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2026 flavour forecast highlights layered, adventurous & values-driven tastes
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Saturday, 10 January, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Sai Navaneetha G
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What is Flavour and Its Types?
Flavour is the combination of taste, smell, texture, and even temperature of food on the tongue, which can be influenced by its visual appearance. The flavour of food is an important factor in deciding what to eat.
Three types of flavours have been identified:
- Natural flavours – derived from spices, herbs, and vegetables.
- Natural identical flavours – similar to natural flavours but obtained through chemical processes.
- Artificial flavours – chemically synthesised and have no natural equivalent.
Importance of Flavour in Daily Life
Flavours not only guide food choices but also contribute to health by promoting the intake of nutritious foods, aiding digestion, and enhancing emotional well-being. Psychologically, flavour influences emotions and desire, while physiologically, it stimulates appetite and digestion, impacting nutrient absorption and overall health.
There is a growing trend among health-conscious consumers that shows a preference for natural and organic flavours, despite challenges such as low bioavailability and limited evidence of their effectiveness.
What is Flavour Forecast and How It Is Made?
A flavour forecast is a research-based prediction of the tastes, ingredients, and culinary themes expected to become popular in the coming years. A flavour forecast acts as a roadmap to the future of food, showing how culture, science, and consumer lifestyle will influence what the world eats next. Organisations such as McCormick’s Flavour Forecast, Mintel’s Global Food & Drink Trends, and Innova Market Insights study millions of data points—from consumer eating habits to restaurant menus, product launches, cultural shifts, and wellness movements—to identify which flavours will dominate future food choices.
Flavour forecasting is essential because it guides product development, inspires innovative recipes, ensures market relevance, and helps brands connect with evolving consumer tastes, making it a vital tool in the dynamic world of food and beverages. The forecast also highlights a strong movement toward global flavours, where ingredients, cooking traditions, and sensory profiles from different countries blend into everyday foods. From Asian spice blends to Mediterranean herbs and Latin American heat, global inspiration continues to redefine how consumers explore taste.
Flavour forecasting is usually carried out by analysing a combination of global food trends, cultural influences, health and wellness movements, emerging ingredients, technological innovations, and consumer behaviour patterns. Factors such as regional cuisines, sustainability preferences, nostalgia, social media influence, and demographic shifts all play a role in shaping these forecasts. The flavour forecast for 2025, for example, highlights a vibrant fusion of global culinary influences, rising wellness-driven choices, nostalgic comfort foods, and bold, spice-forward profiles.
Global Flavour Types
To understand what’s shaping our taste buds, food experts track popular flavours around the world.
These global flavour types highlight what consumers are enjoying today and what is likely to inspire new products tomorrow:
Global Flavour Type Description / Examples
Umami / Savoury Soy sauce, miso, mushrooms
Spicy / Hot Chili, Szechuan pepper, jalapeño
Sweet / Dessert-Inspired Caramel, chocolate, honey
Herbal / Botanical Basil, lemongrass, lavender
Citrusy / Fruity Lemon, lime, yuzu, passionfruit
Smoky / Charred Smoked paprika, chipotle, roasted vegetables
Savoury-Sweet Fusion Honey + chili, miso caramel
Fermented / Tangy Kimchi, yogurt, pickles, kombucha
Flavour Forecast for 2026
Swangy, Swavoury, Layered Taste Profiles (Sweet + Spicy + Savoury/Tangy)
A recent analysis reveals that savoury elements are moving into traditionally sweet applications for example, chefs are experimenting with black pepper in jams, rosemary in cookies, and fish sauce in caramel.
In 2025-26, savoury-sweet mixes such as honey-miso, basil-lime, spicy-maple, and swicy (sweet + spicy) characteristics are expected to increase in snacks, sauces, condiments, and desserts.
Savoury-Sweet & Umami-Sweet Mashups
The desire for richer and different flavour depth is noted. Flavour houses predict that honey-miso, soy- maple, and umami-sweet combinations will be popular in 2026. Market trends indicate a growing desire for functional flavour integration which combines flavours with functional/healthy ingredients in comfort foods or snacks.
Umami-sweet combinations complement plant-based and vegetarian diets, providing delightful depth and richness.
Global & Specific Ethnic Flavours
According to industry data, global flavour exploration is a growing trend, particularly for authentic regional flavours from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Rather than vague “Asian” or “Latin” flavours, consumers prefer authentic, region-specific tastes — e.g. Southeast Asian pandan or sudachi, West African piri piri, Middle Eastern spice blends. A renowned industry tracker identified global-rooted flavours and authentic rooted characteristics as key trends for 2025.
With the rise of global travel, cooking shows, social media, and multiculturalism, customers prefer regional-specific flavour sensations over generic international fusion. This supports the prediction of region-specific ethnic flavours.
Novel & Visual-Forward Flavours
Hojicha, a roasted Japanese green tea, was voted Flavour of the Year 2026 in a recent flavour-trend projection, indicating a shift towards exotic, cosy, and globally influenced flavours. Next-generation flavour influences include floral infusions, nuts (e.g. macadamia), botanicals, and exotic global ingredients that combine taste, scent, and visual appeal. This is particularly significant for desserts, beverages, and social media-friendly dishes.
Dessert-Inspired Indulgent Flavours — Even in Savoury Formats
Recent investigations show that dessert-inspired sweetness and rich flavours are still popular in snacks, sauces, and everyday items due to a desire for comfort, nostalgia, and sensory gratification.
The combination of sweet, creamy, caramel, nutty flavours with savoury or functional foods is gaining ground, as consumers balance nutrition with indulgence.
Values-Driven & Experience-Oriented Flavours
As consumers emphasise wellness, sustainability, authenticity, and emotional experience, flavour trends reflect these values. Clean-label ingredients, natural or plant-based flavours, nostalgic comforts reimagined, and sensory-rich meals are all gaining attention. Therefore, Flavour is far more than taste—it shapes our choices, emotions, and experiences with food. The 2026 flavour forecast highlights a world of layered, adventurous, and values-driven tastes, from swangy and swavory combinations to authentic global and dessert-inspired profiles. These trends reflect not only evolving consumer preferences but also broader cultural, wellness, and sustainability movements. By understanding and anticipating these flavour directions, chefs, product developers, and food brands can create innovative, meaningful, and memorable culinary experiences.
(The author is associate professor, department of Foods and Nutrition, RVS College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu)
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