The hot honey craze has officially reached one of America’s most recognizable — and polarizing — canned meats.
Hormel Foods this week unveiled SPAM Hot Honey, the first permanent addition to the brand’s lineup in two years.
“The launch taps into one of today’s fastest-growing flavor trends,” the company told Fox News Digital, saying the sweet-and-spicy combination brings “fresh excitement” to the nearly 90-year-old brand.
“SPAM Hot Honey Flavored reflects the SPAM brand’s ongoing commitment to flavor innovation,” the company added. “Whether someone prefers sweet, spicy or savory flavor profiles, this variety delivers the best of both worlds with a balance of sweetness and heat.”
SPAM Hot Honey is now at select grocery retailers nationwide, joining the brand’s lineup of more than 10 flavors.
To celebrate the launch, Hormel partnered with New York City’s Win Son Bakery, where customers can try two limited-time menu items through Sept. 20 at its Brooklyn and Manhattan locations: a breakfast sandwich and a fan tuan, a traditional Taiwanese sticky rice roll, according to a press release.
Some fans said they were excited to try the new flavor.
“I’d give it a shot,” one person said on Facebook. “I try every new SPAM that comes out,” added another.
But not everyone is convinced.
“I’m still a fan of just the original flavor,” one SPAM purist said on Facebook, adding, “Sweet and Spicy may taste good fried, but I will have to pass.”
Another commenter exclaimed, “Absolutely NOT in any flavor!”
“So tired of this hot honey trend everywhere,” one Reddit user said.
The SPAM launch is the latest example of hot honey spreading across grocery shelves and restaurant menus. In recent years, chains and brands have rolled out hot honey menu items, sauces, potato chips and bacon, as companies recognize a growing appetite for “swicy” — sweet and spicy — flavors.
Introduced by Hormel in 1937, SPAM gained popularity during World War II, when more than 100 million pounds were shipped to feed Allied troops. Today, the canned meat has sold more than 9 billion cans worldwide and remains especially popular in Hawaii and parts of Asia, Fox News Digital previously reported.
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