New Words, June 2022

It’s been a while since I’ve posted new food-related words. Here are three.


swicy (adjective)
having a taste that is both sweet and spicy

Mash-ups like “swicy” reflect an even wider embrace of flavor fusions that marry savory spices and heat with sweetness. Nene, a South Korean-based fried chicken chain that is just starting to move into North America, has even named a sauce swicy. Its flavor profile mirrors what would happen if gochujang and ketchup had a baby.
[nytimes, 28 December 2021]

carnisplorer (noun)
a person who is interested in tasting and cooking many different parts of an animal, especially those that are normally less popular with other people who eat meat

Are you a “carnisplorer?” I hadn’t heard this one before, but according to Oliver Chadwyck-Healey, the Waitrose meat buyer … the food chain is seeing more demand for nuggets such as lamb’s liver and oxtail as we become more creative cooks. “These adventurous carnisplorers are embracing nose-to-tail eating,” says Oliver, adding that it’s a more sustainable way of eating.
[telegraph.co.uk, 6 February 2022]

seaganism (noun)
the practice of eating only plant-based foods and seafood

The last decade saw a rise in pescatarians and flexitarians. Now, at the start of the 2020s, a new trend is picking up steam: seaganism, where people follow a vegan diet but include sustainably sourced seafood for healthy extra protein and an occasional fleshy treat. Seagans not only add fish to mealtimes for variety but to benefit from high-quality omega-3 fatty acids that can be hard to source on a traditional vegan diet.
[msc.org, 18 January 2021]