‘Self-exploration, experimentation, novelty,’ Survey reveals Canadians’ spice preferences in the kitchen and the bedroom

A new Canadian survey found that those who are more adventurous in the kitchen are more likely to be adventurous in love. 

Shan Boodram, a Toronto-born sexologist, recently partnered with Subway to conduct a survey about spice preferences: both in food and relationships.

When it came to dining, the survey found that around 7 in 10 Canadians enjoy at least some level of spice. Medium spice is the most popular choice, with almost 4 in 10 saying they prefer balanced heat. Meanwhile, Canadians were fairly adventurous, with 72 per cent open to trying new spicy flavours.

The data also reveals that the level of spice people enjoy in their food often mirrors their relationship dynamics. For instance, many Canadians describe their current relationship as a balance of comfort and excitement, paralleling how they approach flavour.

What counts as spicy?

So what counts as spicy when it comes to relationships? Is it spanking, biting, and bondage? Dirty talk, or opening the relationship? Or something else entirely? The answer, Boodram says, is simple.

“It’s important to note that we all have a comfort zone, and that’s inclusive of our comfort boundary and our comfort home,” Boodram told Now Toronto.

A comfort home, she explains, includes the things that you would do or eat every single day, while your comfort boundary is the farthest you’ve gone before, while still feeling OK. So spicy is anything beyond that, whether that comes to food or it comes to the things that you normally do within your romantic partnerships. 

“For some people, that’s going to be doggy style on Tuesday,” Boodram explained. “For other people, that’s going to be tied up with Saran Wrap. So spice is dependent on the individual and where their comfort home and their comfort zone is.”

The survey found that half of Canadians surveyed admitted that their relationship is of the “medium spice” level, while only 1 in 4 Canadians describe their ideal relationship as “hot” or “extra hot.”

Boodram herself is a great example of subjectivity when it comes to what is considered spicy.

“I’m somebody who talks about sex and relationships for a living, so in terms of the general population’s perception of what’s spicy, I would definitely be on the spicier end,” she explained. “Within kink or Queer communities, I may not be considered spicy at all. But within the average Canadian household, I’m considered very spicy in my relationship.”

However, Boodram says while the survey found that Canadians do typically enjoy a medium level of spice in the kitchen and in their love lives, the two preferences are not necessarily related.

“Correlation does not equal causation,” the sexologist explained, once again using herself as an example.  

“When it comes to food, I self-identify as salt being too much for me,” she laughed. “I’m just very, very mild.”

So, while a love of heat in the kitchen doesn’t necessarily translate to the bedroom, openness to trying new flavours may signal a willingness to explore in other areas, too. And that openness to exploration is something that we could all use a little more of. 

“We all could benefit from stepping a teensy bit outside of our comfort zone to see if there’s more to explore that we have written off in the past that could actually expand our pleasure potential versus reducing it,” she explained. 

“Spice, for a lot of people, they associate with pain, and I think the same thing happens with relationships. We get to a place where we get so into our comfort zone that we associate trying new things as painful or something that’s going to cause conflict, and people want to avoid conflict,” Boodram continued, sharing a tip for readers.

“You might be surprised that adding a little extra kick helps you to enjoy what you already like.”

Spice preferences by province

The survey was conducted by The Harris Poll Canada from April 16 to 17 on behalf of Subway Canada, gathering results online from 1,554 Canadians over the age of 18. Across the province, different preferences were more common than others.

Ontario residents tend to embrace the heat, with many saying they regularly choose spicy foods and are open to experimenting with new, bolder flavours. Just next door in Quebec, the approach is more reserved, with people more likely to stick to mild or medium spice levels and less inclined to link spicy food with excitement in their relationships.

Out west, the appetite for heat ramps up. In both British Columbia and Alberta, residents report a higher tolerance for spice and a stronger willingness to try new flavours. They’re also more likely than the national average to describe their ideal relationship as “hot” or even “extra hot.”

Meanwhile, in Atlantic Canada, the focus shifts toward balance and comfort. Residents are less likely to reach for spicy food regularly and more likely to tone down heat levels when sharing meals — a reflection of a broader preference for harmony and routine in their relationships. 

Additionally, the survey showed that nationwide, many couples have to find a happy medium when splitting food, with more than 6 in 10 saying they adjust spice levels when sharing meals, most often dialling the temperature down to accommodate their significant other.  

But, on the flip side, some are faking it ‘til they make it. About 10 per cent of Canadians admit they’ve pretended to like spicy food on a date, with younger adults most likely to pretend their spice threshold is higher than it is.    

“There’s still this stereotype that Canadians are very tame, mild, bland — but we actually have very diverse palates,” Boodram shared. “The majority of Canadians like things right in the middle.”

Wannabe Spicy?

The survey is part of a new Subway campaign promoting its Ghost Pepper bread and a limited “Wannabe Spicy” menu, designed for people who want flavour with a kick — not heat for heat’s sake.

The lineup includes three sandwiches built across a spice spectrum. At the mild end, the Piri-Piri Ranch Chicken pairs rotisserie chicken with a zesty piri-piri sauce and ranch for a cooling finish. The middle option leans sweeter and hotter, with hot honey drizzled over chicken and habanero jack cheese. For those who want more intensity, the Nashville-style deli sub layers multiple cured meats with Nashville hot sauce, banana peppers, and a mix of spicy and creamy sauces.

Subway says the idea is to offer “flavour-forward” sandwiches that let customers choose their own level of heat, depending on how far they’re willing to go on the spice scale.

So when the question is to spice or not to spice, Boodram says the answer is why not give it a try?

“You’re here, you’re alive, so why not experience life to the fullest of your human capability?” Boodram questioned.

Or at least, talk about it. She recommends using the conversation around spice preferences at the dinner table to ease into having conversations about spice in the bedroom.

“This is an easy way to have a broader conversation around novelty seeking, around the pursuit of pleasure, and everybody has a very easy time talking about their food preferences,” she explained.

But this is not always the case when it comes to talking about sex and intimacy.

“It is generally a conversation that’s very taboo, very shrouded in guilt, in shame and awkwardness and fear of judgment,” Boodram shared. “[Food] is an easy way to have more importance and broader dialogues.”

So, whether you’re dating and using this as a way to have a conversation about novelty and openness in a relationship with a new partner, or you’ve been partnered for a long time, discussing spicing things up when it comes to your palate might be the best way to start that conversation.

“Self-exploration, experimentation, novelty — all of these things are genuinely the spice of life, and it’s interesting because we all think of the spice of life as universally positive,” Boodram shared. “Maybe the spice of relationships and the spice of food could be too.”