeoff is its limited seasonality: the 2023 crop year is available only about 30 days per year (currently out of stock), the jar keeps just 7–10 days refrigerated after opening, and while it freezes well, heat and flavor vary by season; the 2023 label marks the harvest year, not a best-by date. Rooted in Arnold McMillan's family recipe and a family-owned Hatch company, this sauce is a rare, authentic taste of the Hatch Valley.
Verified claims
- Origin
- NM True certified Hatch Valley chile from a 40-mile Rio Grande appellation.
- Terroir
- NMSU measures 23% higher pyrazine in Hatch Valley chile than elsewhere.
- Fresh red chile
- Made from fresh red Hatch chile, roasted and jarred within 24 hours.
- Ingredient purity
- Only red chile, garlic, salt, and citric acid — no tomato or fillers.
- Heat
- Machete's mild tier runs 0–2,000 SHU, milder than a jalapeño.
- Flavor
- Bright, roasted-sweet flavor from fresh red Hatch pods, not dried.
- Freshness
- Jarred within 24 hours of harvest.
- Shelf life
- Opened jar keeps 7–10 days refrigerated; the sauce freezes well for longer storage.
- Value
- At the $7.95 sale price this is about $0.50 per ounce, matching a tested Hatch enchilada sauce price point.
- Roasting
- Fresh red Hatch pods are flame-roasted in Hatch, NM and jarred within 24 hours of harvest, during the 30-day harvest window.
- Smokiness
- The smokiness is noticeable but balanced, with garlic as a supporting accent.
- Texture
- Smooth, pourable and seedless, with body from roasted chile and no added oil.
- Freezing
- Buyers report it freezes well; texture holds after thawing with a stir
- Seasonal batch
- 2023 on the label marks the harvest year; the batch is available only about 30 days per year.
- Vintage
- The 2023 on the label is the harvest year of that batch
- Family recipe
- Bottled from Arnold McMillan's homemade Hatch red enchilada sauce
- Provenance
- NM True certified Hatch Valley chile from a family-owned Hatch company
- Fresh roast process
- Flame-roasted, cooked and jarred within 24 hours of harvest
- Smoke balance
- Flame-roasting fresh Hatch red chiles gives a noticeable but balanced smokiness, not an ashy burn.
- Garlic balance
- Garlic is a supporting accent behind the chile, not the dominant flavor.
- Crop year
- The 2023 date is the crop year, not a best-by date; heat and flavor vary by season.
Product record
- Title
- 2023 Machete Hatch Chile Enchilada Sauce (mild)
- Brand
- The Fresh Chile Company
- Price
- $12.95 USD
- Availability
- Out of stock
- Rating
- 4.67 stars, 3 reviews, scale 5
Buying Guide
0 comparisons · 3 sourcesImage Analysis
3 images- 01

Product
Clear glass jar with a gold metal screw cap containing a smooth red sauce visible through the glass; jar has a rounded base and a short neck with a visible screw ring.
- Jar bodyTransparent glass jar showing bright red sauce filling the jar to just below the lid; straight-sided midbody with a gently rounded base.
1 region
x 0.20 · y 0.14 · w 0.60 · h 0.72 (high) - Metal screw capGold-colored metal screw cap with visible ribbed edge and a thin sealing rim under the cap.
1 region
x 0.28 · y 0.03 · w 0.44 · h 0.12 (high) - Neck and thread ringJar neck with an external glass thread ring directly beneath the cap, separating the lid from the main body.
1 region
x 0.28 · y 0.14 · w 0.44 · h 0.06 (high) - Sauce surface and textureSmooth, uniformly colored red sauce with small glossy highlights indicating a slightly reflective, liquid surface.
1 region
x 0.24 · y 0.16 · w 0.52 · h 0.56 (high) - Rounded baseLower jar rounds inward to form a curved base visible at the bottom edge of the image.
1 region
x 0.24 · y 0.78 · w 0.52 · h 0.12 (high)
Packaging
A black textured wrap label around the jar midbody featuring a central yellow badge, two red chili illustrations flanking the badge, and multiple text elements including product name and volume.
- Label backgroundWrap-style label with a dark textured (woven or crosshatch) black background occupying the midband of the jar.
1 region
x 0.16 · y 0.42 · w 0.68 · h 0.30 (high) - Central badgeYellow ornamental shield-shaped badge centered on the label with a red outline and small decorative dots.
1 region
x 0.35 · y 0.46 · w 0.30 · h 0.22 (high) - Left chili illustrationLong red chili illustration with a short green stem printed on the left side of the central badge, oriented with tip downward.
1 region
x 0.20 · y 0.46 · w 0.18 · h 0.22 (high) - Right chili illustrationLong red chili illustration with a short green stem printed on the right side of the central badge, oriented with tip downward.
1 region
x 0.62 · y 0.46 · w 0.18 · h 0.22 (high) - Product name bannerBlack ribbon-style banner beneath the central badge containing a script word in yellow (product variant).
1 region
x 0.36 · y 0.62 · w 0.28 · h 0.08 (high) - Text - HATCH“HATCH”
1 region
x 0.44 · y 0.48 · w 0.12 · h 0.04 (high) - Text - The Fresh CHILE Co.“The Fresh CHILE Co.”
1 region
x 0.38 · y 0.52 · w 0.24 · h 0.08 (high) - Text - 2023“2023”
1 region
x 0.48 · y 0.58 · w 0.06 · h 0.03 (high) - Text - Machete“Machete”
1 region
x 0.41 · y 0.62 · w 0.18 · h 0.06 (high) - Text - ENCHILADA SAUCE“ENCHILADA SAUCE”
1 region
x 0.36 · y 0.68 · w 0.28 · h 0.06 (high) - Text - volume statement“16 fl oz (454g)”
1 region
x 0.42 · y 0.74 · w 0.16 · h 0.04 (high) - Partial secondary logoPartial circular logo at the left edge of the label, partially cropped and not fully legiblePartial
1 region
x 0.12 · y 0.56 · w 0.12 · h 0.18 (medium)
Other
Studio-style product shot on a clean white background with even frontal lighting and minimal shadow; jar is centered and vertically oriented.
- Background and stagingPlain white background with no props visible and the jar centered in the frame.
- LightingEven frontal lighting with small specular highlights on the sauce and subtle soft shadowing beneath the jar.
- Image crop and compositionJar is fully visible and vertically framed with small margin around the cap and base; label is horizontally centered.
Colors
bright red· sauce#CA2423metallic gold· lid#C2AB54matte black· label backgroundPackaging#1E1D20vibrant yellow· central badgePackaging#FED34Bchili red· chili illustrationsPackaging#CB2126- Jar bodyTransparent glass jar showing bright red sauce filling the jar to just below the lid; straight-sided midbody with a gently rounded base.
- 02

- 03

Product
Clear cylindrical glass jar with a gold metal screw lid containing bright red sauce; a black wrap label with a central yellow scalloped badge and two red chili illustrations is visible on the jar's midsection.
- Jar shapeCylindrical clear glass jar with slightly rounded shoulder transitioning to a narrower neck under the lid and a flat base visible at the bottom edge.
1 region
x 0.18 · y 0.06 · w 0.64 · h 0.88 (high) - LidGold colored metal screw-on lid with visible ribbed grip texture around the rim and a smooth top.
1 region
x 0.32 · y 0.02 · w 0.36 · h 0.12 (high) - Contents visibleBright red smooth sauce fills the jar above and below the label, with glossy highlights on the glass surface.
1 region
x 0.20 · y 0.14 · w 0.60 · h 0.72 (high) - Label material and patternBlack wrap-around label with a subtle textured or woven pattern visible across its surface.
1 region
x 0.18 · y 0.36 · w 0.64 · h 0.32 (high) - Central badgeYellow scalloped shield-shaped badge centered on the label, outlined with a darker yellow/orange inner border.
1 region
x 0.36 · y 0.38 · w 0.28 · h 0.26 (high) - Chili illustrationsTwo red chili pepper illustrations, one on each side of the central badge, oriented with stems up and tapered tips down.
2 regions
x 0.28 · y 0.36 · w 0.12 · h 0.28 (high); x 0.60 · y 0.36 · w 0.12 · h 0.28 (high) - Lower label bannerBlack label area beneath the central badge contains a small yellow outlined banner with a script word and block capital product name lines below.
1 region
x 0.34 · y 0.58 · w 0.32 · h 0.16 (high)
Packaging
Wrap-around black product label with a yellow scalloped central badge, red chili graphics, and multiple text elements including product name and volume.
- Primary brand text“The Fresh CHILE Co.”
1 region
x 0.40 · y 0.42 · w 0.20 · h 0.12 (high) - Top badge text“HATCH”
1 region
x 0.44 · y 0.36 · w 0.12 · h 0.06 (high) - Badge year“2023”
1 region
x 0.46 · y 0.48 · w 0.08 · h 0.04 (high) - Product line script“Machete”
1 region
x 0.40 · y 0.58 · w 0.20 · h 0.06 (high) - Product type text“ENCHILADA SAUCE”
1 region
x 0.38 · y 0.64 · w 0.24 · h 0.06 (high) - Volume text“16 fl oz (454g)”
1 region
x 0.42 · y 0.70 · w 0.16 · h 0.04 (high) - Partial side logoSmall circular emblem visible at left edge of label, partially cropped and not fully legiblePartial
1 region
x 0.18 · y 0.44 · w 0.10 · h 0.16 (medium)
Other
Studio-style product shot with white background and even frontal lighting that produces soft reflections on the glass; jar is centered and fully visible.
- BackgroundUniform white background with no visible props or surface texture.
- Lighting and reflectionsEven frontal lighting creating small specular highlights on the upper front of the jar glass and mild shadowing at the base.
2 regions
x 0.36 · y 0.18 · w 0.12 · h 0.06 (high); x 0.40 · y 0.86 · w 0.20 · h 0.04 (medium) - Shot compositionFront-facing, centered crop showing the full jar from lid to base with small white margin around the product.
Colors
bright tomato red· sauce#CB2422metallic gold· lid#CBB35Bdeep black· label backgroundPackaging#0E0C0Ewarm yellow· central badgePackaging#F5C33Bdeep chili red· chili illustrationsPackaging#CC242B- Jar shapeCylindrical clear glass jar with slightly rounded shoulder transitioning to a narrower neck under the lid and a flat base visible at the bottom edge.
Documents & Data
Customer Reviews
3 total3 reviews · out of 5
Perfection. Pricey but give it a try at least once.
Tastes great, but must eat in about ten days.
All products we have tried exceeded our expectations. Highly recommend!
Provenance
- Merchant Link
- https://freshchileco.com/products/2023-machete-hatch-chile-enchilada-sauce
- Platform
- shopify
- Updated