Move over, mango habanero! The sweet heat trend is starting to look a little bit different. Sweet and spicy, or “swicy,” flavors have long been popular, but the types of ingredients being featured in these flavor combinations are changing to keep up with consumers’ preferences. Traditional sweet heat combos that pair popular peppers, like jalapeño, habanero, and chipotle, with familiar fruits are becoming less appealing than unexpected and unfamiliar pairings. It’s time to make room for a new generation of sweet and spicy flavor profiles.
Which sweet heat flavors are having a moment? And how can brands innovate to come up with craveable swicy combinations that consumers will totally crave? Keep reading for our experts’ analysis on the current state of this trend – and our insights on what’s next for sweet heat flavors.
Hot Honey is Heating Up
When it comes to swicy flavors, hot honey is on fire right now! This sweet heat flavor combo was an instant success, all of a sudden captivating consumers and their cravings. It all started with sauces. Hot honey flavored condiments took off, with consumers appreciating their versatility and ability to bring a satisfying sweet heat to everything from chicken wings and pizza to salad dressings and shrimp. The craze for this condiment has ultimately spilled over to other categories. In fact, hot honey is among the fastest growing salty snack flavors.
Most hot honey flavors are simply labeled as “hot honey,” so one way that brands can get in on this trend, while still being innovative is by creating more specific sweet heat flavor combinations featuring honey. Consider pairing honey with trending peppers, like serrano, poblano, and ghost pepper, for unique spins on the hot honey trend. Another option? Combine honey with trending global flavors for the perfect mashup of familiar and exotic. Think honey harissa, gochujang honey, and berbere & honey.
Want to get even further ahead of the curve? Look beyond honey to other baking inspired ingredients to bring the sweet to sweet heat flavor combinations. Maple, vanilla, brown sugar, and
chocolate are all ideally suited to pair with spicy ingredients for next-level sweet and spicy flavor combos. Think chipotle brown sugar, maple jalapeño, and chili chocolate.
Get Inspired by Global Flavors
Two trends are better than one! Capitalize on both the growing popularity of sweet heat flavors and consumers’ enduring obsession with global flavors by featuring international-inspired ingredients and flavors in new and exotic sweet heat flavor combinations.
Ever since sriracha entered the scene, global sauces have become a go-to source of inspiration for flavors. Look to spicy condiments from international cuisines to deliver the hot component of sweet heat flavors. Think pineapple chili oil, harissa apple, and spicy mango chutney. Global spice blends are also ideal for serving up heat in swicy flavor combinations. Chinese five spice, for example, can be paired with anything from berries to chocolate for an irresistible and innovative sweet heat mashup.
There’s also no shortage of sweet global flavor inspiration. Flavors inspired by global desserts could be paired with hot peppers or spices for unique
takes on the sweet heat trend. Think a hot chili baklava or a spiced crème brulee. Yet another option is to get inspired by fruits common in global cuisines to offer a more innovative twist on traditional sweet and spicy flavor combinations. Think yuzu habanero or spicy guava curry.
Looking to make a mouthwatering sweet heat flavor mashup for your products? Contact us today to see how Fuchs can help you create something special.