WHATEVER would Winnie the Pooh have thought of the latest, newfangled honey – infused with chilli.
He may or may not have fancied dipping his paw in, but foodies cannot get enough of the stuff this summer.
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Whether for marinading, dipping or drizzling, it is top of the dollops.
Most big stores are in on the act, after Aldi recently joined the party.
Here, Laura Stott tastes their offerings and rates each out of five.
Bramwells Hot Honey – 340g, £1.69, Aldi
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THERE’S no doubt what this should taste like, as it packs 99 per cent honey and one per cent chilli flakes.
I liked that the sweet infusion doesn’t contain any unnecessary additives or flavours, so it delivers exactly what a hot honey should.
The squeezy bottle made it easy to distribute exact amounts – ideal if you’re using it to glaze meats or even top a pizza.
This is quite a runny honey so a little goes quite a long way, which also saves cash.
Very nice added to a salad dressing for a bit of a kick, and would also be good with a bacon sarnie.
Sweet to the taste, and not the spiciest so won’t leave your mouth on fire – but delivers a gentle buzz.
Rating: 4/5
The Best Hot Honey Chilli Sauce – 310g, £2, Morrisons
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PERHAPS akin to a sweet chilli sauce you may already own, this is made with Spanish honey and bird’s eye chillies – famed for extra punch – as well as dried red peppers and garlic.
The packaging claims it can add heat to stir-fries, chicken and pizza, but it would also make a useful dip for chips or crackers and a great glaze for barbecuing or grilling.
Despite containing some of the punchiest peppers you can buy, though, this tastes rather mild – it’s very sweet and while I was braced for watering eyes, what I actually got was a tiny tingle.
There is also a surprisingly low honey count – just three per cent – but lots of sugar and glucose-fructose syrup.
A dash of normal honey and some plain chilli would be just as good – and probably better for you.
Rating: 2/5
Sauce Shop Honey Sriracha – 190g, £2.80, Tesco
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IF you want to awaken the tastebuds, this potent party piece should do the trick.
Made with 35 per cent honey and a whopping 28 per cent aged jalapeno chilli peppers, along with vinegar, salt, sugar and garlic, it is nicely balanced.
You can see the chilli seeds – famed for being the fiercest part of the pepper – running through the mix and it more than delivers in the mouth.
It’s sweet, spicy and packs powerful heat – so if you love hot, this won’t disappoint.
A smooth texture, it pairs perfectly with pretty much anything.
This honey went beautifully with scrambled eggs but would also be delicious in sarnies, on pasta, to dunk fries into – or even in a Bloody Mary.
Spicy, but you do still taste the honey.
Rating: 5/5
Hilltop Hot Honey – 340g, £3, Iceland
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CONTAINS 99.98 per cent honey and 0.02 per cent chilli extract so should be categorised as lukewarm honey rather than hot.
But if you are new to the flavour, or not a big fan of chilli, it’s a good way to give this new foodie trend a try.
While it doesn’t really taste that spicy, it’s good honey – thick and runny with a golden sheen.
The mild flavour makes it an interesting addition to puds such as ice cream.
Or drizzle on to fruit and yoghurt, or even pancakes, to liven up your brekkie. It would also be fun to use when baking.
Although my personal preference would be for something a little punchier, this would be a useful addition to your kitchen cupboard – and it’s quality nectar.
Rating: 3/5
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QUITE a pricey option considering how little you get for your money.
The label says the honey has been combined with bird’s eye chilli, which should deliver a decent hit of heat, but I would probably describe the warmth level as moderate.
This product could easily be used for enhancing any dish, either sweet or savoury.
It’s rather thick in texture so would be great as a glaze or dripped on to dough.
But it wouldn’t overwhelm sweeter flavours, either, should you wish to try.
Nice enough, but more heat and a lower price tag would maybe help to win me around.
Rating: 2/5
Bramwells Honey Sriracha Hot Sauce – 155ml, £1.39, Aldi
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ANOTHER hot honey offering from Aldi, at another great price, but this one comes in a much smaller bottle so may not last long.
Concocted with 40 per cent honey, it’s infused with a selection of spicy friends that should make your tastebuds sizzle.
With ten per cent pickled chillies, and habanero puree, there is no shortage of zing in this sauce and there’s also a nice hum of paprika for an interesting smoky note
Would be fabulous for adding to meat or fish before it’s cooked over charcoal on the barbecue.
Or use it to liven up some roasted vegetables or dipping chips.
Full of spice and really rather nice.
Rating: 4/5
Hot Honey – 250g, Tesco, £1.75
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THIS smallish bottle of liquid gold is at least rather pleasingly priced.
The honey and chilli-extract combo tastes remarkably similar to Sainsbury’s offering but will set you back a lot less at the till.
At this price, it’s a useful addition to spice up your weekly shop, whether you simply fancy trying something different or want to see what the hot-honey buzz is all about.
Again, it’s mild enough to add to almost anything you want to perk up with a touch of heat, from dressings to stir-fries, or just drizzled on toast.
If you like more chilli taste than this delivers, you could add some real-deal red peppers for more of a kick.
Rating: 3/5
Groovy Food Company Hot Agave Nectar – 150ml, £3.25, ocado.com, groovyfood.co.uk
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IF you want artisan flavour but at a decent price, this lively little number could be a sweet addition to your condiments collection.
The real difference here lies in the honey itself – this agave nectar really does taste a cut above the usual.
Smooth and delicious, with a gorgeous amber hue, it smells sensational and there’s a proper sting in the tail from the red jalapeno puree and additional capsicum extract.
Perfect on a posh wood-fired pizza or added to pretty much anything you are cooking on the barbie.
Not cheap – but if you take your chilli and honey seriously, get stuck right in here.
Rating: 4/5
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