Eat a Peach is the name of one of the greatest albums in rock ‘n’ roll history, but for lovers of the juicy fruit, it may as well be a mission statement. And when you balance the sweetness and acidity of peach flavor against the kick of red chili peppers, with a hint of honey, you introduce diners to a multi-purpose sauce that packs a punch.
Peaches are among my favorite foods — they remind me of summertime; sitting by water and biting into the most sublime tastiness as a gorgeous afternoon rolls by. Apparently, I’m not the only one. Just this year, peach was named “Flavor of the Year” by the international company dsm-firmenich. And according to research, peach has a skyrocketing approval rating, with more than 80% of consumers enamored of the fruit flavor.
As the combination of sweet and spicy — “swicy” has become a popular term — continues to surge across menus, a poppin’ seasoning, such as Sweet Baby Ray’s® Spicy Peach Wing Sauce & Glaze, can add some peachy keen to your specials.
Life’s a Peach
Swicy is having such a major impact that among the Sweet Baby Ray’s® lineup, Mango Habanero is the fastest growing wing sauce, with the ascending Honey Hot firing up the list to number two. But a sauce like Spicy Peach is ripe to kick open doors as well, impacting everything from bar & grill applications, to high-end COP plates, to salads and Hispanic-inspired LTOs, with a unique twist.
Spicy Peach is a flavor explosion mashup — fusing the aroma and tangy taste of natural ripe, juicy peaches with the savory sting of red chili, and that subtle hint of honey — crafted to surprise and delight the senses. It features bold, intense shades of peach, replete with fine pepper flecks, adding to the visual allure of seafood, tacos, and even desserts.
A sauce like this checks many of the dietary boxes that matter to your guests as well, including gluten-free, kosher, no artificial flavors or synthetic colors, and no added msg, plus it’s shelf stable and easily accessible — reducing inventory and labor costs.
Peachy Punch
Since the early 20th century, when a Massachusetts pharmacist developed a way to measure spiciness, hot sauces have been put to the test using the Scoville scale. Sweet Baby Ray’s® Hot Sauce lands at a scorching 669 heat units to top the hot-o-meter, with Spicy Peach clocking in just below Jamaican Jerk at a more manageable 457.
By comparison, the popular Hot Honey comes in at 281, so the peach option packs a mild punch while still bringing some steam to heat enthusiasts. It leads with a striking peach sweetness, before the sting of pepper fans out and lingers, settling on the taste buds in a charming way diners won’t soon forget.
Feelin’ Peachy
Heading into winter, guests could use that exceptional, distinctive flavor wave to provide a little much-needed zest. Consider Spicy Peach as your secret weapon across dayparts, drizzled over cheese-stuffed crêpes, chicken ‘n’ waffles, or crab Bennies to warm up brunch. The sauce can also liven up a peach ginger tea cocktail or add a touch of fire to a Peaches Foster ice cream dessert.
During resolution season, salads may be in need of some zip: Dress up a strawberry and goat cheese salad with a Spicy Peach glazed salmon fillet or craft a lemon-peach vinaigrette as your house specialty. And with college hoops season starting to fast break, get prepared for the madness by serving up Spicy Peach wings or throwing an alley-oop for fries and chips to dunk.
Over Thanksgiving, I experimented with the sauce, cooking a tender, roasted turkey with a peach bourbon BBQ glaze that had folks forgetting about football, and it also worked as an Asian-inspired shrimp dip appetizer. Even my irritable uncle dozed off, dreaming of Spicy Peach!
Now that 2025 is on the horizon, playing around with peach may be a way to unlock some of your dishes and attract new attention. A sauce like Sweet Baby Ray’s® Spicy Peach Wing Sauce & Glaze can help get your ready for restaurant success, sitting pretty as a peach!
*Content provided in partnership with Ken’s®.
