Hot Chilli Honey

Hot Chilli Honey: 7 Delicious Ways to Use the Sweet Heat Everyone’s Drizzling

Somewhere between a pizzeria in Brooklyn and your local café’s brunch menu, hot chilli honey became the condiment everyone suddenly can’t live without. It’s sweet, it’s spicy and it’s sticky in the way only good things are. One minute you’re drizzling a little over pizza. The next you’re wondering whether it belongs on ice cream. (It does. We’ll get there.)

If you’ve just bought a bottle, or you’re trying to work out why everyone keeps talking about it, here’s your guide to getting the most out of chilli honey.

What is hot chilli honey?

At its simplest, chilli honey is honey that has been infused with chilli, so you get the warm, floral sweetness of honey followed by a slow-building heat. Unlike most hot sauces, it doesn’t hit you with vinegar or salt. It’s rounder and softer, more of a warm hug than a slap.

That balance is what makes it so versatile. Sweetness tames the chilli, the chilli stops the honey from being cloying, and together they make salty, fatty and crispy foods taste even better.

Why hot honey works so well

There’s a simple reason chefs love it: contrast. Our taste buds love a push and pull between sweet and salty, rich and sharp, hot and cool. Hot honey brings sweetness and heat at the same time. Add it to something salty or rich, like cheese, cured meat or fried chicken, and the whole dish suddenly feels more balanced.

7 ways to use chilli honey

1. Hot honey pizza

The one that started it all. Pull a pepperoni or salami pizza out of the oven and drizzle hot honey over the top while it’s still bubbling. The sweetness plays off the salty, slightly crisp pepperoni, and the chilli lingers just long enough to make you reach for the next slice. Make your own base with a good Italian flour [CHECK: link your pizza flour product].

2. Hot honey fried chicken

Toss crispy wings or fried chicken pieces in warm chilli honey with a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of salt. Serve with something cooling, such as a dollop of yoghurt or a crunchy slaw, and watch them disappear.

3. Cheese boards

Hot honey and cheese are a match made somewhere very delicious. Drizzle it over blue cheese, aged cheddar, creamy brie or fresh burrata. Add figs, walnuts and crackers, and your cheese board just went up a league.

4. Glazes for meat and fish

Brush chilli honey over salmon fillets, pork belly or chicken thighs in the last few minutes of cooking. It caramelises into a sticky, glossy glaze with a gentle kick. Add a splash of soy sauce and garlic for an Asian-style twist.

5. Roast vegetables

Toss pumpkin, carrots, sweet potato or Brussels sprouts with olive oil and roast until golden. Drizzle with hot honey for the last five minutes. It turns humble vegetables into the side dish everyone fights over.

6. Cocktails

Swap sugar syrup for chilli honey in a whisky sour, a margarita or a hot toddy. Mix it with a little warm water first so it dissolves easily, then shake as normal.

7. Dessert (yes, really)

Drizzle a little over vanilla ice cream, Greek yoghurt or a slice of cheesecake. The heat is gentle enough to surprise rather than shock, and you’ll get some very interesting looks at the dinner table.

How to store chilli honey

Store your hot honey in a cool, dry place with the lid tightly closed [CHECK: follow the storage advice on the label]. If it crystallises in cooler weather, stand the bottle in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes and it will loosen up again.

Hot chilli honey FAQ

What does hot chilli honey taste like?
It tastes sweet first, like regular honey, followed by a warm chilli heat that builds gently and lingers. It’s less sharp than hot sauce because it doesn’t rely on vinegar.

What do you eat chilli honey with?
It’s best with salty, rich or crispy foods. Think pizza, fried chicken, cheese, cured meats, roast vegetables and grilled halloumi. It also works in glazes, dressings and cocktails.

Is hot honey very spicy?
Most hot honeys are moderately spicy, with the sweetness softening the heat. Start with a small drizzle and add more to taste. Check the label for the heat level of your bottle.

Grab a bottle and start drizzling

Once you’ve tried it, you’ll find yourself reaching for hot honey more often than you’d expect. Pick up a bottle of Foodology Hot Chilli Infused Honey 1kg for the kitchen, or try our Bippi Italian Chilli Honey in a smaller jar. Looking for a gift for the chilli lover in your life? Browse our gift hampers. Shipped from our shop in Rye. Please note that we can’t ship honey to Western Australia or Tasmania.