2018’s Hottest F&B Flavors

If you run a restaurant or beverage business, you’ll definitely want to stay abreast of the latest flavour trends. Adding any of these flavour profiles to your products could see a spike in "customer interest and an increase in revenue. 

1. The Spice of Life

Now that Asian cuisine is so popular, spice is a flavor that features heavily in modern dishes. If done right and in an authentic manner, spice really can add life and intrigue into an otherwise standard dish. Popular spices from around the world include Gochujang from Korea, adobo from the Philippines, Tandoori from India, Sambal from Indonesia and more. This rise in spice popularity can be attributed to the fact that [1]“as the population becomes more diverse, consumers that would once have shied away from such bold flavors are now embracing the unfamiliar.”

2. Smoked Foods

Be it American cuisine or the rich traditions of Europe, smoked foods have been around for a long time. However, they’ve seen a bit of a modern renaissance as of late with people pining for those nostalgic flavors of old. Buzz words include things like [2]“Hickory and Applewood smoke,” which seem to intrigue people the most. Yet, the art of smoking is not reserved purely for meats any longer. Deserts, smoke-infused cocktails and even appetizers are here in a big way, too. 

3. Flavorful Herbs

Whether in drinks or as a condiment to your favorite dishes, herbs, particularly ones with health benefits, are seeing a rise in popularity. We can see that sales of [3]“turmeric has grown 176% on menus over the last four years” and [4]“ginger–flavored beverages, meanwhile, have reached $200 million in the last year alone.” Less conventional herbs like [5]“moringa, ashwagandha, ginseng, and holy basil” are also rising in popularity, especially when added to unique drinks. 

4. Fruity Notes

There’s a strong trend of fruity flavors playing a big part in flavour trends this year. However, typical fruits will not be making the largest impact. Think of interesting variants of common fruits like blood oranges. [6]“Blood orange appeals to consumers by tapping into their growing demand for naturally grown and better-for-you ingredients.” You can expect to see unorthodox fruit flavors popping up in confectionary products and in drinks, as well. Look out for flowery flavors, also as they are being added to create aromatic and flavorful beverage combos.

[1] http://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/article/2018-flavor-trends-food-and-beverage

[2] http://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/article/2018-flavor-trends-food-and-beverage

[3] http://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/article/2018-flavor-trends-food-and-beverage

[4] http://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/article/2018-flavor-trends-food-and-beverage

[5] http://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/article/2018-flavor-trends-food-and-beverage

[6] http://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/article/2018-flavor-trends-food-and-beverage