Top 10 Trending Foodservice Flavors

Food trends are known to stem from the food service industry. Chefs have the creative freedom to play around with new flavor profiles, explore other ethnic cuisines, or add a new twist to old favorites. From these unique menu items, consumers are introduced to new and exciting flavors. As the demand rises for these dishes, their flavors and ingredients start to populate across other menus at different restaurants. Mintel Menu Insights dives deep into food service menus to identify which flavors are on the rise. Below, see the top 10 highest growth flavors from Q4 2020 to Q4 2021 – and our experts’ suggestions for how you can implement these flavors into your own product lines.

1. Ghost Pepper – Coming in at 1,000,000 + on the Scoville heat scale, ghost pepper undoubtedly brings the heat. Starting as a fruity and sweet chili flavor, it intensifies into extreme heat, leaving a burning sensation on your tongue for 30-40 minutes.

Uses: Ghost peppers are perfect to use in any sauce or salsa to bring that desired heat and flair to meat and veggie dishes. It also has shown up in the snack category over the last year, specifically on tortilla chips.

2. Jalapeno Cheese – For consumers looking for a kick but still wanting a creamy and savory taste, jalapeno cheese is the flavor for them. It offers the perfect balance of flavors that leave consumers craving more.

Uses: A delicious flavor for all food categories! Over the past year, jalapeno cheese has been used in proteins, snacks, dips, pastas, and more. You can’t go wrong introducing jalapeno cheese into your products.

3. Aji Amarillo – Sourced from Peru, this chili pepper has a unique heat at 30,000 Scoville units. It starts out with a fruity, berry-like taste which leads into a medium heat — but it doesn’t have the burning mouthfeel other peppers have.

Uses: Not only does this flavor align with trending South American cuisine, but it can also be used in a range of different foods. Aji Amarillo is commonly used in sauces, salsa, and marinades but it has been introduced into the snack category as an application to chips.

4. Jerk – Give consumers an escape to the Caribbean with jerk seasoning! Jerk is a staple in Jamaican cuisine – and will be a winner with consumers who are craving Caribbean food. According to a recent study from Mintel, 23% of U.S. consumers have eaten Caribbean cuisine in the last 3 months. Although it can vary from blend to blend, it tends to deliver a spicy, smoky, and warm flavor.

Uses: Traditionally used as a meat rub, this seasoning has expanded into different categories. Over the past year it has been released in sauces, pre-seasoned meat, and potato chips. Jerk is exactly what consumers are craving and will continue to crave for years to come.

5. Everything – Everything is everything! Featuring a nutty flavor that is mixed with an aromatic and savory taste from onion and garlic, Everything is a consumer favorite – plus it translates directly into the flavor combination trend.

Uses: Everything has become a mainstream flavor over the past few years specifically for baked goods. Yet, the delicious options doesn’t stop there. It has been introduced into salad kits, bringing in a twist to a classic ready-to-eat meal. It also has expanded tremendously in the snack category — it is craveable on almost every base.

6. Roasted-Tomato – Nothing like a fresh charred roasted tomato to bring explosive flavor to tomatoes. This flavor brings sweetness and smokiness together making it very versatile. Not only will consumers want more, but they’ll be trying to find creative and new ways to add this flavor to different foods.

Uses: Typically used in a sauce, roasted tomato flavor can be used for much more! New products recently launched with this flavor include mac and cheese with roasted tomato, tortilla chips, and salsa. It can even be innovated into savory baking mixes, following the twist on classics trend.

7. Serrano Chili – Serrano chili brings heat comparable to a jalapeno at 10,000 Scoville units, which means it has a good level of heat that will leave consumers wanting more. It is derived from Mexico, a mainstream trendy region. What does mainstream trendy mean? The region has become popular among majority of consumers, but still manages to continue to grow.

Uses: Serrano is being introduced in a wide range of food products. One of these new products is a serrano beef jerky that is mixed with citrus. Innovation continues with serrano flavor on potato chips, ready to eat meals and in dairy! The possibilities are endless with this delicious flavor.

8. Sweet Chili- Popular among Western, Thai, and Malaysian cuisine, sweet chili has the perfect combination of sweet with a slight kick. Consumers who aren’t ready to dive into the spicy world, this flavor is for them. According to Mintel, 2 in 3 Americans are interested in sweet and spicy flavors.

Uses: Mainly featured in sauces, there are still many other ways to use sweet chili. It makes a great addition to any snack base, especially those grain-free snacks that are really in need of a flavor kick!

9. Miso – Miso, one of the main ingredients that brings out the umami flavor, or as many calls it the “fifth taste.” It is made from fermented soybeans giving it the salty and savory flavor. It is growing immensely as it doesn’t only have to translate into Japanese cuisine.

Uses: As many might know miso as a soup, it is also used in sauces, dressing, marinades, and can even be used in pickling vegetables. Some new food products have miso combined with jalapeno, lime, and ginger — there are endless options with miso as it will only continue to grow!

10. Tomatillo – Did you know tomatillo directly translates into “little tomatoes”? Tomatillos have a tangy and fruity flavor, which can be combined with spicy or savory foods to enhance their already bright flavor. This delicious flavor can translate into foods that consumers will love.

Uses: You will most likely find Tomatillo in different salsa verdes and sauces, but consumers would love this flavor in a marinade for protein and vegetables. As consumers are trying to experiment more with regional cuisines, this flavor will bring some adventure to their palates.

Looking to bring these trending ingredients into your products? Contact us today to see how Fuchs can help you make something special.