McCormick Flavor Solutions announced the Flavor Forecast 24th Edition, the annual report illuminating the latest trends shaping the way people enjoy flavors worldwide to inspire future product innovations. With this year’s report, McCormick also shared its 2024 Flavor of the Year: Tamarind.
Tamarind, a spice native to Africa, India, and the Middle East, has lent its acidic, tangy-sweet flavor to Latin, Caribbean, and Mexican cuisines for centuries. Today, this plump, pod-like fruit is jet-setting across the world, feeding a global curiosity for what’s next in food, drink, and flavor.
Other flavor predictions and trends identified in the Flavor Forecast 24th Edition include:
• Sour Power: From tamarind to coconut vinegar, acidic agents are stepping into the spotlight to open our senses, boost craveability, and even help “cook” without heat. Sour is proving it’s not “just another ingredient;” it’s revolutionizing menus, delivering layer on layer of exciting flavor.
• Thoughtfully Borrowed: Authenticity encompasses background, heritage, and experiences - with it comes a reinvention of regional-traditional cooking. Starting with a dash of something that’s “you,” these conscious cultural combinations pay homage and respect to both roots and backgrounds – creating a celebration of flavor, experience, and cuisine.
• Indulgence Redefined: A source of pleasure, ritual, and community, indulgence comes in all shapes and forms. From time of day to season, flavor sensations link to emotions, memories, and all lived experiences. From a crisp, light ceviche to an over-the-top breakfast poutine, it’s about how we treat ourselves through flavor, texture, and ingredients that make us happy.
Two ways this trend comes to life are through “newstalgic” and food “maximalism.” Newstalgic says that what’s old is new again—with restaurants re-introducing childhood favorites with a gourmet twist. Food maximalism is the belief that by layering flavors and textures in creative, fun, and always thoughtful ways, consumers can experience flavor to the max.
“For nearly 25 years, McCormick has forecasted global flavor trends through our Flavor Forecast report. After all this time, there is still no shortage of trends to uncover which allow us to continue to shake up the way people cook, flavor, and eat,” said Tabata Gomez, Chief Marketing Officer at McCormick.
About the Flavor Forecast
Since 2000, the McCormick® Flavor Forecast® has identified top trends and ingredients to discover the tastes of tomorrow. For over 130 years, McCormick & Company has been guided by a passion for flavor. This passion drives our constant pursuit of what's next in flavor. Created by a global team of McCormick experts — including chefs, culinary professionals, trend trackers and food technologists — the Flavor Forecast inspires culinary exploration and innovation around the world. www.flavorforecast.com
About McCormick
McCormick & Company, Incorporated is a global leader in flavor. With over $6 billion in annual sales across 170 countries and territories, we manufacture, market and distribute spices, seasoning mixes, condiments and other flavorful products to the entire food industry including e-commerce channels, grocery, food manufacturers and foodservice businesses. Our most popular brands include McCormick, French's, Frank's RedHot, Stubb's, OLD BAY, Lawry's, Zatarain's, Ducros, Vahiné, Cholula, Schwartz, Kamis, DaQiao, Club House, Aeroplane and Gourmet Garden. Every day, no matter where or what you eat or drink, you can enjoy food flavored by McCormick.
