Flavor of the Week: Spicy Honey

A salty-sweet drizzle, sometimes with a bit of vinegar for balance, this condiment is catching fire for its versatility both for the ways in which it can be used on a menu and the variety in the kinds of cuisines into which it can be incorporated.

Spicy honey, often called “hot honey,” can be used in or on dishes ranging from classic fried chicken to pizza, or even desserts. While condiments from barbecue sauce to gochujang have long brought a pleasant balance of spicy and sweet, spicy honey may be newer on the block but has seemingly endless possibilities due to its more neutral flavor and freedom from cultural attachments.

Market research firm Datassential reports that spicy honey has seen a 101% increase on menus in the past four years and is currently found on 3.2% of menus in the United States.

Click through the gallery to learn more about this week’s Flavor of the Week and see how one restaurant concept is using spicy honey on its menu.