As consumers are discovering, there’s something special about street food. While global cuisine exploration is trending across the board, consumers are gravitating towards street foods, which offer a more authentic glimpse at the culinary scene abroad. This trend reflects a growing desire to discover exotic global foods and flavors that make them feel like a local or a well-seasoned traveler. It’s no longer about trying the most popular or well-known dishes from a given cuisine; it’s about finding those hidden gems and being able to truly appreciate what a global cuisine has to offer.
What does this mean for the sauce and condiment category? It’s a huge opportunity for innovation. Sauces have long been a vehicle for global cuisine exploration, and those inspired by the offerings at street food stalls from around the world are perfect for embracing this trend and appealing to adventurous consumers. Keep reading for our experts’ insights into how sauce and condiment brands can draw inspiration from the global street food trend.
Show Love for Latin Inspiration
The foods and flavors of Latin America have caught consumers’ attention and captivated their cravings! Street foods from this region are trending, as consumers seek to explore the regional specialties and exotic dishes that only locals and the well-travelled would know. While some items like empanadas, tacos, and churros are pretty much mainstream at this point, less familiar street food specialties like choripán, arepas, and salgados are picking up steam.
Latin American condiments that are commonly served with street foods are beginning to trend as well, making them the perfect starting point for innovation. Chimichurri, aji picante, guasacaca, and mole are all showing growth in foodservice. Sauce brands should consider bringing these emerging favorites to grocery store shelves.
Look for Latin street food sauces that reflect up-and-coming flavor trends to get ahead of the curve. For example, consumers are loving complex flavors that layer multiple taste experiences.
Chamoy, a popular Mexican condiment that features sweet, spicy, and tangy notes, delivers exactly the kind of complexity that consumers are craving, making it ideal for innovation.
Embrace Always Popular Asian Cuisine
When it comes to the global flavor trend, Asian cuisines are a particularly popular source of inspiration. Indeed, consumers have grown enamored with all that Asian cuisine has to offer. Asian street foods, in particular, have been in demand with consumers who are seeking to expand through horizons through authentic options that allow them to eat like a local.
Sauces that are featured alongside traditional Asian street foods are a prime source of inspiration for condiment brands. Nuoc cham, for example, is a vibrant Vietnamese sauce commonly served with street food favorites like spring rolls and noodle bowls. Similarly, chili crisp, a spicy sauce with a crunchy texture, can be found in street food stalls in China and has been trending on social media as a craveable condiment for dumplings. These types of sauces are sure to appeal to consumers’ sense of adventure and desires for exploration.
Get ahead of this trend by looking for inspiration from classic street foods from up-and-coming Asian cuisines. Filippino cuisine is gaining fast in
foodservice, for example, and it features a number of unique condiments that are commonly served alongside street foods, such as banana ketchup and spiced vinegar. Authenticity is the name of the game here, so brands shouldn’t shy away from exotic options from less familiar Asian cuisines.
Colorful Condiments from Global Cuisines
Eye-catching condiments are standard in street food stalls! One thing that several trending global sauces have in common is their vibrant colors. Gremolata, for example, is a bright green Italian sauce that tops everything from grilled meats to pizza. Aji amarillo, a Peruvian sauce that is often served with ceviche, takes on a bright yellow hue. These kinds of condiments deliver delicious flavor, but also have visual appeal, making them ideal for grabbing consumers’ attention. Look to street food sauces with unique colors when innovating around this trend.
Seeking out street food inspiration for your sauces? Contact us today to see how Fuchs can help you make something special.