TREND BITES:
Swicy 2.0
“Swicy” was our inaugural Trend Bite, published in January 2023, and the sweet + spicy flavor trend has only grown more popular since then! This year, foodservice experts from IFT, Whole Foods, Wixon, NRA, Supermarket Perimeter, and more have predicted various sweet and spicy flavors to take over menus. We wanted to dive deeper into the trend and how it appeals to foodservice customers, so check out our original “Swicy” Trend Bite or read on for new ideas!
The Basics of Sweet + Spicy
Edlong's "Getting a Taste of 2024 Flavor Trends" claims, "Sweet and spicy has captured consumer attention and imagination in a big way." They explain that the appeal of "swicy" is the balance between beloved sweet ingredients like fruit and caramel with authentic spicy flavors from global cuisines. Go beyond calling an item "spicy" and tell patrons exactly what the spice is, like habanero, sriracha, or gochujang.
Kids Want Spice!
The foodservice segment where we've seen the most demand for sweet and spicy is in K-12. Kids love bold flavors, and the sweetness of ingredients like honey and syrup makes spice more palatable to young eaters. Whether you serve children in schools or through a kids' menu at a restaurant, fun flavor callouts like "hot honey" or "boom boom sauce" are sure to be a hit! Try our favorite swicy kids' menu recipes: Hot Honey Tenders and Waffles and Boom Boom Chicken Snack Wraps.
Try these swicy applications!
We used this spicy, sweet, tangy sauce with our Crispy Barrel Breaded Breast Tenders! The sauce enhances the savory crunch of the tenders for a mouthwatering snacking experience.
Created with K-12 menus in mind, this bowl is made with brown rice, mango salsa, and boneless wings tossed in pineapple chipotle sauce! It's full of textures, colors, and flavors to get kids (or adults!) excited about trying new foods.
For an alternative to chicken and waffles, try chicken and French toast! Crunchy popcorn chicken and fluffy French toast create a delicious combination, and the addition of orange honey sriracha sauce brings the flavor to the next level!
Spicy Tips for Restaurants
While some restaurant-goers are intrigued by ultra-spicy options and challenge themselves to eat the hottest meals possible, your core customer base likely wants milder spicy flavors. According to Wixon's 2023 Flavor Forecast, "70% of U.S. consumers prefer medium and mild spice levels, with only 26% preferring hot or extra hot spice levels." To appeal to the greatest number of customers, swicy applications are the perfect solution. Feature a recognizable but interesting spicy flavor with a sweet ingredient like we did with honey sriracha sauce on this Hot Honey Chicken French Toast.
Lean on Chicken to Carry New Flavors
We might be biased, but the data shows that the best way to incorporate spicy flavors on your menu is with chicken! According to Datassential, "spicy" is most often paired with chicken, with 54.9% of "spicy" menu mentions being in dishes that also include chicken. Want to go bold? Start with chicken and then have fun trying new flavors. How about candied jalapenos and pepper jelly in our Popper Chicken Sandwich recipe? Or honey, Buffalo sauce, and chili crisp in these Flamin' Hot Honey Crunch Wings?
Looking for the perfect chicken for swicy applications?
Table of Contents
Want more Trend Bites content? Sign up for our quarterly e-newsletters for menu ideas, back-of-house tips, and updates on our latest products!
