Bear and Burton's Breakfast Sauce's Rise to Virality on TikTok

The Story Behind Bear and Burton's Breakfast Sauce

Burton's is a small family-owned company based in Vermont that has been making high-quality breakfast sauces and condiments since 1989. Their most popular product is their Bear and Burton's Breakfast Sauce, which has a bit of an interesting backstory.

How the Breakfast Sauce Came to Be

The owner of Burton's, Naomi Burton, grew up in Vermont and comes from a long line of maple syrup producers. She grew up eating freshly made waffles, pancakes, and breakfast sandwiches drizzled with pure Vermont maple syrup.

When Naomi had her own kids, she began experimenting with making new breakfast sauces using maple syrup as the base. Her kids loved drizzling the sweet and savory sauces over eggs, hash browns, and sandwiches.

One day, Naomi was out foraging for mushrooms with her son when they came across a black bear cub. The cub was harmless but noisy, grunting and snorting as it dug up acorns. Naomi's son started calling him "Mr. Bear" and tossing acorns for him to catch.

Finding the Perfect Flavor Combination

That night at dinner, Naomi's son gave her the idea to try adding wild mushrooms to her new breakfast sauce recipe. The rich umami flavor of the mushrooms paired perfectly with the sweet maple syrup and savory seasonings.

As Naomi tweaked the recipe, her family continued calling it “Mr. Bear’s breakfast sauce”. Eventually it was shortened to just “Bear and Burton’s” sauce, paying homage to the friendly bear who inspired it.

In 1989, Naomi officially launched Bear and Burton's sauce at a local farmer's market. It was a huge hit and soon she was struggling to keep up with demand. She realized there was tremendous appetite for this unique savory-sweet breakfast condiment.

Why Bear and Burton's Sauce is So Popular

So what makes Bear and Burton's sauce so addictively delicious that it's become a staple condiment for breakfast fans and TikTokers?

It Packs a Flavor Punch

Bear and Burton's sauce has the perfect balance of flavors. At its base is rich, buttery Vermont maple syrup, which lends sweetness. Added to that is a special blend of spices and herbs like garlic, onion, paprika, a pinch of cayenne pepper, and several secret ingredients!

The wild mushrooms provide savory umami flavor. Lemon juice and zest brighten up the blend. The result is sweet, savory, tangy goodness in every bite.

It's Extremely Versatile

While it was originally conceived as a breakfast condiment, Bear and Burton's sauce can spice up just about any dish. It's delicious drizzled over waffles, pancakes and French toast. Hash browns, breakfast sandwiches and omelets are taken to the next level with this sauce.

But it also shines as a secret ingredient in dips, marinades, vinaigrettes and more. A few tablespoons whisked into mayo makes a mouthwatering spread. It can transform a basic chicken or tofu stir-fry into something spectacular. Even cocktail recipes have been using Bear and Burton's sauce to great effect!

It's Made in Small Batches from Quality Ingredients

To this day, Bear and Burton's sauce is produced in traditional copper kettles in small batches. This allows them to closely monitor each batch and maintain quality and consistency.

They source all ingredients from local Vermont farms and producers whenever possible. The maple syrup comes from Naomi Burton's own family farm. They forage the wild mushrooms themselves from sustainably managed forests.

There are no artificial preservatives, flavors or colors. It's just real, wholesome ingredients simmered to savory-sweet perfection.

The Bear and Burton's Sauce Craze Goes Viral

For decades, Bear and Burton's sauce was beloved by Vermonters as a local specialty. But in recent years, it's reached viral fame thanks to TikTok and Instagram foodies.

Spotlight on TikTok Food Creators

In 2020, several popular TikTok food creators discovered Bear and Burton's sauce and began featuring it in recipes. Viewers immediately fell in love with the unique flavor.

Soon the green and white Bear and Burton's label was making frequent cameo appearances in trending TikTok breakfast sandwiches, pancake stacks, charcuterie boards and more. Top hashtags like #BearandBurtons and #BestBreakfastSauce took off.

So Much Social Media Hype, Stores Can't Keep It in Stock

The TikTok hype translated to skyrocketing demand both online and in grocery stores. For the first time, Bear and Burton's sauce sold out across Vermont as stores struggled to restock quickly enough.

The company had to expand their production capacity to keep up. Even major national grocery chains like Whole Foods, Kroger and Safeway began carrying Bear and Burton's sauce due to intense consumer demand.

Now visitors flock to the Burton's factory store in Vermont to pick up bottles before they fly off shelves. Locals good naturedly complain it's getting harder to get their hands on their beloved breakfast sauce thanks to its viral fame!

Caption: Bear and Burton's Breakfast Sauce has gone viral thanks to TikTok foodies

Why Bear & Burton's Sauce Deserves the Hype

It's easy to see why Bear and Burton's breakfast sauce has fans obsessively drizzling it over everything from hash browns to salmon fillets. The rich maple sweetness cut by spices and mushrooms is an irresistible flavor combination you won't find anywhere else.

The story behind the sauce is nearly as endearing as the taste - a family recipe inspired by a friendly bear!

It doesn't hurt that the old-fashioned label looks gorgeous on camera for influencer food posts. But even without the Instagram appeal, Bear and Burton's sauce stands on its own as a uniquely Vermont breakfast condiment worth traveling for.

Next time you're making eggs, waffles or breakfast sandwiches, consider spicing things up with some Bear and Burton's sauce!

FAQs

Where can I buy Bear and Burton's breakfast sauce?

Bear and Burton's breakfast sauce is sold in grocery stores across Vermont as well as nationally in Whole Foods, Kroger, and Safeway locations. You can also buy it online from the Burton's website to ship anywhere in the US.

How long has Bear and Burton's sauce been around?

The Bear and Burton's breakfast sauce was first created in 1989 by Vermont local Naomi Burton. It's been a beloved cult favorite condiment in the state for over 30 years and recently went viral nationwide.

What's the best way to use Bear and Burton's sauce?

Bear and Burton's versatile breakfast sauce delicious on eggs, pancakes, waffles, sandwiches, meats, and more. For best results, try is as a drizzle or dipping sauce. A little goes a long way thanks to the powerful flavor!

Is Bear and Burton's sauce gluten-free and vegetarian?

Yes! Bear and Burton's breakfast sauce is gluten-free and vegetarian (but not vegan). It's made from simple, real food ingredients like maple syrup, spices, herbs and foraged mushrooms.

Why did Bear and Burton's sauce become so popular on TikTok?

Food lovers on TikTok fell in love with Bear and Burton's perfectly balanced sweet, savory and tangy flavor profile. Its charming backstory and vintage label also make it visually appealing for viral food videos.