Spicy foods are popular, and their power to draw in new customers and generate positive word of mouth for your restaurant has never been greater. According to Datassential, “Seventy percent of restaurants have at least one item on their menu that they call ‘spicy’.”1
Spicy flavors are also emerging as a highly desirable item in beverages as well. A recent study by FMCG Gurus found that 82% of consumers like hot flavors and spicy flavors in their beverages.2
“Sweet heat” is one way to incorporate spicy trends into your beverage menu. Combining fruity and sweet flavors with a spicy, hot surprise yields exciting new options to enliven your current menu. For example, serve a spicy jalapeño margarita “made with fresh lime juices, orange juice, and slices of jalapeño pepper.”3
Pairing proteins that already have broad appeal with a growth item from the “spicy” realm, such as a spicy dry rub or sauce. Broad-appeal items that are still growing and trendy tend to make a bigger splash when paired with something spicy that has a lot of growth appeal.
Spice blends are often the first introduction to new spices, offering a balanced and approachable mix of herbs and spices. A report in a Wasserstrom blog highlights one such blend making waves in 2024 is berbere, a North African spice blend featuring cayenne, bird’s eye pepper, smoked paprika, cumin, ginger, coriander, cloves, and turmeric. Described as a modern substitute for curry powder, berbere adds depth and warmth to dishes.4
In Datassential’s February 2024 report “The World of Spicy Flavors,” they categorized spicy options from inception to ubiquity in the food and beverage market. Highlighted peppers and spices include:
- Inception: Scotch bonnet pepper, sweety drop pepper, salsa macha
- Adoption: Fresno pepper, smoked paprika, Aleppo pepper, gochujang
- Proliferation: Hot honey, wasabi, chili lime, pepperoncini pepper
- Ubiquity: Pico de gallo, banana pepper, chipotle, sriracha5
Using Datassential’s approach, spicy flavors can be incorporated into your menu in a variety of ways:
- Inception: Fermented flavors like doubanjiang or fermented chilies are beginning to trend in 2024.
- Adoption: Dried peppers and dried pepper flakes such as guajillo, Aleppo, and anchos are currently trending
- Proliferation: Explore sweet and savory options, especially with tropical fruits. Consider spicy pineapple jalapeno jelly or mango salsa alongside popular proteins or in salads.
- Ubiquity: Freshen up condiments with salsa variations like corn, black bean, or pepita salsa, offering modern twists to Mexican dishes or traditional entrees.
Finally, dessert. According to The Food Institute’s report, Tastewise predicts that spicy ice cream will trend in 2024. “Asian ice cream flavors are rising, including Korean red bean, Thai Pandan coconut, and gochujang ice cream, a unique blend of spiciness and other Korean influences.”6
Ask your Avendra representative or contact Avendra Consulting Services to help you find solutions to spice up your menus for 2024.
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