Swicy is the latest trend gaining traction in the food industry. The word is, of course, a portmanteau of sweet and spicy. And if you’ve ever dipped a nugget into sweet chili sauce, you’ve already had a taste of it. Good news: If you are a fan of this classic condiment, you’re going to love our swicy vegan food picks below.
What does swicy mean?
Around the world, people are getting more curious about different cuisines and flavors. Korean, Mexican, and Indian dishes and sauces are more popular than ever, and many of them are, you guessed it, swicy. Basically, they combine sweet and spicy ingredients together to create a delicious burst of flavor.
Take mango chutney, for example, which likely originated on the Indian subcontinent centuries ago. The popular condiment combines sweet ripe mangoes with subtly spicy chili peppers. And then there’s gochujang, a fermented Korean chili paste made with sweet glutinous rice, which is also known for its sweet and spicy flavor profile and has soared in popularity in the West in recent years.
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“During the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, consumers could not travel and so yearned to taste the cuisines of faraway places,” Jennifer Creevy, director of food and drink at trend forecasting and analytics firm WGSN, told CNN recently. “This, coupled with consumers becoming more confident in the kitchen has led to more adventurous tastes.”
It’s also led to a market surge in products with swicy flavors, many of which are vegan and, quite frankly, delicious.
The best vegan swicy food picks
Find some of our favorite swicy foods below.
1 In The Raw Hot Agave Nectar
Hot honey has been popular on TikTok recently, but of course, because honey is made by bees, it’s not vegan. However, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the gooey, spicy, sweet experience it has to offer. Instead, grab yourself some Hot Agave Nectar, which is infused with jalapeño peppers, from In The Raw.
Find it here
2 Momofuku Sweet & Spicy Ramen Noodles
Craving noodles for dinner? These ramen noodles by chef David Chang’s brand Momofuku are made with simple ingredients like soy sauce, chili paste, and sesame oil, which, according to the brand, “creates the perfect balance of sweet and heat.”
Find it here
3 Spudsy Hot Sweet Potato Fries
If you’re a fan of spicy chips (you know, the kind where you just. can’t. stop. eating. them.), you need these Spudsy Hot Sweet Potato Fries in your life. They’re a healthier, yet equally delicious, alternative, as they’re made with simple, non-GMO ingredients like sweet potato flour and sunflower oil.
Find it here
4 Fly By Jing Zhong Sauce
For that can’t-put-your-finger-on-it delicious umami taste, you need Zhong Sauce. It’s the perfect mix of sweet, tangy, and spicy, and will go with everything from dumplings to grilled (vegan) meat to soft dairy-free cheese.
Find it here
5 Brooklyn Delhi Roasted Garlic Achaar
Achar is another example of a classic Indian condiment that is from fruits or vegetables like mango, lime, or carrot, alongside sugar and spices. The flavor of this Roasted Garlic blend from Brooklyn Delhi is hard to beat. It’s not just spicy and sweet, but it’s also savory and a little lemony, too.
Find it here
6 Sugar Bob’s Vermont Maple Sriracha
Most people love regular old sriracha, of course. But if you really love swicy flavors, you need this Vermont Maple version of the sauce in your life, too. The delicious flavor comes from Fresno chili peppers and pure maple syrup, which, it turns out, are a match made in taste heaven.
Find it here
Moku
7 Moku Sweet and Spicy Plant-Based Mushroom Jerky
Mushroom jerky is all the rage at the moment. What’s not to love? It’s vegan, made with simple ingredients, and it’s packed with protein, too. Plus it comes in some delicious flavors, like this sweet and spicy option from Moku.
Find it here
8 Jenkins Jellies Fiery Figs Hot Pepper Jelly
Spicy jelly for dessert? What? Yep, it’s a thing, and we’re totally here for it. It tastes as delicious over waffles and ice cream as it does over a pizza or a burger. Feeling experimental? Whip up a cocktail with it, too—you won’t be disappointed.
Find it here
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
Here at VegNews, we live and breathe the plant-based lifestyle, and only recommend products we feel make our lives amazing. Occasionally, articles may include shopping links where we might earn a small commission, but in no way does this effect the editorial integrity of VegNews.
