SPAM has officially gone sweet, spicy and controversial.
Hormel has unveiled SPAM Hot Honey, the first permanent addition to the SPAM lineup in two years—and the new flavor is already dividing fans. Some are ready to throw a slice into the frying pan immediately. Others are looking at the iconic blue can and asking one very important question: Why?
The new SPAM Hot Honey combines the salty, savory flavor of the classic canned meat with the increasingly ubiquitous combination of sweetness and heat. Hormel says the launch taps into the booming “swicy” food trend, where sweet and spicy flavors collide.
Hot honey has been everywhere lately, from pizza and chicken to chips and bacon. Now it has officially landed inside a can of SPAM.
And not everyone is thrilled.
Some fans have embraced the idea and are eager to try the new flavor, while SPAM purists are sticking firmly with the original. One commenter reportedly summed up the resistance with “Absolutely NOT,” while another said they were tired of the hot honey trend altogether.
But if you’re willing to give Hot Honey SPAM a chance, Hormel has plenty of ideas beyond simply frying it and putting it next to eggs.
The brand recommends using it on everything from flatbreads and pizza to rice bowls and breakfast dishes.
New Yorkers even got an early taste thanks to a collaboration with Win Son Bakery, which served SPAM Hot Honey in a breakfast sandwich and a Taiwanese fan tuan through September 20.
The new variety is now rolling out at select grocery retailers nationwide, joining SPAM’s increasingly crowded flavor universe.
So, is SPAM Hot Honey the next pantry obsession—or a culinary bridge too far?
There’s only one way to settle this debate.
Fry it.
Try it.
Then argue about it on the internet.
