CHICAGO — Consumers can expect to see an explosion of Asian-inspired flavors and ingredients in 2023, according to market research firm Datassential.
The company’s predictions come as part of its annual FoodBytes report that features macro and micro trends, such as artificial intelligence and Gen Alpha, alongside the upcoming year’s top 10 ingredient and flavor trends.
Leading the list for 2023 is yuzu, an aromatic East Asian citrus fruit that traditionally is used in ponzu sauce. New applications for yuzu have been found in salad dressings, and growing consumer demand for healthy, planet-friendly ingredients also has created an opening for yuzu in the baking and snack categories.
Other Asian-inspired flavors and ingredients in the top 10 list include soju, a Korean alcohol commonly made from rice or cassava, and ube, a semisweet purple yam found in a variety of Filipino cuisines. While applications for ube have not grown despite its upward trajectory over the last several years, the yam remains popular for its use in creating vibrant, “Instagram-able” dishes.
Latin American influences also occupied a significant portion of the report’s 2023 predictions. Datassential expects to see continued demand for birria, spicy stew traditionally made with goat meat or beef, building off its increased interest in 2021 as reported by restaurant review hub Yelp. New and emerging flavors include mangonada, a sweet and spicy mango sorbet dessert made with chili powder and chamoy, and a nutty salsa variation called salsa macha.
In the beverage category, the company is forecasting a resurgence in the market for the foamy latte and earl grey tea concoction, the London fog. Consumers also are likely to see more brands adding ranch water, made from tequila and sparkling water, to their product lines following the launches of Coca-Cola Co.’s Topo Chico ranch water seltzer and Dos Equis’ seltzer in 2022.
The report’s top 10 list rounds out with a return to earthy flavors and ingredients such as mushrooms and spicy maple.