Lemonade, superfruits top 2012 flavor predictions

Bell Flavors & Fragrances, Northbrook, Ill., forecasted the Top 10 flavors for the food and beverage industry in 2012. The No. 1 beverage flavor on the list was Lemonade, followed by Maqui Berry, Aloe Vera, White Tea, Mamey, Cucumber Mint, Chrysanthemum, Kumquat, Honey Ginger and Green Coconut. Bell predicts Salty Caramel flavor will make the largest impact on all food and beverage products in 2012.

The company’s list of sweet flavors for both food and beverage applications places Salty Caramel at the top of the ranking. The rest of the list is comprised of Red Velvet, Strawberry Jasmine, Cinnamon Chipotle, Eucalyptus, Taro/Sweet Potato, Roasted Coconut, Café de Olla, Lúcuma and White Sesame flavors.

White Truffle Oil flavoring takes the No. 1 spot on Bell’s list of savory food and beverages, followed by Kimchi, Absinthe, Calamansi Lime, Rich Umami, Rose Water, Aged Cayenne Pepper, Satsuma Orange, Mirin and Romesco flavors.

The theme for the Top 10 flavors list is “emerging cultures,” the company says. With consumers having more interest in cuisines throughout the world, ingredients from other countries are becoming more part of the mainstream flavors, it adds.

The top flavors were selected through three different processes of analysis: tracking samples that were requested during a 12-month period; trend scouting by the company’s internal marketing and research and development departments; and tracking trends through external databases.