Datassential: Hot Honey is More Than a Flavor Trend

Hot honey has been a buzzy condiment in recent years, but has now become increasingly more popular. Spicy flavors feel “less niche and more everyday, with sweet-heat combinations driving interest across snacks, sauces, beverages and desserts,” Datassential said in a new study tracking the popularity of hot honey.

Once a unique drizzle, the research firm said the condiment is now firmly in the Proliferation stage of the Menu Adoption Cycle, appearing on 11.3% of all U.S. restaurant menus and posting nearly 230% growth over the past four years. Hot honey “was an early proof point that sweet and spicy don’t just coexist—they amplify each other.”

“That kind of growth doesn’t signal a fleeting trend; it signals a structural shift in how Americans want flavor: bold, balanced and craveable. Seventy-five percent of U.S. consumers are aware of hot honey, and 48% have tried it,” the research firm said.

The research firm did note that hot honey is still on just 11.3% of menus, meaning the “opportunity ahead isn’t about chasing a trend—it’s about scaling a proven flavor platform… and it’s changing how we think about flavor.”

In October 2024, 7-Eleven launched an LTO hot honey menu in collaboration with Mike’s Hot Honey at 7-Eleven Inc.’s Raise the Roost and Speedy Café locations. The honey was featured on chicken wings and pepperoni pizza.

According to Datassential research, 46% of Gen Z says they’re more likely to try a food or beverage just because they saw it on social media. Read more about how c-stores can implement food trends in the December 2025 issue of NACS Magazine article “The Next Big Flavor Trends in C-Stores.”