In the context of Asian cuisines, extracts and essences are typically used sparingly due to their high potency. This allows for significant flavor enhancement using minimal quantities. Primary examples include soy sauce and fish sauce (nuoc mam or nam pla). 

The popularity of Vietnamese food and beverages has continued to grow in the US, alongside other Asian cuisine. Enhancing the proverbial “sweet spot” in a trending Vietnamese food by incorporating trusted ingredients can transform a traditional Vietnamese dish into a new variation.

For centuries, cooks have artfully cross-pollinated cultural elements of flavor, and now culinologists are combining Latin and Asian ingredients and cooking techniques to launch innovative and flavorful prepared foods. Today’s retail shelves display a world atlas of culturally inspired experiences that might not be authentic yet answer the consumers’ desires to nourish themselves with fresh new takes on flavorful foods that simply taste good.

Today’s consumers carry more culinary knowledge than ever before, and can boast familiarity with ingredients such as lemongrass and kaffir limes, black garlic, fenugreek and carob.