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Sugar and spice and everything nice; that’s what Grandma Jones’ Pepper Jelly is made of!
There’s a lot to like about our homemade pepper jelly dips and spreads, from their versatility as a condiment and cooking ingredient to the diverse selection of pepper varieties with their own unique heat levels, such as chipotle, jalapeno, habanero, and more. At the end of the day, though, what really makes Pepper Jelly special is its delicate balance of sweet and spicy flavors.
Sweet and spicy is one of the best and most unique flavor combinations in the world of cooking. The adrenaline rush of heat followed by that soothing sweetness is a one-two punch that will leave your taste buds wondering what hit them. Once you’ve had a taste, it leaves you wanting more. Don’t believe me? Order a jar of Pepper Jelly and see for yourself!
Pepper Jelly isn’t the only food that takes advantage of the tongue-tingling appeal of sweet and spicy flavor pairings. Mexican chocolate, Szechuan chicken, hot honey, and Huy Fong Sriracha sauce are just a few of the many famous examples of this unique flavor combination.
What is it, then, that makes sweet and spicy such an alluring mixture? Why is it one of the most popular unique flavor combinations on Earth? What is it that makes it sogood?
We have a couple theories…
They say you can’t beat the classics, and in this case, they’re right. As noted previously, sweet and spicy foods can be found in countless culinary cultures throughout world history. In South America, the ancient Aztec people were known for enjoying a drink made from chili pepper and cacao, an early precursor to spicy hot chocolate.
Meanwhile, in the Far East, Thai and Chinese chefs from many different regions concurrently developed a philosophy centered around delicious recipes that combined multiple flavors together in order to achieve culinary harmony. Of the five main tastes associated with this philosophy, the most harmonious blend was often found to be sweet and spicy.
Simply put, sweet and spicy isn’t just a unique flavor pairing. It’s a historic, global tradition!
One of the biggest reasons sweet and spicy foods taste so good to people is that many of us are actually hard-wired to enjoy them. It’s a natural consequence of human biology.
Chili peppers contain a compound called capsaicin, which is what gives them their sizzle. The capsaicin creates a burning sensation in our mouths. In response, our brains release pleasure-hormone called endorphins. This, paradoxically, makes spicy food taste good to us.
The “sweet” part of “sweet and spicy” comes in here. Sugary foods help tame the heat of spicy foods, and also further encourage the release of endorphins. With that in mind, putting the two together makes perfect sense from a body-chemistry perspective. Both flavors stimulate our taste buds in different but complementary ways, resulting in one of the most addictive and unique flavor combinations known to man.
Now that you know a little more about why we think sweet and spicy is the king of unique flavor combinations, are you interested in giving your taste buds a treat? Grandma Jones’ has something for everyone.
Only like a little bit of spice? Our Traditional Pepper Jelly offers a lot of flavor with a very mild heat. On the other hand, if you’re feeling adventurous, our Habanero Pepper Jelly packs one powerful, peppery punch! Whatever your preference, there’s plenty of sweet heat to go around.
Indulge your sweet and spicy craving today. Buy Pepper Jelly!