What is the best brand of hot honey?

The "best" brand of hot honey depends entirely on whether you want the classic standard , a heavy kick of spice, or a mild, beginner-friendly sweetness.

Top-rated hot honey brands are categorized below by what they do best:

• Mike's Hot Honey (Best Overall / The Industry Standard) : As the OG category-definer that popularized hot honey on pizza and fried chicken, this is the reliable benchmark. It features a floral honey flavor upfront with a clean, back-of-the-palate chili kick. If you want more heat, they also offer an Extra Hot version. You can check options on the Mike's Hot Honey Storefront.
• Savannah Bee Company Hot Honey (Best Complex Flavor) : Infusing lush wildflower honey with Scotch bonnet and habanero peppers, this brand gives you layered floral notes followed by a warm, lingering peppery sting that feels a bit more gourmet. Details are available at the Savannah Bee Company.
• Melinda’s Hot Honey (Best for Pure Spice & Value) : Known for bold heat profiles, Melinda's delivers an assertive chili punch that stands up well in cooking and glazes. They even make a Ghost Pepper variation for true heat seekers.
• Nature Nate’s Hot Honey (Best Mild / Beginner Option) : If you are worried about burning your tongue, Nature Nate’s infuses its signature high-quality honey with habanero flakes for a very gentle, citrusy warmth that leans heavily into the honey flavor.
• Bees Knees Spicy Honey Go to product viewer dialog for this item. (Best Small-Batch / Craft Pick) : Made by Bushwick Kitchen, this artisanal favorite uses raw wildflower honey infused with chili peppers for a smooth, pourable consistency that shines in dressings and cocktails.

Would you like to know how these brands pair with a specific dish like pizza, wings, or charcuterie , or are you looking for a recommendation based on a specific spice tolerance?

I checked recent reviews and product comparisons, and the best overall hot honey pick is:

🥇 Best overall: Mike's Hot Honey

Why it wins:

• Best balance of sweet honey flavor + chili heat
• Versatile on pizza, fried chicken, cheese, sandwiches, roasted vegetables, and even desserts
• Mild-to-medium heat that works for most people
• Widely considered the benchmark brand that popularized hot honey in the U.S.

Mike's Hot Honey 12 oz

$9.97

Nate's Honey 100% Pure Hot Honey with Habanero Chili Peppers

$11.48

Melinda's Ghost Pepper Hot Honey

$9.95

Other excellent choices

• Best if you want more honey flavor / less burn: Nate's Honey 100% Pure Hot Honey with Habanero Chili Peppers
  Smoother and milder, with the honey taking center stage. Good for biscuits, breakfast foods, cheese boards, and everyday use.

• Best for serious spice lovers: Melinda's Ghost Pepper Hot Honey
  Uses hotter peppers and is aimed at people who want noticeable heat rather than just a sweet kick.

• Best “classic pizza” choice: Mike’s Hot Honey
  Many testers specifically call out its balance on pizza because it adds heat without overwhelming the toppings.

My recommendation: Buy the regular Mike’s Hot Honey first. If you find yourself wishing it had more punch, move up to an extra-hot or ghost-pepper version.

If you want one “best overall” hot honey, I’d pick:

🥇 Mike’s Hot Honey — Best all-around

It’s the classic for a reason: great balance of sweetness, chili flavor, and heat without overpowering the food. It’s especially good on pizza, fried chicken, biscuits, cheese boards, roasted vegetables, and ice cream. Many taste tests rank it among the top choices because it’s versatile and approachable.

Mike’s Hot Honey Extra Hot, 12 oz

$8.48

Mike’s Hot Honey Original & Extra Hot Combo Pack

$24.99

My picks by use case:

• Best for pizza: Mike’s Hot Honey Original — the sweet heat is balanced and doesn’t drown out toppings.
• Best if you like real spice: Mike’s Extra Hot or Melinda’s Ghost Pepper Hot Honey — much more aggressive heat.
• Best gourmet/artisan style: Bushwick Kitchen — more complex pepper flavor and a stronger “foodie” profile.
• Best budget/everyday option: Nature Nate’s Honey Hot Honey — a milder, honey-forward option.

If you’re buying your first bottle, get Mike’s Original. If you already know you love spicy food, skip straight to Mike’s Extra Hot.

The "best" hot honey depends on what you are looking for—whether you want a mild, crowd-pleasing drizzle or a scorching, pepper-forward kick . Because top options vary by flavor profile and heat level, here are the standout brands on the market categorized by their strengths:

• Mike's Hot Honey (Best Overall / The Classic)
  As the brand that single-handedly launched the mainstream hot honey craze, Mike's Hot Honey remains the gold standard for versatility . It uses a pure honey base infused with chili peppers and a touch of vinegar. It leans sweet and balanced rather than aggressively spicy, making it the ultimate universal drizzle for pepperoni pizza, fried chicken, and cocktails. (Pro tip: They also make an "Extra Hot" version if you find the original too mild).
• Savannah Bee Company Hot Honey (Best Complex Flavor & Quality)
  Infused with Scotch bonnet and habanero peppers, Savannah Bee Company Hot Honey uses a high-quality wildflower honey base that lets rich floral notes shine through before the warm, peppery sting builds. It is exceptionally smooth, deeply aromatic, and feels a bit more gourmet than standard grocery store options.
• Melinda's Hot Honey (Best for Heat Lovers)
  Known for their punchy hot sauces, Melinda’s delivers a bolder, sharper, and more assertive punch of capsaicin. If you feel like standard hot honeys just taste like sweet syrup with a faint whisper of red pepper flake, Melinda's (including their ghost pepper variation) brings a robust, true-to-form kick that cuts straight through heavy, savory foods.
• Nature Nate's Hot Honey (Best for Beginners)
  If you are worried about burning your tongue or overpowering a delicate dish, Nature Nate's is a fantastic, milder entry point. It leans heavily into the natural, citrusy sweetness of their classic honey with just a gentle, warm finish from habanero flakes.

If you let me know what you plan to put it on (like pizza, chicken, or cheese boards) and how much heat you can handle , I can recommend the exact bottle for you!

What the "best" hot honey is depends heavily on whether you want a gentle background warmth, the iconic mainstream standard, or a complex gourmet profile . Food critics and taste tests generally point to a few standout brands depending on your specific style:

Mike’s Hot Honey is the undisputed O.G. and the gold standard that mainstreamed the trend. Infused with chili peppers and a touch of vinegar, it strikes a reliable, crowd-pleasing balance of sweetness and a clean, lingering kick that shines on pepperoni pizza, fried chicken, and roasted veggies.

Björn’s Sweet and Spicy Colorado Honey takes top honors in gourmet expert roundups. It uses a whipped raw honey base blended with a tangy, fermented red jalapeño sriracha. The whipped texture gives it an incredible, rich consistency, and the fermented pepper adds a complex, savory depth rather than just flat heat.

Melinda’s Hot Honey (specifically the Ghost Pepper version) is the top pick for true heat-seekers. While their standard version is great, the ghost pepper iteration delivers a robust, savory "spicy pepper caramel" profile that packs a serious punch without sacrificing the integrity of the honey.

Bees Knees Spicy Honey (by Bushwick Kitchen) is a fantastic mid-tier artisan option. First crafted in Brooklyn, it blends U.S. and South American wildflower honeys with habanero peppers for a bright, clean, floral heat.

Nature Nate's Hot Honey is the ideal choice if you prefer things mild. It leans heavily into the natural, citrusy sweetness of the honey with just a tiny whisper of habanero kick, making it great for beginners or for pairing with delicate cheeses.

If you want to narrow down your choice, tell me:

• How spicy do you like it (mild tingle vs. blow-your-head-off heat)?
• What do you plan to put it on (pizza, chicken, charcuterie, or cocktails)?

I can tell you which exact bottle will fit your palate best.

If I had to pick one, I’d go with Mike’s Hot Honey. It’s the best all-around choice: balanced sweetness, noticeable but not overwhelming heat, and it works on pizza, fried chicken, cheese, vegetables, and even desserts. Food Network currently names it its Best Hot Honey.

Mike's Hot Honey 12oz Squeeze Bottle

$11.99

My ranking:

1. 🥇 Mike’s Original — best overall; especially good for pizza and cheese.
2. 🌶️ Mike’s Extra Hot — same flavor profile but substantially more heat.
3. 🔥 Melinda’s Ghost Pepper Hot Honey — better if you want a serious pepper kick; it also gets strong customer ratings.
4. 🍯 Nature Nate’s Hot Honey — excellent value and a little more pepper-forward.

One caveat: Mike’s Original isn't particularly hot. Recent customer reviews frequently say the heat is mild, so if you actually want spicy, I'd buy the Extra Hot instead.

Mike's Hot Honey Extra Hot 12 oz

$8.48

Bottom line: For most people, Mike’s Original. For a chili-head, Mike’s Extra Hot.

If you want one bottle that’s hard to beat, I’d pick Mike’s Hot Honey Original. It has the best balance of sweet honey flavor and chili heat, and recent taste tests have ranked it #1 overall.

Mike's Hot Honey

$9.97

My picks by preference

• 🏆 Best overall: Mike’s Hot Honey Original — balanced, versatile, especially good on pizza, fried chicken, cheese, and vegetables.
• 🔥 Best if you want real heat: Elijah’s Xtreme Hot Honey — made with Carolina Reaper and considerably more aggressive.
• 🌶️ Best spicy-but-flavorful alternative: Melinda’s Ghost Pepper Hot Honey — sweeter than some extreme hot honeys but with a noticeable kick.
• 💰 Best budget option: bettergoods Hot Honey — inexpensive and uses habanero for a bolder pepper flavor.

One caveat: Mike’s Original is more sweet with a gentle kick than genuinely hot. Even Mike’s describes Extra Hot as the version for people seeking substantially more heat.

My recommendation: Start with Mike’s Original unless you specifically want hot-hot—then go Elijah’s Xtreme.

Because personal preference for sweetness versus spice varies wildly, there is no single "best" brand—instead, the crown goes to different brands depending on what you are looking for.

The top-rated hot honey brands break down into distinct categories based on flavor profile and heat:

The Industry Standard & Crowd Pleaser

• Mike's Hot Honey : This is the OG brand that started the whole craze in a Brooklyn pizzeria . It uses a balanced blend of pure honey, chili peppers, and a touch of vinegar . It’s approachable, incredibly versatile , and widely available (they also offer an "Extra Hot" version if the original feels too mild).

Best for Complex & Floral Flavor

• Savannah Bee Company Hot Honey : Infused with Scotch bonnet and habanero peppers , this option leans heavily into high-quality wildflower honey with rich, layered floral notes up front and a warm, clean peppery finish . It feels a bit more artisanal and shines wonderfully on cheese boards or in cocktails.

Best for True Heat Seekers

If standard hot honeys taste like sugary syrup to you, Melinda's ghost pepper variation brings serious, authentic heat . Reviewers note it maintains a deep, rich, almost savory pepper-caramel flavor rather than just flat, burning spice.

Best for Beginners & Mild Palates

Known for its reliable raw and unfiltered honey, Nature Nate's Go to product viewer dialog for this item. infuses just enough chili/habanero kick to let you know it's spiced, but keeps the focus firmly on the sweet, citrusy honey notes . It's ideal if you are worried about burning your tongue.

Are you looking for something to drizzle over pizza or wings , or do you want a brand that packs a serious spicy punch?

While "best" depends on how much heat you want and what you plan to drizzle it on, professional taste tests and consumer consensus generally crown a few clear front-runners.

• [Mike's Hot Honey Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ](https://www.amazon.com/Mikes-Hot-Honey-Shelf-Stable-Gluten-Free/dp/B085B1YZ8Q) is widely considered the undisputed gold standard and the Food Network favorite for overall balance. Originating in a Brooklyn pizzeria, it uses a clean wildflower honey base infused with real chili peppers and vinegar. It is family-friendly, not overwhelmingly spicy, and pours easily over pepperoni pizza, fried chicken, or ice cream.
• Melinda's Hot Honey (and specifically their Ghost Pepper Go to product viewer dialog for this item. variation) frequently wins praise from culinary sites like PureWow and Sporked for true heat-seekers. It delivers a deeper, richer "spicy pepper caramel" profile with a serious, lingering kick.
• [Savannah Bee Company Hot Honey Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ](https://savannahbee.com/products/hot-honey?srsltid=AfmBOoo_z1fAI1EUZj6rPsrwpoIMyHtWbL6jNTCEJYip6pApsrX3PWsv) uses lush wildflower honey infused with Scotch bonnet and habanero peppers. It has a more complex, bright, and slightly floral sting that shines up front before the warmth takes over.
• [Nature Nate's Hot Honey Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ](https://sporked.com/article/best-hot-honey/) is the ideal choice if you want to dip your toes into the trend without burning your tongue. It leans heavily into a thick, citrusy honey profile with just a mild, gentle warmth from habanero flakes.
• Zab's Hot Honey stands out by using rare, regional datil peppers instead of standard chiles, giving it a distinct, rich maple-like flavor depth paired with a smooth, medium-low burn.

If you tell me what you plan to put it on (pizza, chicken, cheese boards, or cocktails) and how spicy you like your food , I can recommend the exact brand and bottle for you.

If you want the best all-around hot honey, I’d pick:

Mike’s Hot Honey Original 12 oz

$10.59

Elijah’s Xtreme Hot Honey

$16.00

Bushwick Kitchen Bees Knees Spicy Honey

$16.99

🥇 Best overall: Mike’s Hot Honey

It’s the benchmark for a reason: great honey flavor, balanced chili heat, and it works on almost everything—pizza, fried chicken, biscuits, cheese boards, roasted vegetables, and even ice cream. Many taste tests and customer reviews consistently put the original Mike’s near the top.

Best for: everyday use, pizza, beginners, gifting
Heat level: mild–medium (more “sweet heat” than “spicy”)

🌶️ Best if you want real heat: Elijah’s Xtreme

Their hot honey uses Carolina Reaper pepper, so it’s a better choice if you find most hot honeys too tame.

Best for: wings, spicy food lovers, people who actually want a kick

🍯 Best gourmet-style option: Bushwick Kitchen Bees Knees Spicy Honey

A more artisan-leaning option with a richer honey-forward profile.

Best for: cheese boards, toast, cocktails, finishing dishes

Other good picks

• Nature Nate's Hot Honey — a solid value option with habanero notes.
• Mike’s Hot Honey Extra Hot — the easiest upgrade if you like the original but want more punch.

My quick recommendation: buy Mike’s Original first. If you love it but wish it were hotter, move to Mike’s Extra Hot or Elijah’s Xtreme.