Honey: The Sweetest Food Trend
Honey is the hottest flavor on everyone’s lips. Naturally sweet, sustainably created, and packed with health benefits, honey hits all the marks when it comes to consumer trends. Environmentally-conscious, holistically inclined, and foodies alike are hyping up honey, and the demand has resulted in a variety of interesting applications. Advanced Biotech takes a look at this sweet food trend and the unexpected ways it’s made its way onto supermarket shelves.
Hot
Bored with standard staples like ketchup and barbecue sauce that are often packed with artificial sweeteners, consumers are looking for a more natural way to tantalize their taste buds. Just as the name implies, hot honey is honey that is infused with chili spices to create a complex sweet and spicy flavor combination. Consumers looking to add depth to dinnertime fare like pizza, pasta, and fried chicken are gobbling up this spicy condiment. Hot honey plays well with salty proteins like chicken wings, roasted veggies get a pick-me-up, and even simple vanilla ice cream benefits from a drizzle of this innovative sauce.
Fermented
Fermented honey seems like a new innovation, but its origins have actually been traced back to ancient China. Sometimes called baker’s honey, fermented honey is a form of raw honey that has been left in warm conditions to develop certain types of beneficial yeast. Sometimes frothy, with a bready smell and soft mouthfeel, fermented honey tastes great on oatmeal, muesli, and yogurt. When combined with water and other botanics, it can be made into mead, a sweet alcohol that has been gaining popularity for both its artisanal appeal and perceived health benefits.
Herbal
Herb-infused honey has become a popular DIY for health-conscious home cooks and bars looking to get the biggest bang for their buck when it comes to botanics. A great way to utilize leftover herbs such as thyme, lavender, and rosemary, infused honey adds interest and health benefits to cocktails, granola, and even marinades and dressings. The versatility is endless, and consumers will love the low-waste and natural aspects, as well as the complex and floral flavors.