flavor trends 2016

Mother Murphys is always on the look out for new flavor trends. Below are a few of
the top flavor trends that are affecting consumer preferences.

Health and Wellness

Consumers are more informed about what they eat and want to make healthier
choices. There is great emphasis on clean label as consumers demand transparency
and want simpler products with fewer artificial ingredients. In an attempt to be healthier,
certain consumers are switching to free from products and are shifting away from
sugary foods to healthier options with more varied flavors. Vegetable, bitter, and tea
flavor profiles will be very prevalent in 2016.
Coconut

Matcha

Banana

Cucumber

Honey

Turmeric

Vegetable Flavors: Carrot, Tomato, Beet, Avocado, Squash, Broccoli, Seaweed

Sour/Bitter Flavors: Dark Chocolate, Coffee, Citrus, Melon, Kale, Campari, Beer

Category Crossover
Consumers crave variety but still want flavors they feel comfortable purchasing.
Borrowing flavors traditionally associated with other product categories is a trendy way
to offer innovation and sophistication to a product. Adult beverage, cake, indulgent
inspired beverage, and tea flavors are showing up in other categories. Product
boundaries are being pushed by the trend of blurring the line between savory and
sweet.
Old Fashioned

Hot Cocoa

Rhubarb

Rooibos

Wedding Cake

Alcoholic/Mocktail Flavors: Amaretto, Tequila, Champagne, Wine, Grand Marnier

Bold and Exotic

Consumers are ready to get even more adventurous with their food and beverage
choices. They are expected to incorporate even more exotic flavors inspired by
the global tastes of Latin America, Cuba, Asia, and Africa. Increased exposure to
ethnic cuisines in recent years has consumers yearning for spice but also depth and
complexity. Food preparation techniques matter to consumers, as it is part of the
customer experience. Fermented, pickled, roasted, bruleed, and smoked will be
popular this year. Also, extremely important is authenticity and the use of tangy flavors
to accent spicy tastes.
Shishito Peppers

Cafe Cubano

Lemongrass

Elderflower

Pandan

Tangy Flavors: Kumquats, Cranberries, Vinegars, Pomegranate, Yogurt, Tamarind