The influence of international cuisines on flavor trends is truly undeniable. Consumers have been gravitating toward exotic flavors from faraway places to add some adventure and excitement to daily life. For the dairy category, this opens the door to a world of flavor possibilities, with a plethora of spicy, sweet, and savory options to draw inspiration from.
Global food and flavor trends are as prolific as ever, but which ones hold the most promise for the dairy category? Keep reading for our experts’ takes on how dairy brands can get inspired by trending international cuisines when innovating with their products.
Say Yes to Global Spice
One of the many reasons that global cuisines are exceedingly popular is because they tend to be anything but bland, with several of the trendiest global cuisines centering complex spicy flavors unlike anything consumers are used to. Adventurous consumers obsess over the bold heat that global dishes feature, and the cool creaminess of dairy provides balance and makes these hot flavors more approachable.
Spicy global dishes can serve as hot and spicy flavor inspiration for dairy products. Trending traditional dishes that bring the heat, like Korean kimchi, Indian vindaloo, Ethiopian doro wat, and Guyanese pepperpot, are ideal for adding some excitement to dips, shredded cheese, cream cheese, and other dairy products.
Another option for innovation? Consider featuring the ingredients that give a spicy global cuisine its signature kick in everyday dairy products. Look to exotic peppers and trending global spice
blends from around the world for flavor inspiration for modern dairy products that consumers will crave. Think piri piri sour cream dip, berbere cream cheese spread, harissa shredded cheddar, and aji amarillo cheese dip.
Dive Into Dessert Inspiration
Sweet dairy products are often associated with indulgence, making global desserts the perfect source of flavor inspiration. Think about it: ice cream, frozen novelties, yogurt, and other sweet dairy-based treats often offer much-needed moments of reprieve, while global flavors deliver a sense of escapism and temporarily transport consumers to faraway destinations. Trending global desserts and confections, such as Dubai chocolate and tiramisu, have already begun to take hold in the dairy category, but there’s still plenty of room for innovation.
For example, Latin American cuisine has been a fan favorite as of late, making desserts like dulce de leche, flan, tres leches, and churros perfect for translating to dairy flavors. Similarly, multiple Asian cuisines have made their mark on the food industry, remaining amongst the most popular global cuisines. Therefore, the flavors of traditional Asian desserts, such as Thai mango sticky rice, Japanese mochi, and Korean yakgwa, are ideal for inspiring dairy products that will appeal to adventurous consumers.
Introduce International Varieties
With the global food trend remaining immensely popular, consumers are being exposed to exotic dairy products from faraway places. Previously unfamiliar dairy products are quickly catching on
as new favorites as consumers discover them while exploring global cuisines. From dairy-based dips and desserts to cheese varieties and beverages, global dairy products are picking up steam, as consumers grow increasingly interested in authentic staples from around the world.
For example, the recent rise of authentic Mexican cuisine has put cotija cheese in the spotlight. Similarly, Indian dairy ingredients and products like paneer and lassi have witnessed spikes in demand as the cuisine has taken off. To make the most of the global dairy trend, dairy brands should introduce consumers to authentic varieties from international cuisines.
Especially with consumers cooking at home more, they’ll appreciate the opportunity to incorporate authentic ingredients into their globally inspired recipes. Look to dairy staples from up-and-coming global cuisines for inspiration. Nepalese cuisine, for example, is emerging as a more exotic alternative to Indian cuisine, positioning its takes on dairy, like dahi, a type of yogurt, and chhurpi, a type of cheese, as prime options for innovation.
Interested in adding some international flair to your dairy products? Our experts have got you covered. Contact us today to see how Fuchs can help you make something special.