What’s shaping the future of flavour, and how you can stay ahead.
Consumers are more adventurous than ever. Flavour is no longer just about taste. It’s about experience, storytelling, and shareability.
Drawing on global data, social insights and real-world product launches, here are the key flavour trends set to define 2026 and beyond. Find out what they mean for your food and drink development.
1) Crossbreed Fruits
Hybrid flavours with built-in buzz
Consumers are actively looking for something new. 50% of global consumers say they seek out innovative flavours, while 64% are interested in trying flavour fusions and combinations.
Crossbreed fruits answer that need perfectly, blending familiarity with novelty. Once confined to supermarket fruit aisles, hybrids are now moving rapidly into flavour development as brands look to capitalise on built-in intrigue.
Flavours to get on your radar:
- Pineberry – early-stage, visually intriguing and social-friendly
- Tangelo – emerging citrus crossover with freshness and versatility
- Melon Berry – trending, sweet and refreshing
- Boysenberry – trending with indulgent berry depth
2) Taste the Colour
Flavour that looks as good as it tastes
Consumers are craving experiences that look as good as they taste, driving a surge in bright, eye-catching colours that pop on shelf and on screen.
This appetite for visual impact is being fuelled by social media and younger consumers in particular, with 47% of Gen Z saying they follow viral food and beverage trends.
Pistachio perfectly captures this shift. Its vibrant green colour and indulgent profile have driven +38% CAGR in UK product launches (2021–2025), proving that colour-led flavour isn’t just a fad, it’s converting into real products.
Flavours to get on your radar:
- Ube – trending, indulgent and visually distinctive
- Charcoal – early-stage, flipping bright colours on their head.
- Black cherry – trending with deep colour and broad appeal
- Dragon fruit – early-stage, social-first and vibrant
3) Time for Tea?
Tradition meets global adventure with tea flavours.
Global tea cultures are inspiring innovation across RTDs, alcohol, desserts and dairy.
This shift is backed by the huge trend of bubble tea, which has seen +22% CAGR in global product launches (2021–2025).
Consumers are embracing tea flavours that feel both familiar and adventurous, particularly when combined with indulgent or functional trends.
Flavours to get on your radar:
- Thai Tea – emerging fusion of wellness and indulgence
- Rooibos – trending with caffeine-free, natural positioning
- Oolong – emerging with premium heritage cues
- Passion Flower – emerging, floral and globally inspired
4) Hedgerow Fruits
Foraged, British and beautifully authentic.
Hedgerow flavours tap into nostalgia, provenance and a growing desire for natural, authentic flavour stories.
This trend is gaining traction, with forest berry flavours showing +32% CAGR in global product launches (2021–2025) and UK social mentions of hedgerow flavours up +11% year-on-year.
Flavours to get on your radar:
- Damson – early-stage with deep, rich fruit notes
- Sea buckthorn – early-stage, sharp and functional-friendly
- Wild strawberry – trending with premium nostalgia
- Elderberry – mature but still relevant for health-led products
5) Sophisticated Indulgence
Affordable luxury and grown-up flavours.
Premium indulgence is evolving. Instead of overt extravagance, consumers are gravitating towards quality ingredients, depth of flavour and something a little bit more premium.
Social data reflects this shift, with a 20% year-on-year growth in premium alcohol discussions.
It’s not just booze, with +31% YoY growth in black sesame mentions, highlighting appetite for refined, globally inspired indulgence.
Flavours to get on your radar:
- Brown butter – trending with rich bakery appeal
- Dark chocolate – trending and versatile
- Marcona almond – emerging, premium nut profile
- Cardamom – trending across sweet and savoury
6) Sun Kissed Fruits
Consumers are chasing sunshine through flavour. Tropical and globally inspired fruits are booming across hydration, functional and non-alcoholic beverages.
The data shows Mangosteen has seen +77% YoY growth in US non-alcoholic beverages, showing the thirst for emerging exotic flavours.
The big one is Passion fruit. Mentions are up +12% year-on-year in the US – and that’s big considering it is already a well-established flavour. This one is ready to sit at the top table with orange and lemon.
Flavours to get on your radar:
- Korean pear – emerging with strong hydration and wellness cues
- Pink guava – emerging with colour and sweetness
- Calamansi – trending sharp citrus profile
- Yuzu – mature but still premium and powerful
Want the full flavour picture?
This blog is just a taste.
Our Top Flavour Trends 2026 & Beyond report dives deeper into the data, flavour lifecycles and real-world examples shaping the future of food and drink.
Click here to download now.
