Datassential Unveils Food & Flavor Trends for 2023 

Datassential, a food and beverage insights platform, unveiled the trends to watch in 2023, and the foods and flavors that consumers will crave next year.

“We love the process of selecting the latest foods and flavors we think consumers will want to experience in the coming year and beyond, but these ingredients aren’t presented in a vacuum,” said Trendologist and Associate Director Mike Kostyo. “We’re proud to pair our predictions for growth of items like salsa macha and pickled strawberries with a discussion on important trends in the broader restaurant industry, including the influences of Gen Alpha, AI, and improving working conditions across the industry.”

The overarching trends the company identified are:

The Year AI Changes Everything: Artificial intelligence is progressing quickly and will have huge impacts on the food industry.

A New Third Place: A new generation of restaurant, retail, and eatertainment concepts can fulfill that need for a place beyond home and work to socialize and have a meal with friends and family.

Creating a Better Back-of-House: Operators are rethinking what a job in the industry looks like, from pay to design to mental health.

Regenerative Agriculture Grows: The term “regenerative agriculture,” which is a holistic look at farming practices in relation to soil health and overall sustainability, will show up in the media, on products, and even on menus more in 2023.

Datassential’s analysis highlights these 10 flavors & ingredients that will dominate in 2023:

• Mangonada – a frozen mango treat with an infusion of bold flavors
• Yuzu – an East Asian citrus fruit
• Spicy Maple – maple syrup with warming spices such as cinnamon, ginger, and spicebush berries
• Ube – a purple yam originally from the Philippines
• New mushrooms 
• Birria – a Mexican dish, a meat stew or soup traditionally made from goat meat, but occasionally made from beef, lamb, mutton or chicken
• Salsa Macha – a salsa from Mexico, made with a variety of dried peppers, nuts and oil
• Soju – is a clear and colorless Korean distilled alcoholic beverage
• London Fog – a hot tea-based drink that consists of Earl Grey tea, steamed milk, and vanilla syrup
• Ranch Water – a light and refreshing summer cocktail made from tequila, sparkling water and lime juice