The Nando's Garlic Peri Peri Sauce is inspired by the intense heat of the South African chili called African Bird's Eye Chili. It was widely used for the fierce heat it contained that gave any dish a much-needed kick of flavor.

The first person to pair the sauce with the marinated and basted Portuguese chicken was Fernando Duarte in 1987. He made the sauce with fresh notes of sun-ripened lemon and wild herbs, with an amazing kick of garlic. This paired extremely well with the chicken, making it one of the most famous combinations in the world. The passionate heat of the chili is soothed by the freshness and sweetness of the garlic. The lemon and wild herbs also add an extra layer of flavor to the sauce.