Future Flavour Forecast 25/26: Sensory Cues
This report is part of a suite of reports, bringing together 60+ global flavour forecasts for 2025, overlaid with Stylus’ own flavour and ingredient predictions. Here, we explore how international flavours and spices are enabling sensory-stimulating taste experiences while digital and textural flavour treatments offer personalisation and novelty. See also Future Flavour Forecast: 25/26: Wellness Flavourways and Future Flavour Forecast 25/26: Visual Directions.
Global Gastronomic Gateways
Bottomless Spice
Digital Dimensions & Titillating Textures
Thanks to the proliferation of global cuisines and food cultures on social media, consumers are keen to expand their culinary repertoires with new-to-them tastes and rousing flavour combinations. As a result, palates have become more curious, and brands are responding with ever more diverse food and drink products. This trend impacts myriad categories and occasions, from snacking and dining out to ready meals.
Thanks to the proliferation of global cuisines and food cultures on social media, consumers are keen to expand their culinary repertoires with new-to-them tastes and rousing flavour combinations. As a result, palates have become more curious, and brands are responding with ever more diverse food and drink products. This trend impacts myriad categories and occasions, from snacking and dining out to ready meals.
Summary
Global Gastronomic Gateways | Thanks to the proliferation of global cuisines and food cultures on social media, consumers are keen to expand their culinary repertoires with new-to-them tastes and rousing flavour combinations. As a result, palates have become more curious, and brands are responding with ever more diverse food and drink products. This trend impacts myriad categories and occasions, from snacking and dining out to ready meals. |
Bottomless Spice | As explored in Sensational Shades of Spice in Future Flavours Forecast: 24/25, spicy flavourways continue to shape food and drink culture. In 2025, complex expressions of spice will offer consumers high-octane heat and intensity, as well as more subtle and delicate iterations. This flavour direction is galvanised by consumer interest in punchy, tangy and piquant flavours. |
Digital Dimensions & Titillating Textures | AI is driving flavour development forward at a furious pace. While the tech was initially used to suggest creative taste pairings, it’s now being harnessed to birth entirely new flavours and formulations. Meanwhile, the notion of virtual taste is being explored, opening compelling new avenues of sensory engagement for consumers. |
Future Flavour Forecast 25/26: Sensory Cues
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Offering access to over 350 consumer and cross-industry reports annually, Stylus Membership is your window to tomorrow’s most exciting opportunities.
We already arm more than 500 of the world’s most forward-thinking brands and agencies with the creative insights they need to make transformative business decisions.
We’d love to do the same for you.
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