McCormick announces 2023 Flavor Forecast and inaugural Flavor of the Year
Flavourful fats, French cooking and spicy, multi-sensorial dishes are three trends McCormick expects will make a big impact on the food world in 2023.
The spice and extract manufacturer revealed the 23rd edition of its annual Flavor Forecast Tuesday (Dec. 6) along with its inaugural Flavor of the Year: Vietnamese x Cajun Style Seasoning.
Chefs and consumers are using fat – from butters to oils – to impart flavour and creaminess into dishes and drinks, McCormick said. Meanwhile, French cuisine becomes more approachable while still using the best ingredients and culinary techniques.
Finally, McCormick said it’s seeing an evolution to spice in cooking where heat and ingredient pairings come together to shape how the flavour is perceived and how long it lingers and finishes.
McCormick will bring the Flavor of the Year to New York consumers on Dec. 7 through a limited-time partnership with national restaurant chain Smashburger.
In conjunction with this year's Flavor Forecast, the company will be venturing into Decentraland, a blockchain-powered area of the metaverse, to launch "House of Flavor by McCormick" on Dec. 13.
The immersive virtual destination will allow fans to explore McCormick's Flavor of the Year, discover Vietnamese Cajun dishes, earn one of three unique wearables and interact with content featuring some of the chefs who inspired the seasoning, including Trong Nguyen and Cesar Zapata.
"This year, McCormick is rolling out its most intriguing Flavor Forecast report yet, unveiling key trends that will shape the way that consumers prepare and enjoy foods for the next year," said Kevan Vetter, executive chef, senior director of culinary for McCormick, in a statement. "With the inaugural Flavor of the Year, Vietnamese x Cajun Style Seasoning, McCormick is demonstrating the culinary masterpiece that emerges when cuisines are combined. Through our activation in the Metaverse and tasting event, in partnership with Smashburger, we're excited to bring these flavorful concoctions to consumers."
