Spice is something that every culture has within their food and beverages. So, it’s not a shock when people wanted to experiment and create new and exciting flavor profiles.
The most recent trend that has been growing in popularity has been the sweet and spicy combination, or otherwise known as ‘swicy.’ This trend is being enjoyed by the younger generations such as Millennials and Gen Z. And thanks to social media, this trend has grown globally.
There has been many food and beverage items partaking in this direction which includes hot honey that goes on pizza to sweet heat syrup meant for coffee. This shift demonstrates the versatility of this sweet and spicy combination.
Cultural Influences on Swicy Preferences
According to a Specialty Food Magazine, the versatility of this sweet and spicy combination is demonstrated by tapping into cuisines and recipes like North African tagines (with harissa, honey, dried fruit and spice), Vietnamese dipping sauces (sugar, soy, fish sauce, chili, garlic and fresh herbs), Latin American tajín fruit cups (a chili lime salt sprinkled over fresh tropical fruits) or Indian chaat (fruits like pomegranate, tamarind and mango with hot masala spices, chili and yoghurt).
Korean cuisine has especially benefitted from the spotlight on the swicy trend with the stage firmly set for gochujang. This sweet/spicy Korean condiment is now turning up in all kinds of dish types and product settings. Gochujang can be used as a crisp seasoning, creamy pasta sauce addition, fried chicken glaze, Korean BBQ seasoning, and even more.
The Chemistry of Taste
There is a reason generation of eaters have gravitated toward swicy food items and beverages: sugar and spice balance each other out. According to TODAY’s website, sweet and spicy pairings on menus are up 38% in the last year, and hot honey is projected to outpace all other culinary and beverage flavors by 2027. Millennials and Gen Z have shown a marked preference for sweet and spicy flavors. Because of this boost, customers now have swicy menu options everywhere from Chick-fil-A™, Arby’s™, Takis, Buffalo Wild Wings®, Starbucks™, and Outback Steakhouse®, Dutch Bros® and Burger King ®recently introduced “swicy” mangonada-inspired drinks, while Takis® got in on the trend with a Dragon Sweet Chili flavor.
For these demographics, it is not just about taste but also about the experiential aspect of food. Millennials and Gen Z look for adventure in their cuisine, with tteokbokki, Korean rice cakes, and gochujang, Korean pepper paste, as examples of swicy trends that appeal to their palate. Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram help spread swicy flavors. Users share short videos of their swicy food experiments, which often go viral and inspire others to try and share these creations. The visual and communal nature of social media has contributed significantly to the popularity of swicy foods.
How to Benefit from the Swicy Trend
Sweet-spicy flavors offer something different, since they create a middle ground balanced with sweetness and spice. According to a Specialty Food Magazine, further new product development is likely in the cards. Consumers may start to see greater experimentation with jams, marmalades, molasses, agave and maple syrups, as innovators continue to explore swicy beyond hot honey.
In addition, there may be development of sweet and spicy healthy foods that combine flavor with functional benefits, and soon, plant-based cuisines will also incorporate sweet and spicy elements.
Grocers can tap into this trend by adding sweet and spicy elements into their store-branded grab-n-go meals and snacks. Attract shoppers with the use colorful, custom labels, featuring the “swicy” flavor and listing the ingredients. QR codes on labels can further tell the story, offer a promotion or even invite shoppers to submit their own swicy creation. This mash-up of flavors has endless possibilities.