Passionfruit martinis, miso caramel and mangosteen – are these among the flavours that could come out on top in bakery in 2023? Possibly.
Flavour manufacturer ITS believes that businesses which are brave with their flavour choices and experiment with new combinations will be able to grab valuable shelf space.
As such, founder Mike Bagshaw has highlighted the trends and accompanying flavours that he believes could be big in 2023:
Classy cocktails
Cocktails could be coming to a bakery near you, according to Bagshaw.
“The boom in cocktail consumption in the away from home sector and the osmosis of cocktail flavours into new categories will see growth in exciting new cocktail flavours such as old fashioned, espresso martini, eggnog and negroni,” he says. “Passionfruit martini flavoured muffin anyone?”
This came to the fore over the festive period as the likes of Tesco, Asda and Waitrose embraced boozy flavours for their dessert ranges with a Peach Bellini Trifle, Espresso Martini Puddings and Mandarin Stollen (inspired by a negroni) rolling out across the nation.
Twisting tradition
Tradition with a twist was named by British Baker as one of the top bakery trends for 2023 as consumers are looking for baked goods which give a new twist to time-honoured classics.
This is something Bagshaw believes will extend to flavours as well.
“Take a flavour people already know and love, whilst twisting it up with something new and exciting, even mixing up the categories – a cherry brandy flavoured Bakewell Tart for example,” he says.
Embrace the classics
“In the current cost-of-living crisis, is important to have the basics nailed, ensuring that the flavours on offer are the best they can be,” Bagshaw believes. “Consumer may be tightening their belts but are prepared to pay for products they believe deliver on flavour.”
For some, this will be chocolate, vanilla, and caramel – three flavours that have a stronghold on the bakery market, although even these are developing over time. Bagshaw highlights the use of umami flavours for a new take on the sweet and savoury combinations that have proved so popular in recent years, with miso caramel one example of this.
For others, particularly those wanting to push “flavour boundaries”, Bagshaw believes “blood orange, blond chocolate, jalapeno and Biscoff will be big news”.
Totally tropical
Tropical favourites will move to the next level in 2023, according to ITS, as food and drink firms explore beyond the familiar when it comes to fruity flavours.
“We’ve got different flavours already in the market with dragon fruit and mandarin, but we predict that exciting Caribbean flavours, many with perceived health benefits such as calamansi, mangosteen and soursop will appeal,” Bagshaw notes. “There are some interesting possible flavour pairings in this area, combining sweet with savoury, such as passionfruit and thyme.”
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