Sweet & Heat
Honey lends the perfect balance to today's trending heat.
Peppermelon: Combining black pepper-honey syrup, gin, and fresh juices, this cocktail offers a divine juxtaposition of sweet and heat. Uniquely refreshing, each sip demands another.
Global Cuisine
Versatile honey moves easily across a range of global favorites.
Honey Pulled Pork Banh-Mi: In this trending favorite, honey helps seal in moisture to the protein, unites disparate flavors, and adds viscosity to the flavorful sauce.
Snacks & Small Plates
Honey adds craveability to trending snacks and small plates.
Chickpea "Meatballs" with Honeyed Tomato Sauce: Vegetarian "meatballs," blending chickpeas, Mediterranean spices, and honey, are served with a honey-sweetened, slightly acidic fennel-tomato sauce for big flavor.
Breakfast
Honey teams up with savory ingredients for trending all-day breakfast
Honey Drizzled Breakfast Pizza: In this Honey Drizzled Breakfast Pizza, sausage, eggs, cheese, and arugula are served on a honey-kissed crust and drizzled with honey for a salty-sweet breakfast pie.
Dessert
A wholesome all-natural sweetener, honey elevates almost any dessert.
Burnt Honey Mascarpone & Basil Gelato: Caramelized honey swirled with mascarpone and fresh basil delivers a creamy, sophisticated, sweet-and-savory frozen treat.
TRENDS
Wholesome all-natural honey is as popular as ever, appearing on more than half of restaurant menus nationwide (and growing).* Honey’s popularity can be attributed to its “triple threat” of flavor, function, and versatility, not to mention its unique story.
Made by bees from the nectar of flowers, honey occurs naturally in a range of flavor profiles, based on the floral source. Honey varietals range in color from light to dark and from mild to bold in taste. Foodservice operators are increasingly highlighting honey varietals on menus, adding interest and regional flair.
In addition to its flavor and versatility, honey boasts impressive functional properties:
Humectant: Honey helps baked goods retain moisture, extending shelf life.
Emulsifier: Honey serves as a natural thickening agent for sauces and dressings.
Balance: Honey modifies a range of tastes, including spicy, salty, bitter, and sour.
With all that this golden ingredient offers, it’s no surprise that honey is at the sweet spot of a number of food and beverage trends.