Looking for froyo flavor and toppings inspiration for the new year? Want to know which flavors are trendy right now? We have your flavor and food trends forecast for 2023 based on what culinary thought leaders, chefs, flavor experts, and others predict will be hot in 2023.
The 2023 What’s Hot Survey of culinary thought leaders conducted by the National Restaurant Association, Technomic, and the American Culinary Federation identified that consumers want restaurants to provide experiences that they can’t get at home while remaining concerned about inflation and their budget (e.g., value meals, family meals, affordable tasting menus).
According to a survey by MGH of US TikTok users in 2022, 53% of millennial users of TikTok have visited a restaurant after seeing it on the app, with 72% reporting that the appearance of the food on TikTok caused them to seek out a restaurant.
Bold, Complex Flavors
The combination of spicy and sweet is mentioned in most flavor trend predictions for 2023. Leading flavor house, Monin, named Hot Honey the 2023 flavor of the year. Monin Hot Honey syrup combines the sweet and spicy flavors that consumers are seeking.
Another Monin macro trend is Spice Heist. Spicy global flavors and exotic spices will bring bold, surprising flavors to adventure-seeking consumers. At Swirlgo, the new pop-up in Singapore, guests can choose their base of froyo or gelato and then choose to mix in of Lao Gan Ma chili sauce.
McCormick, the spice company, also predicts an interest in multi-sensorial, complex spicy heat profiles.
Interestingly, FroYo in St. Louis, Missouri introduced a Hot Honey froyo flavor last year and TCBY introduced a Hot Honey Pecan hand-scooped frozen yogurt in 2018. Red Mango just introduced aleppo pepper as a limited-time-only topping, along with Himalayan salt and sour cherries.
Southeast Asian Flavors
Leading flavor house, Torani, named Pourmade Toasted Black Sesame Syrup as the flavor of 2023. Black sesame is rich, nutty, and slightly bitter. It’s popular in Asian cuisines and used in sweet and savory applications. The stunning jet black color also makes Black Sesame a flavor and visual standout. Other tastemakers think Southeast Asian flavors will be big this year.
Mondelez International identified five flavor and food trends for 2023 by asking the leading chefs. One of the trends was Asian flavors like ube and matcha. Yogurtland introduced ube frozen yogurt in 2019. Pandan, buko pie, and bibingka froyo, anyone?
The 2023 What’s Hot Survey predicts that Southeast Asian flavors (e.g., sriracha variations) will be on trend this year.
Emphasis on Shared Experiences
After years of takeout and delivery, people want to dine with others at restaurants. Another of Monin’s macro trends for 2023 is Sensory Takeover. Sensory Takeover describes how people will seek eye-catching, exciting experiences. Restaurants can achieve this through the use of vibrant colors, textures, complex flavors, movement, and the unexpected.
Innovation & Mash-ups
Monin predicts that consumers will seek innovative coffee and tea preparations, including new preparations, hybrid beverages, and coffee and tea cocktails.
McCormick predicts Everyday French with innovative twists on French flavors including French-Asian mash-ups.
Mondelez International sees innovative twists on comfort food breakfast and modern flavors in French pastries.
Companies that Care & Upcycling
According to the 2023 What’s Hot Survey, thought leaders predict that consumers will be increasingly concerned about sustainability (e.g., zero waste, upcycled foods), nutrition, and the environment.
Monin’s 2023 macro trends predict that Gen Z will look for ‘Better’ options from health-conscious products made by companies that demonstrate care for the environment, community, and causes.
Whole Foods Trends Council highlights how brands are also finding new uses in the baking space for the byproduct of alternative milks, nut and oat pulp (aka, upcycling). Yoga-urt upcycles almond pulp, the byproduct of the almond milk they use in their vegan froyo, by using it in their housemade chocolate chip cookies and pie crust. Another trend the Whole Foods Trends Council cited was the climate-consciousness of consumers.
Alternative Sweeteners
Whole Foods Market Trends Council the popularity of using dates as a sweetener to TikTok. The 2023 What’s Hot Survey also predicts a growing interest in alternative sweeteners and lower sugar options.
We look forward to seeing all the new froyo flavors and toppings that come out this year!
