Uncle’s Smallgoods has teamed up with small-batch chilli producer Bippi to create a new hero for the Christmas table: the Hot Honey Christmas Ham. 

Infused from the inside out with Bippi’s cult-favourite chilli honey and Uncle’s signature free-range pork, the collaboration is said to mark a bold new chapter for an Australian Christmas classic.

Instead of adding flavour at the end, this ham carries its character from the very first step. Each batch is tumbled with a brine made from Bippi Hot Honey, fresh Bippi chillies, dried Bippi chillies and Uncle’s classic lightly salty brine. The hams are then cured, sewn into nets by hand and smoked low and slow over Australian hardwoods for six hours until golden, fragrant and tender.

The result is a Christmas ham that carries a warm, fragrant lift from Bippi’s fresh chilli spice, a rounded honey sweetness, a clean salt balance and the depth of real hardwood smoke. It’s a flavour profile built on nuance rather than heat — bright, aromatic chilli notes, gentle sweetness and smoky richness working together in every slice.

The Hot Honey Ham idea began with Uncle’s Smallgoods General Manager Bert Glinka’s long-running obsession with Bippi chillies.

“Bippi’s chilli products have been part of our test kitchen for years,” Mr Glinka said. 

“We’ve always loved how fresh and aromatic their chillies taste — not just heat for the sake of it. With hot honey booming this year, it felt like the right moment to give the Christmas ham a new Australian flavour story. This is tradition, but with a spark,” he said.

Ben Circosta, Founder of Bippi, says it’s a way of thinking that aligns perfectly with Bippi’s own flavour sensibilities

“Our chilli honey brings freshness and fragrance rather than intense heat, and Uncle’s has woven that through the ham in such a considered way. It’s Christmas, but with a distinctly modern Australian flavour story,” he said.

Uncle’s Smallgoods will sell 4kg Hot Honey Christmas Ham ($220) from Uncle’s Deli in Dandenong, Melbourne.  

A smaller 1kg Hot Honey Nugget Ham (RRP $50) will be available through select retailers, including Ritchies Fine Food Stores, Harris Farm Market, Boccaccio, LaManna Fresh, Geelong Fresh, Peaches Torquay, Mortadeli Torquay and Anglesea IGA.