Indulgent sweet profiles to vibrant fruity varieties, bold spicy twists and savory additions, we’re highlighting four growing flavors in the food and beverage space today to help inspire your brand. Read on for flavor and culinary insights on Brown Butter, Malt Vinegar, Dragon Fruit and Aji Amarillo!

Brown Butter

Made by melting unsalted butter till the milk solids turn brown, brown butter is considered culinary magic with its deep, nutty flavor that can transform both sweet and savory dishes. Its rich, toasted flavor can deliver complexity to hearty vegetables, pasta sauces, chocolate chip cookies, and even coffee drinks. Skip the stovetop and enhance your applications with a brown butter flavor!

61k total social media mentions of brown butter | BrandWatch

Above Average 4-year growth potential on U.S. menus | Datassential

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Malt Vinegar

A key flavor component in the iconic British dish of Fish and Chips, malt vinegar is a versatile condiment with pub fare appeal. Made with the same malted barley grains used to make ale, it has a distinct taste that is milder than regular white vinegar. With sweet, nutty, and toasted notes, the flavor of malt vinegar is great for a variety of applications from breadings and bakery to savory snacks.

+19% growth of Malt Vinegar searches on U.S ecommerce search engine ’23-’24.

+5.8% anticipated CAGR of Global malt vinegar market 2023-2031 | Straits Research

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Dragon Fruit

With its bright pink skin, green spikes and unique name, chances are dragon fruit (also called pitaya) has caught your attention at one point or another. Its sweet, mellow flavor can be described as somewhere between watermelon, berries, and kiwi. The tropical fruit has become popular in recent years, appearing in cocktails, sports drinks, wellness products, desserts and more. Available in flavor and extract formats, we’re here to support your innovation with the taste of dragon fruit!

+280% increase in dragon fruit flavored product launches, ’17-’24 | Innova Market Insights

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Aji Amarillo

Aji Amarillo, the McCormick 2025 Flavor of the Year, is a vibrant pepper that is a staple in Peruvian cuisine. Despite its name, which translates to “yellow chile pepper” in English, the pepper turns orange when fully mature. It has a unique fruity flavor, with hints of passion fruit and mango, and offers moderate heat, making it the perfect introduction for those newer to spicy flavors. As spicy exploration remains popular, aji amarillo is sure to excite flavor adventure-seekers.

+60% increase in ‘aji amarillo’ Google search volume since 2022. | Google Search Data, US

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Let McCormick Flavor Solutions market insight and research experts get to work for you. Translate these trends into bold new ideas for your brand. Increase market share and get to your “what’s next.” Our technical flavor, seasoning and product development experts are also at your service to help meet the labeling and flavor profile needs for your products to capitalize on this consumer trend.
From concept to manufacturing, we’re here for you — every step of the way. Contact your sales representative or chat us up here.