At PSC, we are proud to be at the forefront of flavor trends across the food industry. As the new year begins, our research is centered on emerging flavor trends to watch in 2024.
We’re sharing these insights to help you stay ahead of the market. Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge to continue producing products with trending and crave-worthy flavors, giving you a competitive edge.
Here are some emerging flavor trends you can expect to see in 2024.
4 Flavor Trends in 2024
1. Earthy Flavors with Nutritious Properties
Products with health and wellness benefits are expected to continue to gain popularity in 2024. These products often feature prominent “health food” ingredients with minimal processing such as seeds, mushrooms, nuts, or popular plant-based proteins such as tempeh, soy, or chickpeas.
Edible flowers, such as hibiscus, rose, and lavender, are also appearing in everyday food products in an effort to harness the wellness benefits of consuming botanicals. They are making an impression in products like bottled beverages, baked goods, ice cream, and chocolate.
As customers reach for products that promote health benefits, they are becoming increasingly interested in foods that feature earthy spices with functional properties. Herbs and spices believed to reduce inflammation and relieve stress are at the forefront of this trend. Examples of “functional” spices include garlic, cinnamon, cayenne, turmeric, ginger, and cardamom. These spices are celebrated for their touted health benefits, and offer the potential for added nutritional value.
Our flavor experts caution that it can be challenging to balance strong, bitter flavors without the use of sugar or fat. However, turmeric and mushrooms are exceptions, and are easier to work with.
We have a number of resources to help food manufacturers and professional kitchens embrace this trend by highlighting their healthier options with herbs and spices.
- Learn how to season meat alternatives
- Add turmeric to your menu
- Incorporate possibly immunity-boosting spices into everyday products
- Explore the convenience of cooking with dried fruit and vegetables
The demand for healthy food options has increased steadily over the recent years, and it is showing no signs of slowing down. As demand for simple, natural ingredients builds, food companies are challenged to rise to the occasion and deliver healthy options with creative flavor combinations.
2. Spice Blends from Around the World
Consumers want to explore the world through food and flavor; and as this trend takes over, borders between international and domestic cuisines blur. Food lovers across America are opting for intercultural foods that defy tradition, as it allows them to experience their favorite foods in new ways.
From Curry Tacos, to Garam Masala Marinated Roast, Szechuan Karaage, Ethiopian Dulet, and Harissa Rotisserie, experimenting with global flavors creates endless opportunities for creativity in the kitchen. The common hamburger is a prime example of this trend. From tandoori chicken burgers, to asian barbecue burgers, and harissa beef burgers, the demand for exotic versions of classic recipes is at an all time high.
As consumers reach for products that take them on a culinary adventure across the globe, we have noticed a rise in popularity within our customer base for Indian spice blends and Japanese/Korean American Fusion. We introduced PSC Garam Masala and PSC Curry Seasoning in recent years, and these blends have also grown in popularity among our customers.
Spice blends are a convenient and essential way to bring flavors from all around the world into your kitchen. So if you’re ready to embrace this trend and find new ways to bring international inspiration into your kitchen, we are here to help. Our extensive library of world wide herb and spice blends will help you do it.
Our spice blends from around the world include international favorites like:
- PSC Garam Masala
- PSC Tandoori Seasoning
- PSC Curry Seasoning
- PSC Herbs de Provence
- PSC Italian Seasoning
- PSC Pizza Seasoning
- PSC Chili Powder
- PSC Taco Seasoning
- PSC Jerk Spice
Custom blends are also an excellent solution for customers looking to create fusion dishes.
Here are some additional fusion recipes to spark inspiration in the kitchen:
- Kung Pao Cauliflower
- Pumpkin Spice Churros
- Lamb Burgers with Harissa Aioli
- Chickpea Burgers with Tahini Lemon Sauce
- Sriracha Cauliflower Tacos
- 3 Creative ways to use taco seasoning
Contact us for a full list of spices, or request a consultation if you’d like help in using PSC products to pursue this flavor trend.
3. Complex Heat and Smoked Spices
As spicy foods in the U.S. are becoming increasingly more popular, those who can ‘handle the heat’ wear their tolerance like a badge of honor. Every year, we continue to see a strong demand for spicy flavors.
Throughout 2024, food companies can expect to see more daring specialty pepper varieties and complex heat from around the world take center stage. This long list of spices includes scorpion peppers, guajillo, Hungarian goathorn peppers, ghost peppers, Korean chili flakes (gochugaru), and harissa.
To add depth to any chili blend, consider incorporating guajillo chilis. chipotle, habanero, and cayenne peppers are also popular choices among fans.
Smoked spices are also expected to become more popular in 2024, adding complex and robust flavor to dishes. Smoked paprika, smoked cumin, and smoked chili peppers are just a few examples of smoked spices that are gaining popularity.
When it comes to this flavor trend, our flavor experts encourage experimentation. In their words, “Be weird with it, and you might just stumble upon something amazing”.
As the spicy food trend continues to evolve, you can expect to see more complex heat and smoked spices appearing in unexpected places, from snack foods, to desserts, to candies, and even beverages.
You can learn more about the spicy food trend here. You’ll notice we wrote this blog a couple years ago, but it includes up-to-date research on why people like heat, how heat is measured, and the differences between common pepper varieties.
As we look forward to the new year, we expect consumers to continue their pursuit of healthy foods with natural ingredients and functional spices while also showing a growing interest in foods that feature international flavors and complex heat in surprising ways.
We eagerly anticipate 2024 as a year for flavor experimentation, and we’re thrilled to watch each of these trends gain momentum. We invite you to embrace these trends and use them to drive innovation. As always, we stand ready to help you adapt and grow as trends evolve.
What do you think of these trends? Are there any others you expect to see in 2024?