Although summer temperatures are rising, recent survey data shows consumers are still looking for heat in their foods. In fact, we’re seeing foods with hot and spicy combinations with honey gaining steam, as well as the use of the word “hot” in new product names.
Food Technology Magazine reports that foods containing “complex heat” are on the rise. These products generally have ingredients like ghost pepper, serrano and flavored chile peppers. In fact, demographical data from Technomic shows that 59% of consumers aged 18 to 34 “prefer very spicy foods.” Technomic notes that spice level preference hasn’t changed much with consumers, but the global influence of flavors has expanded.
Although consumers crave the heat, “hot” products also need balance as to not overwhelm and exhaust taste buds. Enter honey and its unique makeup of more than 181 components, including carbohydrates, acids, minerals, prebiotics, antioxidants, and more. Honey is mostly known for its sweetness, but the all-natural ingredient also is quite acidic with a pH of 3.9. This combination of carbohydrates and acids gives honey the unique ability to balance hot and spicy flavors, allowing them to come through with just a hint of sweetness and acidity.
Honey’s ability to compliment hot and spicy flavors is appearing in supermarkets around the country. Here are a few products that truly capitalize on honey’s unique flavor.
