Trader Joe’s Hot Honey sparked a lot of buzz on social media when it hit the shelves—but does it truly live up to the hype? If you’re a fan of bold flavors with a touch of sweet heat, or if you’ve ever found yourself standing in the grocery store debating whether to purchase a trendy item, you’re in the right place! 

Photo by Trader Joe’s

 

At Hot Honey Fever, we dedicate ourselves to trying as many hot honey products as possible so you don’t have to. 

Today, we’ll do a deep dive into Trader Joe’s Spicy Honey Sauce. 

In this review, we’ll explore the qualities of this hot honey such as its heat level, ingredients, appearance, flavors, and some of our favorite ways to use it. We’ll also tell you what the internet is saying about it along with a few pros and cons of our own. 

One thing we take very seriously at Hot Honey Fever is transparency. Therefore, we will provide complete and honest opinions in this review, good or bad, to help you decide if it's worth a spot on your kitchen shelf. With that, let’s get into it! 

Trader Joe’s Hot Honey Heat Level: How Spicy Is It?

The description of which pepper is used in this hot honey doesn't go further than “chili pepper,” which is a bit vague but does pack a nice punch. It’s a respectable kick that creeps up slowly and steadily, remaining persistent but not overwhelming throughout the finish. 

 

I give this one a heat level rating of 6 out of 10. I tolerate spicy foods, so this hot honey is comfortable and enjoyable. Its intensity is comparable to that of crushed red pepper flakes. It isn’t as intense as a habanero pepper for example, but you’ll definitely notice the heat in this hot honey. 

For comparison, it’s a bit spicier than Mike’s Hot Honey. One Redditor explained it perfectly when they said, “TJ’s is hot-honey, Mike’s is honey-hot.” Trader Joe’s Hot Honey is a heat-forward condiment best enjoyed by those who prefer a nice kick.

What’s Inside Trader Joe’s Hot Honey? Ingredients Breakdown

It’s important to understand what is in the food and drinks we consume, so let’s talk about the ingredients in this product: 

• Organic honey
• Organic distilled white vinegar
• Organic natural flavor (chili pepper extract)

As I mentioned, “natural flavors” is a somewhat vague description. The label states that this includes chili pepper extract, which implies additional natural flavors without listing them. After some research, the internet lacks a definitive explanation, but the fact that it lists chili pepper extract and can be stored at room temperature suggests they do not use fresh peppers in this product. 

That’s all there is to it. In typical Trader Joe’s fashion, this hot honey is made with as few ingredients as possible, which provides me with a sense of comfort when considering a purchase.

Overall Experience

After using Trader Joe’s Hot Honey in various ways—eating it off my bare finger being one of them—I wrote down my thoughts on its defining qualities like appearance and flavor, while also considering other reviewers’ thoughts and opinions. We’ll explore this in more detail below: 

Appearance

The appearance of this hot honey is a deep, rich, red-orange color, giving it an almost intimidating look in the bottle. Once drizzled on food, it appears a bit lighter, toning down to more of a burnt orange. It has a thick consistency that holds its shape when I place a drop on my finger. 

Flavor 

Trader Joe’s uses vinegar in this hot honey, which helps curb the honey’s sweetness. It was the first flavor that I noticed when doing my taste test. Its pungency can make you pucker at first before tapering off into a toasty sweetness from the honey. Once the sweetness hits, it melds with the oncoming heat from the chilis and the spice takes the driver’s seat from there. The heat begins on your tongue and radiates throughout your mouth. 

The honey’s natural flavor does not get much time to shine between the vinegar at the beginning and the onset of heat from the chilis. But in that brief moment, I noticed a pleasantly rich sweetness reminiscent of lightly toasted sugar, and a bright finish to guide you into the heat. 

If you’re searching for a hot honey that showcases the honey’s flavor with subtle, spicy undertones, this one may not be for you. Here, the heat and honey are co-stars. It would be best enjoyed on food where you want to balance spice and sweetness. 

What’s the Buzz?

Other reviews of this product are generally positive. Many people enjoy using it on their pizza and fried chicken. Trader Joe’s themed blog, What’s Good at Trader Joe’s, had some interesting uses for the product, drizzling it over bacon, chicken nuggets, and french fries.

Instagram user @traderjoeslist even purchased multiple bottles of the hot honey just in case it was a limited edition item. Luckily for them (and all of us) it’s still around!

Other users have also commented that the vinegar adds an unnecessary pungence, but it hasn’t been a deal breaker.

Best Uses for Trader Joe’s Hot Honey: Pairings and Ideas

Since Trader Joe’s Hot Honey has a balanced sweet-to-heat level, there are a lot of opportunities to put it to good use. After trying it on countless different foods, and even beverages, I’ve found it is quite versatile. Here are a few ways I’ve used it: 

• Pizza. My research shows that this is one of the most popular ways to use this hot honey. I’ve tried it on countless varieties of pizza such as plain, pepperoni, sausage, white pies, and more. I find it pairs best with cured meats on pizza, like pepperoni or soppressata, but you really can’t go wrong. 
• Charcuterie board. Charcuterie qualifies as a meal in my household, and Trader Joe’s Hot Honey is always front and center on the table when I’m indulging. There’s something about a piece of brie cheese stacked on a cracker with a thin slice of apple, all drizzled with hot honey that warms the soul.
• Breaded chicken cutlet. I don’t mean traditional fried chicken, although it's a showstopper on that as well. I’m talking about chicken cutlets coated in Italian breadcrumbs and pan-fried until golden brown and crispy. A hit of hot honey on a fresh cutlet will change your life!
• Margarita. The drink, not the pizza! I’ve replaced agave syrup with Trader Joe’s Hot Honey on too many occasions to count and it never disappoints. 
• Burrata/Ricotta cheese. I’m a sucker for burrata or ricotta with a beautiful heirloom tomato smothered with a balsamic vinegar reduction, but sometimes I’ll swap the balsamic out for hot honey and it completely changes the dish.

These are just a few of the endless possibilities with this hot honey. The sweet-to-heat balance is an advantage in this case as opposed to something more spicy like our [habanero hot honey] which, while delicious, is slightly more limited due to its intensity. For example, I would hesitate to use the habanero hot honey in a margarita as the burn would become uncomfortable. 

I encourage you to experiment with it in any food or beverage you think it may improve. I have yet to be disappointed! 

Pros and Cons

Of course, everything has its pros and cons. Let’s explore a few: 

Pros

• Balanced. This hot honey has a nuanced balance of sweetness and heat. These elements come on almost simultaneously but work together perfectly to create a truly enjoyable flavor profile. 
• Spice level. While it does provide a nice punch of heat, it remains comfortable. It doesn’t overwhelm the food but enhances it.
• Versatility. This hot honey is welcome on any plate from sweet to savory. I’m still discovering awesome ways to use it!
• Organic ingredients. Although this is not a deciding factor for me, it’s always a benefit when buying any food or drinks. 
• Affordable. Delivering the quality Trader Joe’s does at a fraction of the cost of other brands is one of the most notable qualities of this hot honey. We’ll cover this in more detail later. 

Cons

• Acidic. The vinegar provides a level of acidity that some people may not enjoy. When tasting on its own, it left a sort of acidic burn in my mouth and throat; however, when this condiment is put on food, it’s not much of a factor.
• Heat over honey. The vinegar and heat overshadow some of the honey’s flavors, so the tasting experience did not leave much room for the honey to shine. 
• Variety. It lacks the variety offered by other brands like Mike’s Hot Honey or Bees Knees, such as the type of pepper, heat level, or flavor.

Overall, the pros outweigh the cons of this product. Its acidity has the potential to be an issue for some people, but I didn’t find it to be overbearing in any context other than trying it on its own. 

Cost of Trader Joe’s Hot Honey

Trader Joe’s Hot Honey costs about $4-5 for a 12-ounce bottle, which is a great value compared to some leading brands. For comparison, Mike’s Hot Honey sells for $10-13 for the same size. The price point explains why I chose this brand over many others. 

Closing Thoughts and Overall Rating

I would not hesitate to recommend this product. In my opinion, the quality you receive for the price point is well worth it, and the spice level is perfect for those looking to add a little bit of sweet heat to their meals without risking discomfort. Bonus points to Trader Joe’s for using organic ingredients as well. 

I rate Trader Joe’s Hot Honey an 8.5 out of 10 overall. It delivers a steady yet balanced spice that dominates the flavor profile and adds a pleasant kick to elevate savory dishes. Additionally, its versatility and organic ingredients make it a strong option for the price. Although the honey flavor is more subtle, it has nice flavors without adding an overpowering taste to your food. It loses points because the vinegar adds an unnecessary pungency if you use too much, and it could have a more robust honey flavor. 

Trader Joe’s Hot Honey is great for hot honey veterans and newcomers alike. Considering the value, flavor, and friendly heat level, I would be surprised to hear anyone say they were disappointed with this hot honey. 

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Have you tried Trader Joe’s Hot Honey? Let us know your thoughts and what you used it on. We would love to hear from you!