GA's Official Wing Flavor Could Be This After House Committee Vote: Report

ATLANTA, GA — A Georgia House committee on Tuesday passed a number of bills, including one that could make lemon pepper the state's official chicken wing flavor, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Wednesday.

With a wing spot on nearly every corner in metro Atlanta, it's no secret that Georgians love their lemon pepper wet wings. Some like them lemon pepper hot or hot with lemon pepper sprinkles.

The message reached State Rep. Eric Bell, D-Jonesboro, who co-sponsored House Bill 1013. If it becomes law, lemon pepper would join several state designations, such as the brown thrasher as Georgia's state bird, peaches as the state fruit and grits as the state prepared food.

Other sponsors of HB 1013 include Reps. Dexter Sharper, Kasey Carpenter, David Huddleston, Mekyah McQueen and Carl Gillard.

“Georgians like lemon pepper wings,” Bell said in a WRDW report published this week. “It’s one way to highlight Georgia’s culinary and cultural cuisine.”

After J.R. Crickets first introduced Georgia to chicken wings, lemon pepper became a part of Georgia's culture, "representing creativity, boldness and southern hospitality," legislators say.

A notable star who has bragged about his adoration for the potential state wing flavor is hip-hop artist Gucci Mane, who in his song "Lemonade," rapped, "Lemon pepper wings and the freeze cup (what?)

HB 1013 has yet to become law, needing Senate clearance.