News
Sensient predicts 2015 flavour trends
22 Jan 2015Using formal and grassroots market research tactics, Sensient Flavours says it has identified four primary consumer interests — hybrid flavours, regional inspiration, creative sourcing and savoury updates — that inform eight up-and-coming flavour trends for 2015. Hybrid flavours, or unconventional flavour pairings, will remain popular through the year ahead. Specifically, Sensient predicts the following two […]
Using formal and grassroots market research tactics, Sensient Flavours says it has identified four primary consumer interests — hybrid flavours, regional inspiration, creative sourcing and savoury updates — that inform eight up-and-coming flavour trends for 2015.
Hybrid flavours, or unconventional flavour pairings, will remain popular through the year ahead. Specifically, Sensient predicts the following two flavours will be on the rise:
Smoked Chantilly – Food menus continue to feature smoked, roasted, toasted and burnt flavours. Pairing this profile with vanilla- or brandy-infused Chantilly cream evokes a new level of interest by combining two unexpected, but harmonious flavours.
Maple Mirch (Mirchi) – The popularity of Indian cuisine is growing as consumers learn the depth and breadth of this particularly rich heritage. Mirch, Hindi for chili pepper, brings spice and heat from India and combines it with maple, a fan favourite in the Western world. This East-meets-West hybrid pairs the familiar sweetness with the exotic Indian flavour creating something consumers will be eager to try.
Consumers are also becoming more curious about regionally inspired flavours as they look to food as a gateway to the world’s cultures. In 2015, regional flavour trends take their cues from the equator:
African Blue Basil – A perennial basil, this variety is a sterile hybrid of two breeds that yields an unexpected flavour with anise undertones.
Falernum – Falernum is a sweet syrup boasting hints of almond, ginger, cloves, lime, vanilla and allspice. It’s often paired with rum in Caribbean and tropical drinks, but it’s popping up in non-alcoholic beverages like coconut water and is expected to hit the food market in coming years.
Long winters and droughts are forcing manufacturers to consider alternative food sources and become more conscious of sustainable resources. Specifically, desert plants are rising in popularity:
Desert Wildflowers – Though polarizing, floral flavours are on the rise for 2015, and the mild flavour of the desert wildflower makes it a popular pick that can be enjoyed by all.
Cascara Tea – Commonly consumed in Bolivia (where it’s called Sultana), cascara tea is made from the dried berries of the coffee plant and is often mixed with cinnamon.
Category-blurring flavour trends like “Savoury 2.0” are firing on all cylinders. As consumers take inventory of their pantries, savoury updates on traditionally sweet applications are proving to be viable alternatives as long term staples. Whether it is sugar replaced with salt or repurposing more familiar flavours, this trend will include:
‘Everything Bagel’ Spice Blend – A longtime favourite, this versatile spice blend contains poppy seed, kosher salt, sweet onion sugar, sesame seed, garlic, onion and fennel.
Salted Satsuma – The perfect balance of sweet and savoury, the addition of salt elevates this summertime favourite. Satsuma, a Japanese orange varietal, gained popularity in New Orleans in recent years. It is another citrus expected to appear in flavour undertones in 2015.
The consumer insights were developed utilising Sensient’s “Trends to Taste” program, a proprietary predictive process that filters trends from the broad, consumer, macro level down to finished concepts that best demonstrate each flavour profile.
“The 2015 Trends to Taste program centres around one consistent theme: ethnic exploration through flavours,” said Teresa Olah, marketing director, Sensient Flavours. “Consumers are seeking adventure in their food and see their choices as an expression of themselves. They are enjoying the ability to sample other cultures through food.”
Related news
Paris Olympics: Food and beverage brands champion health, fun, and sustainability
5 Aug 2024
Food and beverage brands are aligning with the Paris Olympics 2024 Food Vision, which emphasises sustainability, local sourcing, and plant-based diets.
Read moreNatural Remedies: Bringing health and happiness via validated branded ingredients
18 Apr 2024
Natural Remedies is an internationally renowned botanical healthcare company committed to advancing the field through rigorous research and the development of clinically validated Branded Ingredients. Guided by our foundational principle of ‘BEING USEF...
Read moreExploring the future of health and wellness retail at Vitafoods Europe
14 Mar 2024
With retail-focussed content sessions, buyer networking, and finished product tasting sessions, this year’s Vitafoods Europe offers a not-to-be-missed opportunity for retailers to up their health and wellness game.
Read moreSustainability meets innovation at Fi Europe 2023's Sustainability Ingredients Zone
9 Jan 2024
Fi Europe’s Sustainable Ingredients Zone showcases ingredients forging a path toward a greener future. Three innovators are redefining what sustainability within the food and beverage industry means, with upcycled products, regenerative agriculture, an...
Read moreUnleashing the power of plants at Fi Europe’s New Product Zone
5 Jan 2024
In the diverse landscape of plant-based innovation, Fi Europe 2023's New Product Zone spotlighted ten plant-based ingredients, tailored to meet the rising demand for sustainable and delicious options.
Read moreMeet the innovative ingredients showcased at Fi Europe’s New Product Zone
3 Jan 2024
The Food Ingredients category at Fi Europe’s New Product Zone featured 19 distinct and innovative products. From fermented delights to sustainable proteins, these ingredients are ready to make their mark in the market.
Read moreFi Europe’s New Product Zone elevates the nutrition of everyday indulgences
22 Dec 2023
At Fi Europe 2023's New Product Zone, eight health ingredients, each offering an enhanced nutritional profile of various products, were on display. These ingredients address the evolving needs of the food and beverage industry and cater to consumers se...
Read moreFi Europe’s New Product Zone explores fresh possibilities with five natural ingredients
20 Dec 2023
Fi Europe 2023's New Product Zone unveils five natural ingredients, each catering to the growing demand for clean products and embodying ethical and sustainable choices for today's conscious consumers.
Read moreWater-conscious consumers, upcycled food, and tech-driven sustainability: Highlights from Fi Europe, part 2
14 Dec 2023
With climate change becoming a tangible reality, consumers’ environmental concerns are changing. At Fi Europe, market analysts revealed how people are now interested in everyday issues like water shortages and tech-driven solutions such as GM drought-r...
Read moreThe food industry’s single-use packaging problem
12 Dec 2023
The food industry’s reliance on single-use packaging is a sustainability “sticking point” with viable alternatives not widely available – but new EU rules mean food businesses will remain responsible for the collection and disposal of the packaging the...
Read more