The latest statistics show that 10% of menus in the US feature sweet and spicy items, or ‘swicy’ as it is now known. ‘Swicy’ menus are expected to grow by over 9.6% over the next couple of years, and spicy food and beverage descriptors are set to have a 9% year-over-year growth.
KFC launched a hot honey collaboration last year, and Chipotle has also created new menu items that use hot honey, showing that the trend could be here to stay.
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Swicy Foods are Becoming More Common
Combining sweet flavours with a kick has helped supermarket shelves explode, as people start to seek out new and interesting combinations.
Chili has never been more popular either, as 95% of menus now feature chili in some form, making it one of the most widely used ingredients. Chilli-based products have also risen by 32% in the last five years, while European demand surges.
In the UK, manufacturers launched 675 new chili food products last year. Over the last few years, sweet chili sauces, spicy jams, and hot honey have all become more common, as social media accelerates the trend.
Home cooking has also evolved beyond restaurant dining. Rather than complicating things by using spice blends, restaurants are now turning to flavored chili pastes, chili oil, fermented hot sauces, and more. At Singapore’s Michelin-starred restaurant, Labyrinth, Han Li Guang’s signature dish, is chili crab ice cream.
At KOL London, Langoustine with Sea Buckthorn & Seaweed Macha features smoked chili and a chipotle cream, using British ingredients with a Mexican twist. International cuisines have played a huge role in chili’s rise to fame, as more people look to create Thai, Indian, Korean and Mexican dishes at home.
Popular Culture has Helped to put Chili in the Spotlight
Superhot: The Spicy World of Pepper People, which can be viewed on Hulu, helps to showcase the hottest chilies in the world. It also documents people who are competitive in the world of growing chili, while following chiliheads, who are dedicated to ensuring quality, taste, and heat.
Flamin’ Hot on Amazon Prime follows the story of Richard Montañez, a janitor from California who pitched the idea of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.
In iGaming, chili is also a big theme. Titles like Chili Libre, Don Juan el Picante, and Chili Poppers all feature chili pepper iconography and can be played at a casino UK. This makes perfect sense as well, especially when you consider the UK’s love for chili. British influencers like Shahina Waseem have also gone on to compete in the League of Fire-eating Belts.
For a lot of consumers, though, chili is no longer about adding heat. Chlli growth and production have become so advanced that now different varieties can offer smoky, earthy, or fruity notes without overwhelming the user with heat. Swicy flavours also show a much bigger shift towards eating, as people become more adventurous over time.
As restaurants continue to expand their offerings, supermarkets are also dedicating more shelf space to chili products, showing how spicy foods aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
