All About Ants

Are there really ants in your products? Are they safe to eat?

Hell yeah, there are ants. We use two specific species of premium, edible ants and intentionally leverage the naturally tangy acids they produce to create an intense umami flavor that is richer and more complex than traditional sauces.

Safety? We’re obsessed. Every batch is cooked, pasteurized, and packaged at our commercial kitchen right here in Austin – no shortcuts, just safe, delicious, and high-quality product every single time.

And a pro-tip for people allergic to shellfish: You may be allergic to insects, including ants.

What do the ants actually taste like, and will I see them (or crunch ‘em) in your products?

Imagine citrus-zapped umami that hits you like a lightning bolt – bright and tangy while also deepening the savory base. We’ve spent years tasting and perfecting our products – trust us, ants are Mother Nature's way of putting flavor on steroids.

As for appearance: We finely grind the ants down to integrate them perfectly into the sauce, so you won't find any whole ants. You may notice tiny, dark flakes that look like freshly cracked black pepper—that’s the potent flavor source!

Are you part of a global WHO conspiracy to make people "eat ze bugs"?: The truth is far more boring

We are a small, independent startup right here in Austin, TX, with zero government funding or tinfoil hat overlords. Our mission? To make the most unique and flavorful products on the planet.

That said, our real end game is breeding ants the size of chickens and convincing the government to introduce ants into your water supply.

Until then, you’ll just have to keep buying more Ant Sauce.

Are people allergic to shellfish also allergic to ants?

If you're allergic to shellfish you may be allergic to insects, including ants.

How to Use Ant Sauce

Why do I need umami sauce if I already have hot sauce and soy sauce?

Unlike hot sauces that focus on heat, or soy sauce which is primarily salty, our umami sauce delivers savory depth with a tangy citrus kick that you won’t find in common kitchen condiments. It comes down to the ingredients: We use the natural flavor of ants to boost umami better than the same old vinegar in hot sauce or salt in soy sauce.

Put simply, our umami sauce is like soy sauce on steroids. It’s designed to be your new go-to sauce for finishing steaks off the grill, boosting flavor in marinades and chili, or giving a kick to breakfast tacos and eggs.

Is your umami sauce meant for cooking or finishing?

For Cooking: Use it to lay down the flavor foundation for your heartiest recipes. Stir some into a pot of slow-simmering chili or rub it deep into a pork shoulder for a game-changing marinade that locks in moisture and deepens flavor.

For Finishing: This is where the magic happens. Drizzle over hot-off-the-grill steaks for an intensely flavorful crust, or use it to brighten simple grilled vegetables.

Do you have any pairing suggestions?

If it needs a savory kick, we promise you can use Ant Sauce on it.

Here are our favorite ways to deploy the different heat levels:

Original (The Go-To): Drizzle this tangy umami bomb on sushi, ramen, grilled chicken, burgers, or use it for finishing steaks right off the grill.

Spicy (The Anytime Kick): This is your daily driver for heat. Level up breakfast tacos, add life to roasted vegetables, or mix it into a marinade for chicken thighs.

Extreme Heat (The Volcanic Challenge): This Ghost Reaper blend is for serious heat seekers only. Use it for dousing wings, spiking pulled pork sandwiches, or as a terrifying but delicious dipping sauce for tater tots.

How long do your products last once opened, and how should I store them?

Ant Sauce products should be stored in the refrigerator after opening to maintain peak freshness and flavor. Most bottles won’t last past your first BBQ, but properly refrigerated, our products will maintain their high quality for at least six months after opening.

Dietary Details (e.g., Gluten, Salt, Vegan)

Do your products have any gluten?

Absolutely not. You asked for clean ingredients, and we delivered. The latest versions of all our products are lab tested to be Gluten-Free (less than 20ppm).

Do your products have any soy?

Absolutely not. You asked for clean ingredients, and we delivered. The latest versions of all our products are lab tested to be Soy Free.

I'm trying to reduce sodium in my diet. Can I still use your umami sauce?

Our umami sauce is a flavor powerhouse designed to let you skimp on salt without skimping on taste. The natural, intense umami from the ants is so effective that our formula requires a whopping 67% less sodium than soy sauce.

Your taste buds won't miss the salt. You can achieve richer, more complex savory flavors using less volume, which cuts your sodium intake on two fronts: less sauce needed, and less sodium in every drop.

What’s in it besides the ants?

High-octane basics, including all-natural flavors that pair perfectly with the ants: mushroom powder, rice vinegar, and onion/garlic powder. No junk, no gluten or soy, and 67% less sodium than soy sauce. But, check our product pages for the full run down (allergens, etc.).

Are any of your products vegan?

Is Vegan the one where you kidnap a bunch of animals from their home, bash 'em, mash 'em, boil 'em, and make a sauce out of them in a giant cauldron?

Last time we checked, ants are not plants, so none of our products are vegan. While we use high-quality, plant-based flavor boosters, the ants are non-negotiable. If you're a strict vegan, Ant Sauce isn't for you.

Why are edible insects considered sustainable?

Eating more Ant Sauce is the easiest way to thumb your nose at the global cow fart apocalypse. Insects straight up embarrass traditional livestock on sustainability, requiring only a fraction of the feed, water, and land.

And while most insects are bland filler that taste like eco-guilt, Ant Sauce delivers flavor first. Our products provide a unique, highly desirable citrus-umami kick that elevates any dish. You don't need to sacrifice your taste buds for the planet—you just need ants.

Orders and the Ant Sauce Crew

I just placed an order. When’s it coming, and can I track it?

We know you're excited to get cooking! We are a small Austin-based operation and our warehouse full of robots is still on backorder – so we batch ship once or twice a week, not daily.

You can expect your order to ship within 3-4 business days. We promise it’s worth the wait.

Once your order is on its way, you will receive a confirmation email with a tracking link. Make sure to check your spam folder, and if you can’t find it, feel free to email us at ants@antsauce.com.

You guys are clowns, my package got wrecked. What should I do?

That sucks! We pack with care, but sounds like your Ant Sauce had a rough landing. Don't worry, we will ship a replacement right away.

Just snap some pics of the carnage and send them to us by replying directly to your original order confirmation email. We’re not scrapbooking your pain; we’re reverse-engineering it so the next batch can survive the postal apocalypse.

We’ll confirm receipt and send out a replacement order, no extra charge.

Ant Sauce is nasty. Refund me you critter-crushing psychos!

Relax princess, our 100% guarANTee has got your back. Just e-mail ants@antsauce.com, include your order number, and we promise a quick, no-hassle refund so you can get back to seasoning your food with table salt and the shameful rainbow of crusty sauce packets you’ve been hoarding in your glovebox like a feral raccoon. This guarantee only applies to orders under $100 within the last 30 days. Refunds hit your card in 3–10 business days depending on how slow your bank feels that week.

Where else can I snag some Ant Sauce?

Until we seize the sauce aisle, our website remains the only source for Ant Sauce

Ants Sauce hurt my feelings on social media, when are you going to apologize?

Tears collected, snowflake melted. We sell Ant Sauce not therapy for Gen Z.

Real issues? Email us at ants@antsauce.com. We keep the jokesters away from serious business.

I’m obsessed! Do you offer a loyalty program or subscriptions?

Scroll down right now, smash your email into the “Join the Crew” box at the bottom of every page and instantly unlock 20% off plus exclusive recipes, drops, and unhinged content.