'Swicy' Is the Hottest (and Sweetest) Food Trend of Summer—Learn All About It Here

Everything is "swicy" right now! Sweet + spicy = swicy, and grocery stores, fast food chains, local restaurants, and home kitchens are all doling out swicy creations for a tongue-tickling combination Americans can’t get enough of. Even The Food Institute, a longstanding food industry publication, dubbed this season "The Summer of Swicy." Fifty-three percent of Gen Z shoppers report enjoying swicy flavors, so you know the trend is hot. Here's how to get in on the fun.

Swicy Is Global—and America Is Catching On

The swicy combination is nothing new—sweet and spicy foods are seen across Latin America, Southeast Asia, and beyond. But the popularity of this flavor is rising in America, with traditional takes and plenty of innovations tailored for the American palate and purchasing interests. 

"After we all fell in love with hot honey just a few short years ago, it only makes sense that the swicy trend is finally trickling its way into more formats like snack mixes and even frozen meals,” says Chala June, Specialty Food Association trendspotter, recipe developer, and writer. “It's something other global cultures have been doing for ages—think mango with chili powder—but it's exciting to see new versions of this classic combo make their way into the market."

Why Is It So Popular?

Swicy food doesn’t have to be overly spicy or too sweet; it’s a nice midpoint that strikes a fun and almost addictive balance, leaving you wanting more of the complimentary flavors. In fact, according to Daymon’s March 2024 Flavor Study, most Americans love “medium” heat as their spice of choice, with garlic, mustard, chili, habanero, and jalapeño being a few of the preferred ways to add a little heat. 

Across the country, Shake Shack, Starbucks, Jimmy Johns, Jamba, and other chains have created new swicy offerings to cater to their cool clientele, but swicy products can be found in grocery stores to enhance home cooking or just snack on something sweet, spicy and delicious.

Swicy Products to Look For at the Store

At the grocery store, Lay’s Sweet and Spicy Honey flavored chips, Momofuku Sweet & Spicy Ramen Noodles, Coca-Cola Spiced, Outshine Mango Fruit Bars with Tajìn, Soy Vay Spicy N Sweet Chili Heat Marinade, Wish-bone’s Sweet & Spicy Honey Mustard Dressing and so much more can be found on shelves to help shoppers stock up on swicy flavors via common brands. Even Target’s in-house label, Good & Gather, has broken into the swicy space with a Hot Honey and Crisp Chili Dipping Sauce. 

Of course, Mike’s Hot Honey, the product that started it all, can be added to pretty much anything, along with a slew of various spicy honey and spice maple syrup products that can be generously drizzled on everything from cheese pizza and chicken to charcuterie. 

8 Ways to Go Swicy in Your Kitchen

Creating swicy foods from scratch can be as easy as pairing a hot pepper with a piece of fruit or slightly more involved. Here are some jumping-off points:

• Stone fruits, like peaches or apricots, go well with jalapeño in a summertime salsa or salad, and habaneros pair well with tropical fruits like mango, such as in our mango avocado salsa.
• Macerated berries sweetened by sugar can get a nice kick from a dash of chile powder or thin slices of chile on top.
• This ceviche with tropical fruit and habanero is a lovely way to get a refreshing taste of swicy-ness, and the chef controls the heat.
• Maple and cayenne deliver a perfect swicy kick in many iterations; try it here in our sweet and spicy snack mix.
• Use Sriracha mixed with honey for your own swicy sauce—which is amazing on grilled foods like our spicy-sweet grilled shrimp.
• Don't stop there; try a spicy chile salt or Tajin rim on your cocktail, like in our mango margarita.
• For swicy novices, even something as classic as creamed corn with jalapeños evokes those swicy flavors,
• Experiment with adding a spicy element to your favorite desserts. Chile crisp-topped ice cream, anyone? Or how about adding a cayenne kick to melt-in-your-mouth chocolate cookies?