Innovation Spotlight - Sweet & Spicy
Celebrate Labor Day and the tail end of summer with new treats to enjoy with the heat! The sustained popularity of Asian chili sauces like Siracha and Thai sweet chili have changed flavor expectations to welcome combinations like Hot Honey as new trending flavors.
Interested in our FREE Summer 23' GenZ Insights Report? Click here and we'll walk you through it!
Weekly Bites 🍽️
🇰🇷🍗 | I visited the Korean fried chicken chain that's set to 🌱 expand rapidly across the 🇺🇸 and ate some of the best wings I've ever had 👌 LINK
🥞🔀 | IHOP continues its menu innovation with a new 🍞 biscuit lineup LINK
👛🍽️🗽 | Chanel is opening a Brooklyn diner — but the menu isn’t traditional LINK
🍭🌶️ | What Is ‘Swicy’? The Sweet-Spicy Food Trend You're 👀 Seeing Everywhere LINK
At 4 million views in the last 7 days, #hothoney is one of the flavor combinations that has soared above the rest and has led the charge on the sweet and spicy flavor or “swicy” trend. "Shared through the memory, influence and multi-generational heritage of immigrants, this wave of texture and flavor offers complex, nuanced blends of herbs, spice, specialty chiles, fruit, rich nuts and seeds and punches of umami,” remarks Sherpa CPG founder Victoria Ho.
Like caramel, honey is an ingredient trusted and enjoyed by most, which can help introduce something unexpected like red chili or smokey chipotle. After some time as separate savory condiments, it was only a matter of time before the varieties of chili found in asian preparations would make its way to other ways to deliver new zing. “What began in the hot sauce category is exploding into honey, spreads, confections, beverages, and snacks, snagging new markets like younger consumers, especially, and inspiring specialty food companies to introduce heat and spice into existing product lines,” said Mikel Cirkus, global creative director at Firmenich Inc.
Flavor manufacturers Torani and Monin have both explored the latest trend and have developed their own mixtures to epitomize the moment. Made with organic wildflower honey and zesty jalapeño pepper, Monin’s hot honey preparation is ready to add to teas, lemonades, specialty cocktails, coffee drinks, sauces, marinades, and the next buzzworthy recipe on the horizon.
Several snack brands including the ubiquitous Taki’s have developed their own swicy offerings like the Dragon Sweet Chili that became an instant hit for those looking for a little less heat and something different in contrast to Taki’s hotter original flavors. Additionally in the case of Charqui Jerky Co., their approach to swicy applied to jerky is an homage to the Asian umami filled meat marinade and preparations.
Browse Monin’s full line of syrups including their 2023 Flavor of The Year Hot Honey:
Explore Charqui Jerky Co.’s collection of premium beef jerky including Swicy and Paris’ Cut:
See Sporked.com’s ranking of all Takis flavors including the new Dragon Sweet Chili:
https://sporked.com/article/best-takis-flavors/
#foodmashup #flavormashup #swicy #sweetheat #honey #hothoney #jalapeno #jerky #sweetchili