Everyone’s heard of salty and sweet combinations, so what’s the big deal with it now? It’s one of the O.G. flavour combos that’s been around longer than pineapple has been on pizza, but this flavour fusion has been quietly making its comeback, popping up everywhere from ice cream stands to the snack aisle.
So what’s behind this newfound summer trend, how can you incorporate it into your everyday meals, and will it last through the season? We dive into everything you need to know about salty + sweet flavour combos.
What is ‘Swalty’?
Sweet is divine. Salty is satisfying. Combine the two, and you have the right balance between sugar and salt in an elevated, and usually, indulgent way. It’s the original mashup, but with a new and trendy name (thanks, Gen Z’ers). It’s thought that ‘swalty’ is actually a play on the ol’ famous ‘swicy’ (sweet + spicy), which has dominated the culinary scene both physically and online in recent years. Swalty’s new name has just given the flavour combo the boost and recognition it needed to flourish this summer.
Sweet + salty fits the adventurous, cross-cultural millennial and Gen Z foodies that love experimenting with global flavours like tahini with fruit, or fermented pickle combos in baked goods and other snacks. These flavour combos reflect a more diverse and engaging culinary landscape.
Will it be the food trend of 2025?
While many food trend experts don’t doubt its popularity, they’re not yet sure if swalty will make the top 5 food trends for 2025. And it’s not because it’s a brand new flavour trend that’s sprung from nowhere – like we’ve mentioned before, it’s not really the new kid on the block. But many experts agree that it gives traditional and cultural flavours a new platform to show up in a more modern and mainstream way.
Swalty also fits in well with the 1990s nostalgia that we’ve all been experiencing lately. Swalty taps into the 90s era that seems like it just won’t die, from 90s kitchen designs to fashion, and snacks making a comeback. Swalty has already helped reimagine peanut butter crackers, chocolate-covered pretzels, and other childhood snacks for adult tastes.
Next time you get the craving for something sweet yet salty, why not try out some new snacks like gourmet popcorns (like maple bacon or sea salt caramel), ice creams (yes, swalty ice cream is now a thing), chocolate bars (I mean who doesn’t love a Bar One or Lunch Bar?), and, of course, bakery treats like miso cookies, salted tahini and peanut butter biscuits or honey-sesame shortbread.
And if you’d rather try your hand at some experiments at home, consider making some of these recipes for a new midweek meal or snack:
- Watermelon and feta salad
- Chocolate tarts with salted caramel and meringue
- Vanilla ice cream and salted caramel choc-chip cookie dough sandwiches
- Vegan pumpkin fritters with chilli-miso caramel dipping sauce
- Prosciutto, nectarine and mozarella salad
