As part of this year’s report, McCormick announces its 2024 Flavor of the Year: Tamarind. Fans can experience the notable flavor it in action with the new Tamarind & Pasilla Chile Seasoning, available to purchase online now. The Flavor of the Year will also be featured in several limited-edition, Tamarind-infused menu items at Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer – the globally acclaimed burger joint – locations nationwide starting in February 2024.
A spice native to Africa, India, and the Middle East, Tamarind has lent its acidic, tangy-sweet flavor to Latin, Caribbean, and Mexican cuisines for centuries. Other flavor predictions and trends identified in the brand’s Flavor Forecast 24th Edition include:
- Sour Power: From tamarind to coconut vinegar, acidic agents are stepping into the spotlight to open our senses, boost craveability, and even help “cook” without heat. Sour is proving it’s not “just another ingredient;” it’s revolutionizing menus, delivering layer on layer of exciting flavor.
- Thoughtfully Borrowed: Authenticity encompasses background, heritage, and experiences – with it comes a reinvention of regional-traditional cooking. Starting with a dash of something that’s “you”, these conscious cultural combinations pay homage and respect to both roots and backgrounds – creating a celebration of flavor, experience, and cuisine.
- Indulgence Redefined: A source of pleasure, ritual, and community, indulgence comes in all shapes and forms. From time of day to season, flavor sensations link to emotions, memories, and all lived experiences. From a crisp, light ceviche to an over-the-top breakfast poutine, it’s about how we treat ourselves through flavor, texture, and ingredients that make us happy. Two ways this trend comes to life are through newstalgic and food maximalism. Newstaglic: What’s old is new again, with restaurants re-introducing childhood favorites with a gourmet twist. Food maximalism: By layering flavors and textures in creative, fun, and always thoughtful ways, you can experience flavor to the max.
Beginning February 1, 2024, fans can visit Black Tap locations nationwide to enjoy the flavor of Tamarind in a variety of items, including a chicken burger, fries and milkshake that infuse the seasoning in intriguing ways.
Image via McCormick
