Does BBQ have to have BBQ sauce to be called BBQ

To be defined as barbeque, meat must be slow-cooked. No sauce required.

Traditionally the fuel source was coal. Today, charcoal and wood are the popular sources of heat for barbecuing. Aside from a fuel source, wood is also used to create smoke to flavor the meat.

The origins of the term “barbeque” are debated, but the most likely explanation points to natives of the West Indies. A local term “barbacoa” was used to describe slow-cooking meat over coals. European settlers mangled the term with their English tongues into “barbeque”. Today it is spelled both barbeque and barbecue.

The terms “barbequing” and “grilling” are often—and incorrectly—used interchangeably to refer to outdoor cooking. Grilling is cooking at high temperature for a short period of time whereas the heart of barbequing lies in slow-cooking at relatively low temperature. Throwing some burgers over the fire for a few minutes is grilling. Putting a brisket over smoldering charcoal for a few hours is barbequing.

The Super Bowl of competitive barbequing takes place in Memphis every May. This annual celebration of slow-cooking is known as the Memphis in May International Festival and features the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. The 2012 Grand Champion was the team Yazoo's Delta Q. They also took first place in the whole hog finals.