Sensational Shades of Spice

Spicy ingredients will continue to trend in 2024 and beyond thanks to their proliferation across many popular global cuisines. As covered in Food + Health Trends: 24/25, spices are also becoming more recognised for their robust wellbeing benefits, making them appealing to consumers looking to fortify their healthy eating regimens.

Culinary Caress: Tender Tastes Soothe Consumers

Flavours that signal virtues like goodness, kindness and comfort will offer consumers a sense of softness and nurture during turbulent times. Within this culinary spectrum, we celebrate creamy, velvety flavours, as well as light botanicals that gently tickle the senses while providing a holistic health halo.

What Does ‘Healthy’ Taste Like?

Flavours that evoke vitality continue to resonate as consumers prioritise their wellbeing. Pungently protective favourites – like turmeric, ginger and matcha – deliver a no-nonsense taste of health, while citrus fruits remain evergreen stalwarts. However, within this framework, unexpected flavours, such as ube and prickly pear, become culinary superstars. See also: Food + Health Trends: 24/25.

Taste Templates for Prestigious Palates

Creative use of flavour can premiumise basic food and drink products, taking them from simple to exceptional. As “little treat” culture continues to influence grocery and dining-out occasions, we’ll see more alcohol-infused edibles and fancy flavour hybrids. On a sobering note, premium brands will need to reconcile their flavour profiles against harsh impacts of climate change.

Designing Digital Seasonings

As food technologies become ever more advanced, so increases their capacity to impact taste, flavour and mouthfeel. While AI’s full potential is still being explored in food and drink product development, its ability to influence flavour – on both a functional and imaginative level – is already becoming apparent. For more, see Food + Tech Trends: 24/25.