Spicy foods and flavors have been a burning topic in our industry. New product developers and marketers have turned to global foods and flavors, hoping to find that next hot pepper that will blow consumers away. But don’t search too far down the Scoville Heat Unit scale as studies indicate that the most popular level of heat enjoyed by spice enthusiasts is medium. * We are finding that those complex flavors that consumers crave are sweet and spicy. In other words, SWICY! 

SWICY Offerings on Menus

SWICY flavors are adding some spark to menus. We’ve seen some daring combinations of sweet heat from beverages like spicy lemonades to sweet and spicy toppings for pizza! There are a variety of flavor combinations resulting in sweet and spicy taste profiles, with ingredients rooted from Mexico to Asia! Here are a few examples with staggering growth in the last 4 years!  

SWICY is a Hot Topic

A growing number of retail brands have embraced the SWICY trend, bringing new and exciting products to the shelves. From spicy potato chips to zesty sodas, the SWICY phenomenon has captured the attention of food enthusiasts and social media users alike. Online discussions about SWICY combinations have become increasingly popular over the past year, with many people sharing their own unique and mind-blowing creations. The rise of the SWICY trend is a testament to the power of innovation and experimentation in the food industry.

SWICY Solutions

Lee Kum Kee offers a variety of regional chili sauces that are ideal for creating complex and delicious SWICY flavors. These regional chili sauces have unique flavor profiles that perfectly complement sweet flavors. Check out these SWICY combinations that have seen growth in Social Media discussions in the last year, using Lee Kum Kee Sriracha Chili Sauce and Lee Kum Kee Chiu Chow Style Chili Crisp Oil! 

Click to request a sample of Chili Sauce to create your own SWICY developments!

Sources: * The Food Institute