Love Sweet and Spicy? It’s Called “Swicy,” and These 8 Vegan Foods Are Must-Trys

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 combine sweet and spicy ingredients together to create a delicious burst of flavor. This flavor profile has a nickname—it’s called swicy, and it’s the latest trend gaining traction in the food industry.

Swicy is, of course, a portmanteau of sweet and spicy. And if you’ve ever dipped a nugget into sweet chili sauce, scooped mango chutney with a papadam, or indulged in gochujang wings, you’ve already had a taste of it. In fact, since Covid, the market has been flooded with swicy products, and they’re still coming. “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. “This, coupled with consumers becoming more confident in the kitchen has led to more adventurous tastes.”

Good news: If you are a fan of any of swicy flavors, you’re going to love our vegan food picks below.

RELATED: The Hottest Food Trend of the Summer Is Also the Sweetest. Here Are 12 Ways to Try It Yourself.

Filthy Food Store

1 Filthy Food Store combines jalapeños with agave to make a swicy cocktail mixer

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 spicy, sweet experience it has to offer. Grab yourself some of Filthy Food Store’s Spicy Agave Nectar, which is infused with jalapeño peppers and citrus fruits, and is ideal for giving your favorite cocktails a nice swicy kick.
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Momofuku

2 Momofuku’s Korean chili ramen noodles make for a quick, easy, swicy dinner

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.”
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Fly By Jing

3 Fly By Jing’s Sichuan chili sauce is swicy and versatile

For that can’t-put-your-finger-on-it delicious umami taste, you need Fly By Jing’s Sichuan Chili Sauce. It’s the perfect mix of sweet, tangy, and spicy, and it will go with everything from dumplings to grilled (vegan) meat to soft dairy-free cheese.
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Brooklyn Delhi

4 Brooklyn Delhi’s Roasted Garlic Achaar gives foods a subtle swicy, citrusy kick

Achar is another example of a classic Indian condiment that is made 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.
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Sugar Bob’s Finest Kind

5 Sugar Bob’s Finest Kind sweetens classic sriracha with a pop of maple syrup

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.
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Ichoose

6Ichoose combines two major food trends with its swicy mushroom jerky

Mushroom jerky is all the rage at the moment. What’s not to love? It’s vegan, meaty, 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 Ichoose.
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Muria Foods

7 Muria Foods gourmet pepper jelly is a game-changer for pizzas, burgers, and avocado toast

Spicy jelly? What? Yep, it’s a thing, and we’re totally here for it. It tastes as delicious over avocado toast as it does over a pizza or a burger. Feeling experimental? Whip up a cocktail with it, too—you won’t be disappointed.
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Jackson’s

8Level up your snack game with Jackson’s Spicy Jalapeno Sweet Potato Chips

If you’re a fan of spicy chips (you know, the kind where you just. can’t. stop. eating. them.), you need these spicy sweet potato chips in your life. They’re a healthier, yet equally delicious, alternative, as they’re made with simple ingredients like sweet potatoes and avocado oil.
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