Boiled, Steamed & Fried Specialties in Asia
Food is serious business in Asia. The cuisine is deeply woven into the culture, heritage and history of the region — synonymous with how people live their daily lives. Asians are religiously governed by what they eat — their eating behavior, diets and habits are central to who they are and their identities.
by Sharmila Rajah
Each dish or snack is loved for its diversity, bold and vibrant flavors and use of spices and herbs. Nowhere is this more apparent than within the Chinese and Indian cuisines, which embrace boiling, steaming and frying as methods of preparation and cooking. Diasporas through the centuries have enabled Chinese and Indian specialties to make their home across the world — popping up on side streets, in restaurants and in the frozen food aisles of your neighborhood supermarkets.
The Frozen Food Market
The frozen food category has been gaining traction as kitchen staples, driven by factors such as price, perishability and preference. At the height of the pandemic in the US, global frozen food sales rose to 17.4 percent — a significant switch from a few years ago when frozen foods’ popularity was declining. The same shift has been experienced globally with demand rising for packaged and processed food. Frozen foods are considered trendy in Australia and the UK— consumers are recognizing the benefits of frozen foods as being easy to reheat, convenient and maintain their freshness. The Indian market, as well, has shown great potential — with frozen food sales further boosted by the expansion of modern retail outlets and the rise of online retail. The global food industry is tapping into this trend; the competition within the sector is fierce and thriving post-pandemic. Frozen foods are a powerful growth driver for retailers.
Analysts are predicting the future of the frozen foods category to be dynamic, poised to grow by US$12.83 billion during the period 2022-2026, accelerating at a CAGR of 6. The market is set to continue to shift with changing consumer tastes and perception. Frozen food brands continue to introduce better-for-you options with an increase in organic, gluten-free and ethnically-authentic flavor trends like Indian, Asian and Mediterranean.
The global frozen dumplings market, in particular, was valued at US$242.78 million in 2021 and will grow with a CAGR of 7.83% from 2021 to 2027. China ranks top globally, in terms of production volume. Major players in the frozen dumpling market include Sanquan, Wudaniang, Haibawang and Hong Kong’s Wan Chai Wharf, a frozen food brand belonging to the US General Mills Food Company. Steamed bun manufacturers like Hebei Newcorn Food Co., Ltd., Hong Kong Dim Sum, Gemini Foods Taiwan (Da Yu Cheng), Lim Kee Food Manufacturing Pte Ltd, Kawan Food Berhad and PA FOOD SDN BHD are located mainly in China, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia.
Flavors & Trends
Chinese and Indian specialties are quintessential hot snacks or lunch-to-go — relished for their versatility and as a carrier for an assortment of fillings. About 64% of consumers, according to Mondelēz International’s State of Snacking (2021) survey, continue to eat several small snacks throughout the day over traditional mealtimes; a five percent increase since 2019. Lockdowns have reinforced consumers’ snacking habits and currently, consumers’ preference for snacking has evolved to include more or different types of food and occasions for eating.
Plenty of new products have been unveiled as brands sought to tap into trends such as sustainability, healthier snacking and, of course, veganism. The global plant-based meat market grew by 23.5%, from US$3.4 billion in 2019 to $4.2 billion in 2020. Plant-based meat products have been gaining considerable attention in India — more and more brands are entering the market. Thirty-nine percent of the country claim they’re vegetarian while 60% of Indian meat-eaters are willing to adopt plant-based meat.
You can read the rest of this article in the Summer issue of Asia Pacific Baker & Biscuit magazine, which you can access by clicking here.