McCormick today released the Flavor Forecast 24th Edition, the company’s annual report that showcases the latest culinary trends shaping the way consumers prepare and enjoy food globally.
In addition, this year’s report also includes the announcement of McCormick’s 2024 Flavor of the Year: Tamarind. You can taste it in action with the new Tamarind & Pasilla Chile Seasoning, available for purchase online now. The Flavor of the Year is also going to be featured in several Tamarind-infused menu items at Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer – the world renowned burger joint – locations nationwide throughout the month of February 2024.
Tamarind is a popular spice native to Africa, India, and the Middle East, that has lent its acidic, tangy-sweet flavor to Latin, Caribbean, and Mexican cuisines for hundreds of years. The plump, pod-like fruit is roving across the world, feeding consumers’ curiosity for what’s coming in food, drink, and flavor. Other flavor predictions and trends identified in McCormick’s Flavor Forecast 24th Edition include:
- Sour Power: From tamarind to coconut vinegar, acidic elements are stepping into the limelight to open our senses, boost flavor, and even help “cook” without heat. Sour has proved that it is not “just another ingredient;” it’s revolutionizing menus, delivering layer on layer of delicious craveability.
- Thoughtfully Borrowed: Authenticity includes background, heritage, and experiences, and with all of these things combined comes a reinvention of regional-traditional cooking. Beginning with a touch of something that is “you”, these cultural combinations pay homage and respect to both roots and backgrounds to create a celebration of flavor, experience, and cuisine.
- Indulgence Redefined: Indulgence is described as a “source of pleasure, ritual, and community,” and it comes in all shapes and forms. From the time of day to season, flavors link to emotions, memories, and lived experiences. From a crisp, light ceviche to a savory breakfast poutine, it’s all about how we enjoy ourselves through flavor, texture, and ingredients that bring a smile to our faces. Two ways this trend comes to life are through newstalgic and food maximalism. Newstalgic: What was once old is new again, with restaurants re-launching childhood favorites with a gourmet twist. Food maximalism: By combining flavors and textures in new, creative and fun ways, you can experience flavor to the max.
Starting on February 1, 2024, you can visit Black Tap locations across the country to enjoy the flavor of Tamarind in an array of menu items, including a chicken burger, fries, and milkshake that incorporate the seasoning in unique and intriguing ways.
