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Is Chili Crisp Made With Seed Oils? (Usually, Yes)
My favorite thing that happens at markets is when somebody reads the label and goes, “Wait — it is avocado oil?”
And I say yep.
And they go, “No way. That is awesome.”
And then a lot of them say thank you. Like, actually thank you. That is so refreshing, thank you. Over a condiment. I think about that more than I probably should.
Because what they are really saying is that they are tired of flipping jars over and being disappointed. So let me just answer the question straight, including the part that makes my whole category look bad.
Is chili crisp made with seed oils?
Most of it, yes. The large majority of chili crisp on grocery shelves is made with soybean oil, canola oil, rapeseed oil, or a generic vegetable oil blend. These are all seed oils. If a label just says vegetable oil without naming the source, assume it is one of those.
And if you have got a jar of something in your fridge right now — you did not mess up. Seed oils are in almost everything and the labels are confusing on purpose. Nobody is out here failing a test.
Why is seed oil the default?
Money, mostly. Soybean and canola cost a fraction of what avocado oil costs, and chili crisp is largely oil by volume — it is not some minor ingredient you can quietly swap. When oil is most of the jar, the oil you pick sets the price of the entire product.
They are also neutral and shelf-stable, which makes them easy to work with. Nobody chose seed oil because it tastes better. They chose it because it is cheap and it behaves.
How do you tell what is actually in a jar?
Flip it over. Ingredients are listed by weight, so whatever oil is in there is going to be at or near the top. Things to look for:
- Soybean oil
- Canola oil or rapeseed oil
- Vegetable oil (unnamed — usually soybean)
- Sunflower or safflower oil
- Corn oil
Here is the part that gets people: words on the front like natural, artisanal, small batch and premium are not regulated in any way that tells you what the oil is. Not one of them. Only the ingredient list tells you anything. If you have been trusting the front of the jar, that is not on you — it is designed to be trusted.
What does Spice Witch use?
Avocado oil. All of it, across every single jar — Original, Black Garlic, Spicy Honey, and our pourable Chili Oil. No canola, no soybean, no vegetable oil blend.
I will be straight with you about the tradeoff, because I would rather you hear it from me: it costs a lot more to make, and that is a real part of why our jar is $23.99 and not $8.99. I made that call early and I would make it again. But I am not going to pretend it is free, or act like the $8.99 jar is a moral failing.
Does avocado oil actually taste different here?
Yeah, and not how people expect. Avocado oil is clean and mild, so it basically gets out of the way. You taste the garlic and the chilies and the spices instead of tasting oil underneath them. Seed oils are neutral in theory and a little flat in practice — they dull the top notes.
It also handles heat well, which matters a lot for something that gets cooked before it ever gets jarred.
Is seed-oil-free chili crisp worth it?
Depends entirely on why you are asking, and both reasons are fine.
If you are avoiding seed oils for health reasons, that is your call and your business. I am not going to make health claims at you — I make condiments, not medical advice, and you deserve better than a food brand playing doctor to move units.
If you are here because you want to actually taste what is in the jar? That part I will argue for all day.
Start with Original, or grab two flavors in a Bundle of 2 for $39.99 and find out which one you keep reaching for.
FAQ
Is chili crisp made with seed oils?
Most commercial chili crisp is made with soybean, canola or generic vegetable oil, all of which are seed oils. A smaller number of brands use avocado oil or olive oil instead. Check the ingredient list, since the oil is usually the first or second ingredient.
What oil is Spice Witch chili crisp made with?
Avocado oil, across the entire line. No canola, no soybean oil and no vegetable oil blends.
Why is most chili crisp made with soybean oil?
Cost. Chili crisp is mostly oil by volume, so soybean and canola keep the retail price low in a way avocado oil cannot.
Does avocado oil chili crisp taste different?
Yes. Avocado oil is mild and clean, so the garlic, chili and spice come through more clearly instead of sitting behind the flavor of the oil.
Is avocado oil chili crisp more expensive?
Generally yes. Avocado oil costs meaningfully more than seed oils, and since oil makes up much of the jar, that difference shows up in the shelf price.
How can I tell if my chili crisp has seed oils in it?
Turn the jar over and read the ingredient list. The oil is usually listed first or second. Front-of-package words like natural, premium or small batch are not regulated and do not tell you what oil was used.
Real honey with a slow, building chili burn — bold, sticky, and built for the squeeze. The heat shows up after the sweet. A smooth, pourable honey in a squeeze bottle made for the table, not the back of the pantry.
Sweet heat, made to drizzle
This isn't your average chili honey. Spice Witch Hot Honey is real honey with a slow, building chili burn — bold, sticky, and built for the squeeze. The heat shows up after the sweet, so it works on everything from breakfast to a cheese board. This is a smooth, pourable hot honey sauce in a squeeze bottle, made for the table, not the back of the pantry.
What makes it different
Most hot honey is honey and chili, sometimes vinegar. Ours is built like our chili oil: a ground blend of chili flakes, coriander, fennel, black pepper, and garlic, infused right into real honey. You get the sweet first, then a slow heat with something savory underneath. Made in small batches in Asheville, NC.
Want a crunchy, spoonable topping instead? Try our Spicy Honey Chili Crisp.
Ways to use Hot Honey
- Pizza — hit a slice of hot pizza and thank us later
- Fried chicken — drizzle over crispy fried chicken, biscuits, and waffles
- Cheese boards — pour across goat cheese before you spread it
- Glazes — glaze salmon or roasted carrots
- Breakfast — swirl into hot tea or pour over a warm biscuit
Pourable Hot Honey vs. crunchy crisp — which do you want?
Spice Witch makes two sweet-and-spicy products. This one is the smooth, pourable squeeze bottle. Want the crunch instead? Go to Spicy Honey Chili Crisp. Want both? See the Hot Honey & Chili Crisp Bundle.
FAQ
What is the difference between Hot Honey and Spicy Honey Chili Crisp?
Hot Honey is a smooth, pourable honey in a squeeze bottle that you drizzle. Spicy Honey Chili Crisp is a crunchy, spoonable jar of sticky-savory crispy bits you scoop onto food. Same sweet-heat idea, two different formats.
Is this hot honey crunchy or pourable?
It's smooth and pourable, packed in a squeeze bottle — not a crunchy crisp.
Is Hot Honey good on pizza?
Yes — drizzle it on a slice of hot pizza fresh from the oven.
How do I use hot honey?
Drizzle it on pizza, fried chicken, biscuits, waffles, and goat cheese; glaze salmon or roasted carrots; or swirl it into hot tea.
Where is it made?
Made in small batches in Asheville, North Carolina. Spice Witch is woman-owned and founder-made.
