This year's flavor trend in America savors the delights of Asian spices, as presented by Flavor Forecast. It turned out that the global warming is not an issue to heat up Western culinary with 'sambals' and other tropical Asian flavors.
McCormick Flavor Forecast published 2016 edition of food trends in America - stating about 'ancestral flavors' and 'Heat+Tang' to be incorporated in the foodservice industry. These are the regional specialties that hit the States with its 'adventurous' character that contributes to the mega trend.
While flavor may be personal but there are top line trends that last. McCormick annual forecast does the research with the help of food technologists, culinologists, chefs, and trend trackers. The result? These professionals predicted spicy flavors that would take dining experience to a new level with its contrast to tangy accents.
McCormick & Co., Inc., as a leading manufacturer and distributor of spices and seasonings, compared the recent trend to previous year's where consumers were obsessed with spice and chilies. The blends of other spices evolved into a combination of Heat + Tang that lifts the flavors.
According to the firm's Chef Executive, Gary Patterson, people loved to explore new stuff and it's part of the trend driving force. For instance, Asians who travel to the U.S would consider Mexican food as 'new experience' when the Americans have seen it as 'mainstream'.
Furthermore, the company's website describes the top line in the categories with famous signature recipes coming from two Southeast Asia regions, Malaysia and Philippines. These are some of the flavors within the trend:
- Sambal: Southeast Asian chili paste made with chilies, rice vinegar, sugar and garlic
- Pinoy BBQ: Phillippines' popular street food flavor made out of lemon, garlic, sugar pepper, soy sauce and banana ketchup.
- Rendang Curry: Malaysian sauce made using lemongrass, garlic, chilies, ginger, tamarind, turmeric, and coriander.
- Blends with Benefits: a line of functional spices and herbs packed with health benefits. Among them are chia seed, turmeric and nutmeg - each also creates a distinct flavor from sweet, zesty to slightly bitter.
- Ancient herbs: long-known flavors with historically deep roots such as rosemary, thyme, parsley and lavender.
