Culinary boundaries are constantly being pushed, with hybrid dishes combining heat, salty, sweet and umami flavours to redefine our palates. In a recent flavour survey by Innova, 22% of consumers globally reported looking for “intense and bold flavours” whilst 82% of consumers in Europe would be interested in ready meals with ‘heat’ or ‘spicy’ flavours.

Social media’s latest fiery trend

The role of social media in shaping culinary trends cannot be overstated, especially for younger consumers. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok have become hotbeds for showcasing spicy food challenges and bold flavour experiments. Whilst popular shows on YouTube like “Hot Ones,” where celebrities face off against increasingly spicy wings, have further fuelled the appetite for heat, reaching 91 million views in 2023.

The interest expands past just the heat factor though, with an increasing interest in the vibrant and complex profiles of East Asian cuisine. Honed for seamlessly blending daring flavours with traditional techniques.

One great example is gochujang, a Korean staple that combines sweet and spicy elements with a salty, savoury hit, delivering a multi-layered experience. Asian flavour combinations like these are paving the way for more daring pairings. Moving past the classic ‘sweet chilli’ and challenging conventional rules about how tastes can be combined. The modern approach throws out the rulebook, embracing unexpected and exciting flavour fusions that redefine the culinary landscape.

With social media celebrating adventurous eating, hybrid flavours and audacious combinations it comes as no surprise that rising flavour trends expand beyond just one taste category.

Would you like swicy sauce with that?

In the realm of flavour innovation, the rise of terms like “swicy” (sweet and spicy) and “swalcy” (sweet and salty with a spicy kick) capture the essence of the contemporary palate.

A prime example of this exciting development is the advent of hot honey—a delectable fusion of sweet, spicy, and savoury that has been capturing the attention of food enthusiasts. Blending these unexpected elements has led to release of exciting new products such as salami pizza with chilli infused honey drizzle from Franco Manca.

This trend reflects a broader shift in consumer attitudes towards bold and inventive flavours. For tastes that push boundaries whilst also offering a comforting sense of familiarity.

Grilling Up Comfort amidst uncertainty

Smoky, grilled and BBQ flavours are globally on the rise, offering a sensory delight that taps into a collective nostalgia. In times of global uncertainty, comfort food often takes centre stage, and one of the most comforting cooking techniques is firing up the BBQ. As the demand for familiar yet exciting food experiences rises, the rich, smoky notes of BBQ have become increasingly popular, evoking both satisfaction and joy.

Alongside the classic nature of a grill, meat substitutes have firmly established themselves in the space. Through mimicking the smoky essence and hearty profile of traditional meat dishes, these substitutes cater to a broad range of consumers; vegans, vegetarians and those seeking to reduce their meat consumption without sacrificing taste.

With meat substitutes underscoring the versatility and creativity of modern food development they have soared in success, becoming the largest growing category for “smoky” and “roasted” flavours.

Tailor the Heat Profile for you

Here at Synergy we enable you to provide both the nostalgic comfort of traditional flavour and the innovative opportunities of new taste experiences. Synergy’s collection offers flavours inspired by expert culinary profiles ranging from classic chilli to the likes of Bulgogi BBQ and Peri Peri on an array of products, including ready-meals, bread and plant-based meats.

Contact us to learn more about how we can help.

insights