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Gen Z are spicing up their mornings by drizzling hot honey, splashing hot sauce and even sprinkling chilli flakes onto their breakfast plates. A new survey of 2,000 Brits has revealed that Gen Zers - anyone born after 1996 - are leading the charge when it comes to fiery food obsession across the UK.

In the last year alone, more Gen Z individuals have embraced this spicy breakfast trend (16%) than any other age group, with 74% crediting the surge to the wave of spicy content dominating social media feeds. Spicy scrambled eggs, breakfast burritos and hash browns are all deemed excellent morning choices, with hot honey, hot sauce and chilli flakes being the go-to heat boosters.

Over half (54%) of Gen Z fans of spicy breakfasts reckon it beats coffee as a morning energiser, whilst 61% say it helps them feel more alert for the hours ahead.

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The study, commissioned by Kellogg's Crunchy Nut following the debut of its maiden sweet-meets-spicy cereal, Hot Honey Crunchies, highlights this growing trend.

To mark the occasion, the brand partnered with telly personality Pete Wicks to distribute boxes of the cereal.

The reality TV favourite rolled up in a traditional milk float to hand out the new cereal alongside fresh milk from Bidlea Dairy Farm, naturally packed with casein to perfectly balance the cereal's warming kick and honeyed notes.

Pete said: "Who knew Brits were this obsessed with spice? I love it. We've been playing it safe at breakfast for way too long, so a little sweet heat first thing feels like exactly what the country needs.

"Getting to rock up as a milkman and help launch the cereal has been a right laugh – and if it gives people the guts to try something a bit different in the morning, we've done our job."

Despite an increasing desire for adventurous flavours, the morning meal remains routine, with 54% confessing they consume identical fare daily. Additionally, 44% typically reach for whatever's fastest.

A Crunchy Nut spokesperson commented: "Our research shows the nation is genuinely excited by the idea of spice at breakfast.

"With Pete helping us launch, we're giving people the confidence to try something a little bolder to start their days."