During the Pecan Street Festival, we stumbled on a little shop that offers one of the things I love best — spiciness! Serious, hot, mouth-burning spiciness, all neatly packaged into little bottles and jars on the shelves at Tears of Joy.

It’s all here. Local tongue and mouth burning creations, some made in their very own kitchen. And national and international concoctions designed to make everything you eat an experience in heat. And they have tasting tables, too, where you can scoop, dip, and pour to your heart’s content. I was in heaven!

This shop at 618 E. 6th Street in downtown Austin is clearly designed for hot-sauce daredevils like me, but they also have a great selection for less spice-daring souls among us, include (gasp!) mild hot sauces.

Tears of Joy is a great place to find a new hot sauce or paste for your next party or a new recipe. But it would also be a great place to find some gifts for people live far away but need a taste of Texas.