Shito is a Ghanaian pepper sauce, a dark, smoky, savoury condiment from West Africa, traditionally spooned over rice, grilled meat, eggs and stews. It is one of Ghana's staple sauces, prized for deep flavour rather than pure heat. Coast of Gold makes a gourmet Australian version in Mild, Medium and Hot.
What shito tastes like
Good shito is sweet, smoky and spicy, with a savoury, umami depth that sits closer to a rich relish than a thin hot sauce. The heat is there, but it rides on flavour. Coast of Gold builds its whole range on that signature, Sweet. Smoky. Spicy., with the spice dialled from gentle to fierce.
What shito is made from
The base is chillies, tomato, garlic, ginger and onion, slow cooked in oil with spices until dark and deep. Traditional shito often uses dried fish and shrimp for umami. Coast of Gold's is plant based, made with vegan Worcestershire, so there is no fish or shrimp, and it is made in Australia from at least 69 per cent Australian ingredients.
How to use shito
Shito is the sauce Ghanaians put on everything. Spoon it over eggs, stir it through rice or noodles, spread it on a meat pie, or serve it beside anything off the grill. A little goes a long way, so start small and build.
How hot is shito?
Shito ranges from mild to hot depending on the maker. Coast of Gold offers Mild, Medium and Hot, and a limited jar called Holy Shito, built on scorpion chilli, one of the hottest chillies in the world, which rates a full 10 out of 10 on its Scoville scale.
Last updated 21 July 2026.
