Sweet Heat on Fire as 2022 Trend

Mike’s Hot Honey has been a beloved condiment for years, used in everything from fried chicken sandwiches to pizza. Its success has spurred countless new hot honey introductions and served as a catalyst for the explosive growth of the sweet heat flavor profile.

Last year QSR Magazine reported that hot honey, in particular, grew on American menus a whopping 187 percent between 2016 and 2020. (Mike’s Hot Honey came onto the scene circa 2015.) And, there is no slowdown in sight, as even big brands such as Heinz are getting in the game. The company’s Heinz 57 Collection now offers an Infused Honey with Hot Chili.

Kevin Villanueva, research and development chef with The Culinary Edge, told QSR that the hot honey trend makes sense because “there’s truly no application I’d rule it out for.”

“The first factor is the complex flavor,” he said. “And, the ingredient label of Mike’s Hot Honey is super clean. It’s chilies, and it’s honey. One of the biggest trends moving forward is the clean label, and this fits right into that.”

Further, there’s something about sweet heat that has a cool factor. It began with a cult following and has grown into a mainstream phenomenon. Whole Foods Market’s Trends Council named honey combined with chilis as not only one of the condiment blend trends of the summer, but a driving change in the condiments category, along with “elevated” ketchup and mustard.

“We’re seeing tangy fermented ingredients adding flair to vinaigrettes, hot sauces, honeys and mayos,” the retailer wrote in Food Navigator. “With flavor boosts like miso, kimchi and fermented garlic, these products exponentially expand the flavor possibilities of every summer soirée.”

Scorching Snacks

Hot honey condiments are not the only sizzling category, as the flavor profile is finding its way into the snack aisle and frozen entree case. A Kalsec survey found that 80% of U.S. consumers aged 18 and older now enjoy hot and spicy foods, and over half of those consume spicy foods at least once a week. Snacks were the most common on the list. Drivers included a desire for complexity in their heat experience, confirming that consumers not only want to taste food, they also want to have a moment to remember. These sweetened-with-honey products aim to keep the fire burning.