Nearly 10% of restaurant menus have "sweet and spicy" items, up 1.8% over the last 12 months, according to market research firm Datassential. Common menu items have paired fruity flavors and chili powder, or used sauces like hot honey and gochujang, a red chili paste that's a popular Korean condiment. Courtesy: StarbucksAlthough the menu items were largely only available for a limited time, culinary experts think that the swicy trend has staying power. Buzzy, trendy menu items are more important now to restaurants, which are leaning on both discounts and innovation to attract diners and reverse declining sales. Limited-time menu items are particularly attractive to Gen Z customers, a key demographic because they account for roughly a fifth of Americans.

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Persons: Randy Shropshire, trendologist Kara Nielsen, Nielsen, Jeffrey Saad, Hadar Cohen Aviram, McCormick, Cohen Aviram, Gen Zwicy Organizations: Coca, Getty, Food Institute, Box Intelligence, Sweet, Food Network, Istock, Nielsen, McCormick Locations: Chico, Thermal , California, U.S, San Francisco, Korean, Cholula