The Taste of Summer: Gen Z Prefers Mixed Flavors
Chocolate and caramel have replaced summer fruits as the UK’s essential flavor of summer this year, according to new research. When it comes to sweet treats, salted caramel (28%), triple chocolate (21%) and chocolate orange (20%) are the top taste sensations the average British household wants to enjoy.
While these flavors topped the poll of 2,000 adults, the research by The Delicious Dessert Company also revealed that old and young generations had opposite tastes when it came to enjoying a sweet summer treat. The ones over 55 were staunch advocates of uncomplicated single flavors – such as vanilla (22%) or lemon (22%) or strawberry (24%). In contrast, the ones under 25 found this boring and they wanted to get some excitement from combining different flavors. The top choice flavors for the under 25s all consisted of combinations of flavors – such as mint with chocolate (18%), chocolate with orange (19%) and adding salt with caramel (26%).
Given young people’s love for mixing different flavors, The Delicious Dessert Company also presented a representative sample of under 25 year-olds with 30 flavors and asked respondents to come up with the dream combinations they would love to try.
Of the 200 different flavor combinations young people identified the top 10 choices comprised of:
- Caramel and milk chocolate
- Strawberries and white chocolate
- Strawberries and whipped cream
- Whipped cream and white chocolate
- White caramel and banana
- Strawberries and caramel
- Milk chocolate and cookies
- Dark chocolate and orange
- Caramel and cookies
- Caramel and white chocolate
Regionally, it was Northern Ireland that opted for the Wimbledon classic of strawberries and cream, whereas Southern England switched up the classic by replacing the cream for milk chocolate. London had the biggest sweet tooth, hoping to combine both caramel and toffee in their experimental dessert, whereas Scots favored chocolate orange.
The research on the UK’s favorite flavors and combinations coincides with the creative chefs at The Delicious Dessert Company cooking up new ideas for a range of exciting products launching this Spring. Hot on the heels of launching The King of Eclairs, this week The Delicious Dessert Company launches a new range of Yum Yums – with flavors including chocolate orange, Millionaire’s and strawberry funfetti.
Claire Smith, Head of Insight at The Delicious Dessert Company, commented: “Young people want moments of fun and excitement from their sweet treats and they really like to combine or contrast different flavors. What has for some time become the norm with ice cream we are now bringing to the world of desserts, with exciting flavor combinations that allow us to offer people modern twists on classic products.