It could be the condiment of the year. Spicy and sweet (call it speet? Or maybe swicy?), it’s hot honey, and if you’ve gone out to eat recently, you may have seen it on a menu ingredient list for pizza, chicken, a burrito, or even in a cocktail or ice cream.
You might have bought a squeeze bottle of Mike’s Hot Honey — perhaps the biggest and most well-known vendor on the speet (swicy?) scene — to have on hand at home when the craving hits.
But Colorado beekeepers and honey bosses don’t live under a hive, and many have recognized the trendy deliciousness of hot honey, so this is a product perfectly primed for buying locally (especially since local beekeepers tend to be heavily invested in supporting healthy bee populations and using sustainable practices that benefit both the earth and your tastebuds).
“I think the recent hot honey boom comes down to that perfect sweet and spicy combination that’s just universally appealing. It’s a classic flavor pairing that works on everything,” said Denver-based designer-turned-local honey entrepreneur Mike Lindholm.
Lindholm and his partners launched Honey House in late 2023, bottling up small-batch, artisanal honey from apiaries across the country (including Colorado Springs). One of their top sellers, of course, is Hot Honey, which was a success for the brand pretty much as soon as it was released.
Want to join the hot honey hive mind? Try one of these Colorado-based hot honeys to satiate your hankering for something speet. (Or swicy.)
Honey House Hot Honey
A habanero-based proprietary blend made with other top-secret supporting peppers, this hot honey is definitely spicy, without totally blowing out your tastebuds. “We spent over 150 iterations perfecting our Hot Honey recipe,” Lindholm said.
Where to buy: Leevers Locavore (2630 W. 38th Ave., Denver) and online
Björn’s Sweet and Spicy Colorado Honey
Whipped wildflower honey plus Pueblo-based Jojo’s OGX Red Jalapeño Sriracha equals a fiery flavor punch perfect for fried chicken, drizzling over stir fries, or licking straight out of the jar.
Where to buy: South Pearl and City Park Farmers’ Markets and Bjorn’s retail stores in Golden (1100 Washington Ave., Unit 101), Boulder (1101 Pearl St.) and Littleton (7301 S. Santa Fe Dr. #514)
Primo Whiskey Honey + Thai and Caramel Honey + Cayenne
Denver-based Primo makes awesomely unique condiments for the ultimate charcuterie board, including a spicy, caramelly jar of whiskey barrel-aged honey with Thai peppers, and a brand-new sea salt and cayenne version.
Where to buy: Whole Foods stores across Colorado and online
Honeyville Hot Honey
Each batch of Honeyville’s Hot Honey may vary with heat because of the unpredictability of the serrano peppers, but the sweetness of the Durango-sourced wildflower honey is forever.
Where to buy: At the Honeyville factory store (33633 Hwy 550, Durango) or online
Haefeli’s Infused Honey with Green Chili and Habanero
Sixth-generation Del Norte beekeepers infuse their honeys with two options for spice. The Hatch blend registers at about a four out of 10 on the heat scale, while the zestier habanero infusion clocks in at a seven.
Where to buy: Online
Local Hive Hot Honey
Not one, not two, but three different blends of hot honey all start with premium raw unfiltered honey. Next, pick your spice level: from the kicky jalapeño-based original, to the smoky chipotle, up to the downright fire Sriracha.
Where to buy: Front Range King Soopers and online
Colorado Hot Honey
Maybe as local as it gets, this Boulder County honey uses homegrown Pueblo Mirasol green chilis. So yeah, this is as Colorado as driving your Subaru down I-70 with your dog hanging out the back window.
Where to buy: Online and via their Etsy shop
