Brandwave

Melinda’s vs Valentina:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Valentina had more branded searches than Melinda’s among hot sauce brands worldwide. Valentina had about 40,500 branded searches, while Melinda’s had 12,100. Valentina made up 5.2% of all hot sauce brand searches we track, and Melinda’s accounted for 1.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about hot sauce brands, Valentina appeared in two of the five answers and Melinda’s in none.

Among hot sauce brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Valentina, about 3 searches for every 1 for Melinda’s

Valentina 40.5K searchesMelinda’s 12.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Valentina, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Melinda’s in 0

Valentina in 2 of 5Melinda’s in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Valentina, the only one of the two named

Valentina first in 2Melinda’s never named

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Top hot sauce brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Valentina was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Melinda’s did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Cholula1st
  2. Tapatío2nd
  3. Tabasco3rd
  4. Frank's RedHot4th
  5. Crystal5th
  6. Huy Fong6th
  7. Valentina7th
  8. El Yucateco8th
  9. Secret Aardvark9th
  10. +3 more
  11. Melinda’s–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Cholula5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Tabasco4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Tapatío4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Huy Fong4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Crystal3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • El Yucateco3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Frank's RedHot3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Valentina2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Marie Sharp’s2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Melinda’s0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+3 more

See every answer about hot sauce brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 22, 2026.

Is Melinda’s or Valentina more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Melinda’s and Valentina by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 13 hot sauce brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Melinda’s and Valentina among hot sauce brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Valentina, Melinda’s. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthTabascoCholulaTapatíoValentinaCrystalHuy FongEl YucatecoYellowbirdMelinda’sTRUFFMarie Sharp’sFrank's RedHotSecret Aardvark
Oct 202540.4%18.1%18.1%6.6%3.6%2.4%2.4%2%2%2.4%0.89%0.59%0.39%
Nov 202542.5%19.1%15.5%5.7%3.8%2.1%2.6%2.1%2.1%2.6%0.93%0.62%0.41%
Dec 202541.3%18.5%15.1%5.6%3.7%3%2%2.5%2.5%3.7%1.1%0.6%0.4%
Jan 202639.4%17.7%17.7%5.3%4.3%3.5%2.9%2.4%2.4%2.4%1.1%0.58%0.38%
Feb 202641.1%18.4%18.4%5.5%4.5%2.5%2%2%2%1.7%0.9%0.6%0.33%
Mar 202640.4%18.1%18.1%5.4%4.4%3.6%2.4%2%2%1.6%0.89%0.59%0.39%
Apr 202638.7%17.3%21.2%5.2%3.5%4.3%2.3%2.3%1.9%1.6%0.85%0.46%0.46%
May 202640.3%18.1%18.1%5.4%3.6%4.4%2.4%2%2%2%0.88%0.48%0.39%
Jun 202642.1%18.9%15.4%5.7%3.8%3.8%2.5%2.1%2.1%2.1%0.92%0.5%0.34%
Jul 202641.2%18.5%15.1%6.8%4.5%2.5%3%2.5%2%2%0.9%0.49%0.4%
Aug 202639.9%17.9%17.9%6.6%4.4%2%2.9%2.9%2%1.6%0.87%0.48%0.71%
Sep 202647.4%17.4%14.2%5.2%4.3%2.9%2.3%1.9%1.6%1.3%0.85%0.46%0.37%

How has the Melinda’s and Valentina comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Valentina was ahead of Melinda’s in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Melinda’s’ share of searches among hot sauce brands worldwide moved from 2% to 1.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 14.8K to 12.1K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Valentina’s share of searches among hot sauce brands worldwide moved from 6.6% to 5.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 49.5K to 40.5K.

How did search popularity change for hot sauce brands worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Valentina lost share of searches among hot sauce brands worldwide, from 6.6% to 5.2%.

  2. Melinda’s’ share of searches among hot sauce brands worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 2.1% to 1.6% in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Melinda’s’ and Valentina’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Melinda’s

1 branded search term

  • melinda's hot sauce

Valentina

1 branded search term

  • valentina hot sauce

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among hot sauce brands

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