Flavor Trends

So far, the flavor trends predicted for this year have proven true.  The market has caught fire with Sriracha, and spicy flavors have debuted in a number of snack products.

Now, we are starting to see a desire for more pungent flavors with a “spicy, pepper-type bite,” Paul Kurpe the Senior Vice President of Elite Spice tells Food Navigator.  He states that there will be more of a variety in flavors this year, and that 2014 is about “keeping up with the varieties.”

Power of Roasting and Toasting

One way flavorists are expanding the spice category is roasting spices and ingredients. This process causes a reaction flavor, which Mr. Kurpe says changes the flavor profile of an ingredient and creates an entirely different taste.

Photo courtesy of Hearth Community.

He goes on to explain, “Think of it no more complicated than bread and toast.  If you were to take a piece of bread and bake it, roast it, or toast it, obviously its flavor profile changes considerably.”

We experienced this reaction in a previous article about cooking garlic where we learned how the ingredient carries different flavors depending on how and when it is cooked.  Now, flavorists are applying this same process to develop tastier snacks in the market.

The process of roasting spices, however, presents its own trials.  “Part of the challenge is controlling the cook process,” Mr. Kurpe mentions.  The different levels of roasting: light, medium, and dark, prove difficult to assess on a mass-scale, and would make large scale production tough. “We haven’t gotten very far, but it’s an area we’re looking at,” he tells Food Navigator.

Do you think more organizations in the food and flavor industries will start to use the process of creating reaction flavors?  Have you had any experience with reaction flavors while cooking at home?  Share your experiences with us below.

The Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association of the United States (FEMA) was founded in 1909 and is the national association of the U.S. flavor industry.  FEMA’s membership is comprised of flavor manufacturers, flavor users, flavor ingredient suppliers, and others with an interest in the U.S. flavor industry.  The association is committed to ensuring a safe supply of flavor ingredients used in foods and beverages enjoyed by billions of men, women, and children around the world.