Swalty Is the Sweet Yet Salty Food Trend We Can’t Get Enough Of

Sweet is nice. Salty is satisfying. But when the two come together like in the first bite of a miso chocolate chip cookie, or a caramelized onion tart finished with flaky sea salt? Magic. Or maybe it's just swalty. 

This flavor fusion is quietly popping up everywhere, from ice cream stands to the snack aisle. It's not loud or spicy. It's the opposite of the swicy (sweet + spicy) craze that has dominated recent summers. Swalty isn't really even new. There's a reason salted caramel ice cream never goes out of style. Yet, this year it does suddenly feel fresh again. So, what's behind the swalty trend, how can you incorporate it into your everyday eats, and will it last through the holidays? We spoke to food trend experts to find out.

What is Swalty?

Sweet and salty is one of, if not the original, flavor fusions; but in swalty, it finally has a name. And that name refers to foods that achieve the right balance between sugar and salt in an elevated and indulgent way. 

"Swalty feels like the latest expression of a flavor combo that's been with us for decades," says Melanie Zanoza Bartelme, associate director at Mintel Food and Drink, market intelligence agency. "It's the original mashup. What's new is that we're giving it a name—and that name brings it back into the spotlight. It allows consumers, chefs, and brands to reengage with a familiar flavor in a fresh, exciting way."

The name is a play on swicy, the sweet and spicy flavor combination that has dominated snack aisles, social media, and flavor trend reports in recent years. Yet swalty might have broader appeal: Bartelme notes that 42 percent of U.S. salty snack consumers express interest in snacks that combine sweet and salty flavors, even if they aren't using the term swalty. 

"Swalty fits the adventurous, cross-cultural mindset of millennials and Gen Z, who are experimenting with global flavors like tahini with fruit or tomato and pickle combos in viral snack kits. These layered sweet and salty profiles reflect a more reflective and diverse culinary landscape."

Is Swalty the Food Trend of 2025?

Flavor trends rarely emerge out of nowhere, and it's not clear yet if swalty will be the food vibe of 2025.  Bartelme noted that she hasn't seen many brands or consumers actually using the name, despite Rubix Foods, which publishes The NEXT Flavor Report, saying it would rule the food scene in 2025. Still, it's easy to see why swalty could be the next big thing in food.

It's exciting but accessible: "People are constantly searching for more complex, enriched flavors," says Abena Anim-Somuah, a food trend consultant and James Beard Award-winning writer. "Swalty is a perfect gateway. It lets you try something new without going too far outside your comfort zone."

Plus, after all those bold, spicy, swicy-dominated snacks and sauces, swalty feels mellower and more approachable. "It feels like a natural next step from the swicy trend," notes Anim-Somuah. "We're seeing that same energy of layered flavors and unexpected pairings, but with a little more restraint and creativity. And I think it has staying power. People want sweets that aren't overly decadent. Swalty scratches that itch."

It's nostalgic: The 1990s might be the era that just won't die, with everything from kitchen design to fashion to the snacks making a comeback. Swalty taps into that, reimagining peanut butter crackers, chocolate-covered pretzels, and other childhood staples for adult tastes. 

It brings more cuisines to the table: "You can find swalty notes all over Asian cuisines, from miso-glazed vegetables to soy-based marinades balanced with sugar," Anim-Somuah explains. "There's also a connection to tamarind, which shows up in everything from Mexican sour candies to micheladas. Swalty gives immigrant flavors a new way to show up in the mainstream, and a platform to tell their stories."

Swalty Products and Dishes to Try

Once you start looking for swalty flavors, you'll find them everywhere. Right now we're seeing swalty show up in fun summer formats: ice cream, popcorn, sweet-savory cookies, says Anim-Somuah. "But I'm really curious to see how it moves into fall and the holidays. I can imagine it showing up in festive desserts or even seasonal lattes."

Products to Buy

Here are a few items to bring the trend straight to your pantry.

Gourmet popcorns in flavors like sea salt caramel or maple bacon.

Ice cream: Yes, there's the original salted caramel, but also check out some surprising new twists. We're seeing collabs like Morgenstern's Crystal Brown Sugar, Chicken and Waffle Sundae, and Jeni's High Five Candy Bar, Anim-Somuah says.

Chocolate bars: Don't sleep on options with potato chips or pretzels, or other salty additions.

Bakery treats: Look out for salted tahini cookies or honey-sesame shortbread at your local bakery or coffee shop.

"There's still a lot of white space in the swalty world," says Bartelme. "Salted cheese boba tea was a great early example. It was creamy, salty, sweet, and totally unexpected. Pickled lemonade is another that hits sweet, sour, and salty all at once. That kind of flavor contrast could absolutely catch on in packaged products. It's only a matter of time."

Swalty Dishes to Make at Home

These recipes have that perfect the sweet-salty magic.

• Salad, yes salads like our Watermelon Salad With Feta and Basil hit all the juicy, salty, and sweet notes.
• Miso-glazed grilled fruit: The savory depth of miso brings out the richness of ripe stone fruit.
• Bacon-wrapped dates is a classic appetizer, so is Grilled Prosciutto-Wrapped Melon and both are very swalty.
• Chocolate-Peanut-Butter-Caramel Cereal Bars is our swalty take on the classic millionaire's shortbread.
• Our Bacon-Chocolate Chip Cookies are swalty to the max.

• This sweet and swalty nut brittle can be made with your favorite nuts.

Is It a Passing Fad?

While the name might be a passing fad, the idea of swalty likely isn't. There's a reason, after all, sweet and salty is one of the oldest flavor combinations.

"Sweet and salty flavors already have mainstream appeal, especially with Boomers in the snack space, so this trend has a wider runway than something more niche," Bartelme explains. "Swalty isn't reinventing the wheel, but giving it a new identity opens the door for creativity in new product categories. Whether it's in coffee creamers, snack bars, or even global condiments, swalty gives brands permission to experiment."

"Swalty has staying power," Anim-Somuah agrees. "People want sweets that aren't overly decadent but are still complex and indulgent."