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• Experiential dining is an existing trend that can be integrated into many food and beverage products using some key sensory marketing strategies.
• When foodies link their favorites to an emotional experience, including experiential and story-driven flavors, they tend to come back for more of the same.
• Metarom USA helps guide you in your journey toward creating culturally-inspired taste profiles in your products.

Foodies want the whole package when it comes to enjoying and savoring their favorite meal or drinks. This means going beyond the perfect flavor and plate presentation and creating a memorable eating experience–maybe even putting a story behind the flavor and composition of a dish. The concept of experiential and story-driven flavors is nothing new, but the idea is a growing trend that now permeates restaurant menus, social media, and beyond.

What Is Experiential Dining?

The experiential dining movement emphasizes unique immersive flavor ‘experiences’ that leave you wanting to come back for more, and using experiential and story-driven flavors banks on you telling your friends (or using social media to share) about that incredible dining experience you had and expanding the market base through word of mouth.

Have you ever been to a Brazilian steakhouse? Part of that emotional eating experience is the active presentation of a variety of delicacies with culturally-inspired taste profiles served by your gaucho (server). As you eat, you stay active and use a red/green coaster on your table to subtly signal to them that you are ready for more or prepared for a pause.

Experiential dining and story-driven flavors can be integrated into other settings, too. They may take root in a story your server tells you before setting the meal out. The experience could be as simple as a make-you-own or cook-your-own experience (teppanyaki, anyone?). Other layers of this include sensory marketing strategies, such as a specific setting, intentional presentation, or live entertainment, as you enjoy your meal or drinks.

What Are Story-Driven Flavors?

Using storytelling in food branding is nothing new. There are amazing stories behind many of our culinary favorites. Take maple syrup; there’s a fantastic opportunity for experiential and story-driven flavors in any dish utilizing one of North America’s favorite flavorings. Diners can picture an emotional eating experience like tapping a maple tree and visiting a sugar shack to collect the delectable syrup they love drizzling on their pancake or waffle breakfast. This is just one example of a story-driven flavor.

How can you integrate story-driven flavors into your food or beverage brand? There exist tremendous opportunities for immersive flavor experiences and culturally-inspired taste profiles in everyday products that hit the store shelf. Our team at Metarom USA can help you tailor a story by using sensory marketing strategies proven to work worldwide.

Using Experiential and Story-Driven Flavors To Enhance the Emotional Eating Experience

How you select flavors for a new or existing product can make a huge difference in how they sell on the market. There’s a story behind every flavor that can add to perceived quality, authenticity, and experience. One example of this is your basic vanilla flavor, a widespread and well-known addition to many culinary creations. You find vanilla in snacks, shakes, protein bars, ice cream, and more–but do you ever pause and think about where it comes from?

Using storytelling in food branding means you can integrate the story of vanilla into your creation. Going beyond the basic flavor, you should invoke a location. Tahitian vanilla flavor might induce a more emotional eating experience when you tie it to its roots. Using experiential and story-driven flavors means drawing from culturally-inspired taste profiles and sensory marketing strategies. Explore some of our best vanilla varieties and reach out to learn more about integrating these story-driven flavors into your products.

Other Flavors Rooted in History

Our flavor technicians at Metarom have decades of experience in the industry. Although we offer an extensive catalogue of flavor choices inspired by global food trends, we have specific expertise in experiential and story-driven flavors rooted in longstanding tradition. Explore our selection of vanilla and caramel flavors backed by a collective 100 years of experience crafting those flavors and extracts.

Metarom USA offers flavors in a variety of forms, including powders and inclusions, specks, syrups, extracts, and fillings. Looking for a longer shelf-life or a bake-stable product? We’ve got you. Our flavors are also SQF, Kosher, and organic-certified, meaning you’ll easily cater to the dietary needs of a wide range of buyers without missing out on significant market opportunities. Our experienced team of flavor chemists will help you design an emotional eating experience rooted in both traditional and culturally-inspired taste profiles.

Consult Metarom USA

Discover a range of experiential and story-driven flavors and begin your journey toward using storytelling in food branding. Reach out to Metarom USA for guidance on using select sensory marketing strategies to guarantee success on a local and global scale. We specialize in collaborating with large and small-scale brands to expand or tailor existing product lines, making them work for niche markets.

Browse our full catalog online and discover new flavors, clean-label solutions, functional flavor formulations, and more. Reach out for a free sample today.

• Discover the best processes and ingredients to help create unique and multisensory food textures.
• Creating a blend of hot and cold mouth textures and feels in food or beverage products is one of the growing trends in the industry.
• Thermal and textural flavor is perfect for confections, gum, frozen treats, and snacks that require flavor layering techniques.

Go beyond bland taste and get creative with a bit of hot and cold flavor contrast. Metarom USA creates unique thermal and textural flavor experiences in-house right at our state-of-the-art facility in San Diego, California. If your brand is ready to jump on board the latest in experiential food trends, consult our team, and we’ll help you curate an unforgettable multisensory food texture.

Let’s examine the growth of food texture innovation in the industry, including temperature perception in food and other emerging trends. Discover how integrating these components into various food and beverage flavors can enhance your product line.

What Are Thermal Flavors?

When you consider thermal flavoring and other popular flavor layering techniques, it may help to compare the experience to a visit to a natural hot spring resort. Different temperatures at each pool create a unique experience as you try each one. Similar to a hot or cold dip in the pool, thermal and textural flavor experiences generate a sensation of hot and cold flavor contrast or multisensory food texture.

Here’s one typical example. Mint chocolate ice cream isn’t just cool to the touch; eating it leaves a lingering sensation of minty coolness on your taste buds. The same goes for other products that may not even be frozen, like peppermint bark chocolate treats or your regular, everyday chewing gum. You might have experienced thermal flavors and an altered temperature perception in food in these products and more, without even realizing it.

Making Food Texture Innovation Work

Think back to your childhood and try to remember the first time you tried Pop Rocks! How a food feels in the mouth can enhance or detract from flavoring. You might even remember where you were when you first had that unique food experience. Creating thermal and textural flavor experiences is a type of art form. Experiential food trends require learning to balance flavor compounds and use flavor layering techniques to make the right mix. This process of creating texture and a unique experience is almost as important as the final flavor itself.

Our team at Metarom USA has extensive experience using select processes to achieve the desired feel. There are a variety of products on the market that stand out due to their multisensory food texture. Products like ice creams, yogurts, and flavored cream cheese use texturing to maintain a smoother feel and more even texture. So, how can you create successful thermal and textural flavor experiences in your product line? Reach out to our experienced team and learn more.

Experts In Flavor Layering Techniques

Flavor layering is what adds to a food or beverage product’s gradual release of flavor, creating a multisensory food texture experience. This technique goes beyond your average hot and cold flavor contrast or simple temperature perception in food. Sometimes you can visually see the layering, such as in a yogurt parfait. Other times, the layering is hidden from view but adds to the taste experience once the food hits your taste buds.

Flavor layering and other techniques are a big part of thermal and textural flavor experiences. Everyday food products you may find on the grocery store shelf, such as Thai curry paste, your favorite hoisin sauce, and even healthy protein bars, can use layering to amplify certain flavors and bring them to the forefront. Metarom is a leader in using layering to achieve the right balance. Reach out to our team and book a consultation in-person or online.

What Are Some Other Experiential Food Trends?

We have decades of experience in the industry and also keep on top of growing food trends like food texture innovation and a changing landscape in the food and beverage flavor industry. This year, we’ve been keeping an eye on repeat trends in the industry to help our global partners stay on top of new developments. Here are some up-and-coming trends to watch for:

• Taking Boba tea to the next level with tapioca pearls that pop or crunch in your mouth for a delayed and enjoyable sensation.
• Sweet and spicy combinations that surprise the taste buds–think hints of honey and a tinge of red pepper hitting your taste buds just when it’s right, creating a hot and cold flavor contrast.
• Restaurants are catching on to the comprehensive ‘food experience’ where music, ambiance, and flavor meet together to create something memorable for foodies.

Expect more integration and emphasis on clean-label products and packaging to enhance the food experience guilt-free. You can keep tabs on our blog for the latest news and trends in the flavor industry worldwide.

Partnering With Metarom USA

Suppose you’re looking for an innovation partner to help your brand create thermal and textural flavor experiences, including flavor layering techniques and other experiential food trends. In that case, you’re in the right place. Our growing team of flavor chemists at Metarom USA specializes in meeting regulatory standards, health needs, and other niche requirements.

When it comes to flavor development, including food texture innovation, hot and cold flavor contrast, and the temperature perception in food, we offer a plethora of options. These include Non-GMO, TTB Compliant, Vegan, Kosher, and other options. Our team of professionals boasts SQF certification and global experience.

If you’re ready to work with us, view our full flavor catalog online and ask for a free sample.

• Consumers are demanding simpler ingredients and more transparency when it comes to reading food and beverage labels.
• Regulatory changes demand that growing businesses stay on top of food and beverage flavor trends.
• Metarom USA helps you develop new flavors while maintaining texture and shelf life, and meeting demand.

Knowing what’s in your food should be a given, and consumers know you shouldn’t have to crack some secret code to figure it out. The growing clean label reformulation trend is here to stay, with shoppers demanding a shorter list of clean and natural ingredients. How can you jump on board this trend? At Metarom USA, we help guide our clients, large and small, through the process of using natural flavors, herbal substitutes, and botanical ingredients in their food and beverage products.

Why Use Clean-Label Ingredients?

In short, buyers are looking for simpler, more natural ingredients. Consumer demand for transparency is behind the clean label reformulation movement, but regulatory pressure on clean labels is also a driving force. Shoppers want to recognize the ingredients without having to look up unknown words or wonder what they are about to consume. Here are a few examples of ways Metarom USA can guide your brand toward clean label reformulation:

• Swap out artificial dyes such as Red 40 with more natural substitutes (beet juice, annatto) or eliminate dyes from the product altogether.
• Stick to a shorter ingredient list with simplified language and recognizable words.
• Use functional flavors such as extracts, concentrates, and botanicals.

Our team of flavor specialists draws upon a wealth of global experience. We help your company meet local regulatory standards and consumer demand.

Transition to a Clean Label Reformulation Seamlessly

One of the biggest concerns we hear from our partners is the worry about losing the integrity of an existing product. As a brand strives to achieve its authentic clean-label ingredients and homemade potential, it is crucial to consider the pros and cons of ingredient selection to maintain a balance.

After all, replacing artificial additives can impact the texture, shelf life, and composition of your final product. Here are some important considerations as you move forward in the process:

• When meeting consumer demand for transparency, transitioning to natural ingredients can be a balancing act that may impact the texture in some way, but we help you find solutions.
• Discover how our team supports you in achieving clean label reformulation without compromising on structure.
• We help examine the shelf life of your product and analyze market trends to determine if it can withstand the regulatory pressure on clean labels.

In an ever-changing industry, Metarom USA aims to guide you through the process step-by-step and help your brand shift gears when it’s most important.

Building the Best Flavor Profiles Together

As a leader in the food and beverage flavor industry, we have experience working with international partners to build flavor profiles that are simply the best. Don’t be surprised if the process of moving toward a clean label reformulation leads your growing business to discover a hidden gem.

• We use cutting-edge technology, including AI tools, to analyze wellness trends, new flavor demands, and global shifts.
• Our team respects your long-term goals and the consumer demand for transparency in building products with clean-label ingredients.
• Artificial additive replacement is a key component of responding to the regulatory pressure on clean labels.

Building the best flavors goes beyond getting the right balance of salty and sweet. Work with us and discover how a tailored flavor formulation helps you get it right.

Discover Our Flavor Formulations

Drawing from authentic natural food flavors, we specialize in a selection of formulations that make the transition toward clean label reformulation easier than ever. Our ACTI’SENS process uses careful attention to detail while meeting the highest international standards.

• We draw from high-quality and locally sourced ingredients wherever possible.
• Our products are Non-GMO, TTB compliant, and can use Vegan or Kosher-friendly ingredients.
• We have a plethora of certifications, including SQF, Organic, and Kosher.

Explore some of our flagship products and ask our team for a free sample today.

Work With Nutritional Flavor Engineers

Our experienced flavor engineers are nutrition experts, making us the perfect partner for clean label reformulation. If you aren’t well-versed in these new developments, it’s okay. We take the reins and guide you through each step. We can even help you create low-fat, vegan, dairy-free, and non-GMO options and more.

• We work with you to gain a better understanding of the regulatory pressure on clean labels.
• Our team provides nutrient-rich food ingredients that enhance consumer health instead of detracting from it.
• You’ll work with specialists in matching clean-label ingredients to your precise needs and help meet consumer demand for transparency at the same time.

We work with you to find the best nutritional ingredients for your product.

Create Custom Solutions With Metarom

Stay updated on the latest developments and discover the easiest way to clean label reformulation while staying true to the core of your vision. We work with you to develop flavor solutions in-house, including the use of natural fat replacers, bitter blockers, and specialized masking agents, all while maintaining a natural approach. Make an appointment to tour our state-of-the-art facility based in San Diego, CA, or reach out to our team for an online consultation.

• Integrating botanicals and functional flavors is a growing trend in the health food industry.
• Some popular herbal and adaptogenic flavors include ginger, beet root, cinnamon, lavender, and wheatgrass.
• Our team at Metarom helps add a wellness-focused flavor design perspective to flavor development.

Flavoring with botanicals and functional flavors is a fantastic way to tap into some of nature’s best assets. Crafting new flavor combinations using the essence of vanilla, ginger, anise, juniper berries, cinnamon, citrus, and beyond elevates specific tastes and textures to make food and beverages stand out from the crowd, especially when it comes to wellness-focused flavor design. Using adaptogenic flavors, herbal flavor innovation, and other functional ingredients in food is a great way to meet consumer demand for healthier options on the shelf.

At Metarom USA, our flavor chemists continually explore how integrating botanicals contributes to lasting market success. Combining botanicals and functional flavors is a win-win for both consumers and growing brands; let’s examine why it works so well.

Using Plant-Based Flavoring Agents

It’s nature’s solution to anything bland. There are many ways plant-based botanicals can be used to add flavors to your favorite treats. Extracting flavor from plant parts is a common way to add zest to almost anything–but there are other ways to integrate flavors as well. The maceration process can be used to isolate the perfect notes in botanicals to add into confections and sweets. Infusion or herbal flavor innovation is ideal for creating added flavoring in beverages of all types.

Carefully combining the plant-based botanicals and functional flavors may give your product a leg-up on the competition in a big way. But how do you find the perfect combination of functional ingredients in food? That’s where flavor experts can step in and examine market demands and trends, helping you achieve the ideal mix using plant-based flavoring agents and integrating adaptogenic flavors as well.

Enhanced Wellness-Focused Flavor Design Using Botanicals and Functional Flavors

One of the biggest trends in the flavor industry right now is an emphasis on health and wellness-focused flavor design. Artificial color and flavor are out; healthy and natural botanicals and functional flavors are in. Metarom helps you navigate a changing industry and stay on top of a rapidly changing landscape.

Our ACTI’SENS and other flavor engineering processes are designed to help achieve specific dietary requirements without compromising on natural flavor. We use herbal flavor innovation, masking agents, bitter blockers, sweetness enhancers, and fat replacers where excess calories are an issue. Here is a brief outline of our flavor formulation process:

• Our team utilizes technology to blend and disperse plant-based flavoring agents and other flavors as evenly as possible, using powders or extracts to tailor the process.
• We use atomization to mix the aromatic solution with maltodextrin or gums.
• Flavor chemists select emulsifying or stabilizing agents to capture the essence of plant-based botanicals and functional flavors.

At the core of our ACTI’SENS process is maintaining the functional ingredients in food and its structural integrity while checking all the boxes when it comes to healthy requirements. We cater to select diets, including vegan, sugar-free, dairy-free, and more.

Using Adaptogenic Flavors

All adaptogens fall into the botanical flavor category–but what are they exactly? The term adaptogenic refers to a category of botanicals used explicitly for lowering your stress hormones (cortisol) and encouraging your body to relax and perform at its best. The use of wellness-focused flavor design and adaptogens in botanicals and functional flavors is not new. The use of adaptogens is based on ancient Chinese medicine and other home remedies used for centuries to treat everyday ailments like anxiety, obesity, headaches, and fatigue.

Some popular adaptogenic flavors on the market now include ginseng, ashwagandha, licorice, and rhodiola rosea. They may appear in health food products like smoothies, cookies, or granola bars, promising to boost immunity and tackle everyday health complaints. For more on the latest developments in this health food trend, reach out to our team.

Experts in Herbal Flavor Innovation

At Metarom, we go beyond simply combining a few botanicals and functional flavors to create something that tastes great. We are leading experts in using adaptogenic and herbal flavoring to target specific market demands. More and more, global consumers view their food intake as a daily dose of vitamins to combat future health risks and maintain fitness. They demand functional ingredients in food, including herbs and spices that promise health benefits using plant-based flavoring agents.

Our flavor experts keep a close eye on wellness-focused flavor design and other growing trends worldwide. Some common herbs that have increased in demand over the past decade include ginger root, beet root, cinnamon, ginkgo, and wheatgrass. Metarom is committed to working with our clients to integrate botanicals and functional flavors that are in demand right now with existing products, or creating something new.

Working With Metarom USA

When you work with us, we view our partnership as a collaboration. We begin by asking you to share your needs, and then we bring our global experience and determine which flavor processes are best suited to the product. With international experience, we then work together to bring your vision to the shelf.

All our flavors are naturally derived from locally sourced plant and animal sources worldwide. Our specialties include vanilla and caramels, but we have a complete catalog of flavors to draw from, and we can even create blends or new flavors to help you stay ahead of demand. Reach out to our flavor team today for a free flavor sample and book a consultation online.

• When you need to use food additives, it’s essential to use natural products and consider their impact on texture and form.
• Certain flavors seem different, but they can complement each other.
• It’s essential to consider sourcing when choosing ingredients to get the right flavor.

From smooth and creamy to crispy and crunchy, achieving the right balance and harmony in your favorite foods requires careful attention to detail and consistency from start to finish.

Selecting the right blend of masking agents to cover off-notes or bitter flavors is paramount to the final product. At Metarom USA, our team collaborates with global clients to create an exceptional selection of healthy foods, beverages, confections, and more.

Enhance your product’s flavor with a blend of natural sweeteners and ingredients to deliver an unforgettable taste every time. Our global partners utilize advanced technology and a background in scientific flavor research to ensure accuracy. Our flavor chemists recommend these flavor tips and tricks to guarantee excellent taste. From sweeteners to extracts, we’ll help you create the best flavor possible.

What Are Food Additives and How Do We Use Them?

Food additives help change flavor profiles and can add critical nutritional components to your food or beverage product. Adding complementary flavors to the product base we eat is a common-sense way to maintain desired healthy components while also elevating the desired flavor. Whether you seek to add sweetness, alter the texture, or add a bit of crunch, these flavor tips and tricks using food additives will help achieve an outstanding final product.

• A blend of natural sweeteners can replace harmful sugars to help control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
• Popular additives include milk whey, starch, and other substitutes to reduce fat.
• You can add additives such as xanthan gum to create gluten-free products that meet specific dietary needs.

These are a few ways we can use common food ingredients to enhance specific flavors or dietary components. Of course, there’s a preferred technique to adding complementary flavors to the product base. Let’s take a look at the entire process.

How To Use Masking Agents To Cover Off-Notes

One of our most frequently used flavor tips and tricks involves using masking agents to cover any off-notes before adding sweeteners and other flavors. This process is called flavor modulation. It’s a popular method for developing protein bars, low-calorie snacks, and workout supplements.

• With flavor modulation, flavors can be derived from their real-world counterparts to create a representation of the organic product.
• This process eliminates any residual undesirable flavors.
• Using a blend of natural sweeteners after masking the off-notes is among our most popular methods for achieving an authentic flavor without adding added sugars.

Without masking undesirable flavors, you risk putting a bland or flavorless product on the shelf. Let’s explore some additional flavor tips and tricks to help balance the flavor profile.

Balance the Sweetness Profile by Combining Flavors

Using a blend of natural sweeteners can balance and smooth out sweetness profiles. A standard error is to use only one standalone product to alter a flavor profile. You can draw upon our extensive experience and use some flavor tips and tricks to combine sweeteners and natural flavors. Here are some ways you can add complementary flavors to the product base:

• Use a high-quality Stevia alongside monk fruit and allulose. This works better than only one of them alone.
• Use flavors that complement natural flavors in the base. Vanilla Chai pairs well with herbals (such as Ashwagandha), and grapefruit complements bitter ingredients.
• Choose masking agents to cover off-notes, allowing sweeteners to shine through.

Many products contain flavors that offer excellent nutritional benefits but can be overpowering. A few examples of these are vegan proteins, vitamins, oils, and acids. You’ll need to use expert flavor tips and tricks to choose the right complementary flavor.

Source Reliable Ingredients

Never underestimate the power of choosing your ingredients carefully. Our team helps double-check the availability, MOQ, and final cost of all the raw materials before beginning to work on flavor development. Why?

• Without proper research, it’s possible that ingredients are sourced on a small scale and become sold out, which compromises the availability of your product.
• Instead of sourcing ingredients on Amazon, we collaborate with local suppliers and farmers worldwide to ensure your supply chain remains uninterrupted and sustainable.
• We draw on extensive experience in the global market and utilize reliable flavor tips and tricks that have been proven to work.

Our flavor chemists know that there’s a significant difference between using a blend of natural sweeteners that complement each other and simply adding Stevia to the mix, hoping for the best. Each of our formulations aims to complement the natural flavors. They are tailored to balance sweetness and use masking agents to cover off-notes.

Use Cutting-Edge Technology

When creating a flavor profile, it’s helpful to have technology on your side. One thing that sets Metarom apart from other companies is the use of technology for in-depth analysis and market research. Our team utilizes technology to identify potential flavor tips and tricks that enhance the production process. Here’s how:

• We use technology to help identify market trends, popular flavors, and emerging niche markets.
• We can identify balanced nutritional products that meet specific dietary needs and optimize nutritional content.
• It’s possible to obtain personalized results for premium food profiles.

Metarom USA recognizes that technology plays a significant role in a growing market.

Consult Our Team at Metarom USA

When you work with our team, expect a strong foundation in industry research and global knowledge. We use the latest technology advances to analyze your existing product and bring it to the next level. Utilize proven flavor tips and techniques to achieve the best flavor. Contact Metarom USA today to book a consultation.

• Restaurant menus often take a creative approach to traditional cuisine.
• Reinterpreting traditional food in the flavor industry is becoming more common.
• You can meet your dietary needs by working with a professional without compromising traditional flavors too much.

It’s not uncommon to go out with friends and see traditional cuisine with an unexpected twist highlighted on the restaurant menu. Think cauliflower rice bowls and tacos topped with sushi and wasabi. Or maybe it was a new plant-based burger blending Korean flavors, such as kimchi, with beans or tofu. Perhaps a spicy mocktail on the side!

Our team at Metarom USA has been following the trend of reinterpretations of traditional cuisines, beverages, snacks, and more. These creations demand both attention and a balance of conventional food flavors with a twist. As the knowledge of international trends in cultural cuisine grows, so does the notion of tweaking favorites to wow restaurant guests with something new and different. Let’s take a look at the importance of traditional cuisine and its evolution over time.

What Is Traditional Cuisine?

Italian cuisine is synonymous with tantalizing plates of pasta. Japanese cuisine evokes images of sushi and sashimi. French cuisine beckons diners with dainty servings of crème brûlée or crème caramel for dessert, following many miniature courses. And alongside the persistence of traditional plates comes the modern reinterpretation of traditional cuisines from around the world.

Classic flavors and ingredients in traditional cuisine are often based on the surrounding landscape. Wild rice is a staple in indigenous North American cooking, fish is common in parts of coastal European culture, and noodle-based dishes are central to Asian cuisine. Over time, the reinterpretation of traditional cuisines has become more widespread as food trends from one location move to another and gain popularity. This has paved the path for new flavor formulations and interpretations of cuisine.

Global food culture is deeply rooted in traditional celebrations, precise food preparation techniques, and the available flora and fauna in the region. Techniques may be carefully passed down through generations of families and even whole communities. When you picture your favorite traditional food flavors, it’s easy to visualize some stereotypical representations of a culture. But how do these representations grow and change?

A Growing Trend: Reinterpretation of Traditional Cuisines

Using classic flavors is a great way to showcase local culture. After all, what is traditional cuisine without adding a bit of zest or something different in the flavor process? It can create traditional food flavors that are more sought after by consumers and bring them into the mainstream. Our flavor chemists at Metarom USA have observed some interesting trends–think trendy flavors with traditional roots.

• It’s not uncommon for a growing local food trend to end up on the other side of the globe, where it is reinterpreted by local culture in a different country or region.
• Our team at Metarom USA specializes in reinterpreting traditional cuisines by bringing flavors to the forefront with attention-grabbing additions that cater to a targeted niche market.
• The growing use of social media and influencers has facilitated the global spread of food trends.

Whether the flavor trend of the moment is wasabi, lavender, guava, or something more obscure, it’s easy to take a traditional dish and strategically add a flavor or ingredient to make it feel more novel. You may look back and remember a standout dish that made an impact, because there was just something new and different about it.

What Are the Best Ways to Integrate New Flavors?

What is traditional cuisine without pushing the envelope on classic flavors? The trending reinterpretation of traditional cuisines includes flavors such as spicy-sweet combinations, sesame, coconut caramel, and lavender. Don’t forget to take a risk and be bold. Our number one tip is to research what’s upcoming and trendy in your target market and build from there. Here are some other valuable tips for flavor development:

• Aim to balance traditional food flavors without compromising on texture or quality of food or drink. Our team can work with you to make sure you get just the right feel.
• The successful reinterpretation of traditional cuisines means making sure your flavor combination doesn’t take over or do ‘too much.’
• Here’s an example. Perhaps you’re developing a topping for a traditional crêpe recipe and you want to add an interesting twist on the syrup. Try adding pomegranate flavor for something new while keeping the traditional aspects of the recipe.

Your ultimate goal is to reinterpret traditional cuisines, adding value and interest to a growing market. Our experience and creativity enable us to create a flavor library that meets market and industry standards. We offer free flavor samples to help expedite the flavor-making process. Call to talk with an expert and get started.

Can You Help Meet Special Dietary Needs?

Traditional food flavors often fail to meet dietary needs due to their deeply rooted processes and ingredients. But what is traditional cuisine without meeting the needs of everyone who may want to enjoy it? No rule says you can’t update or take a new angle on classic flavors. This is where the reinterpretation of traditional cuisines really comes into its own! Our team specializes in meeting dietary needs and health requirements in any product creation, so that everyone can enjoy it. We can fully customize to meet the following criteria:

• Organic Certified
• Organic Compliant
• Non-GMO
• N&A
• TTB Compliant

Not every flavor company is as comprehensive and accommodating in meeting specific dietary needs. When it comes to the reinterpretation of traditional cuisines, all of our flavor formulations are both vegan and Kosher, so you don’t have to worry about closing doors on potential buyers.

Request A Consultation Today

At Metarom USA, our global experience in flavor formulation helps guide our clients to make well-informed decisions about developing new products and flavor formulations from start to finish. We collaborate with your team to create a reinterpretation of traditional cuisines and develop flavors that drive success. Contact Metarom USA and book a consultation today.

Cocoa is a key global resource crucial to the chocolate industry’s growth and stability worldwide. African cocoa beans are central to a steady supply of cocoa powder and the production of your favorite sweets and delicacies. However, a barrage of external factors has led to increasing prices and uncertainty about the future of cocoa beans. Even small fluctuations can impact the reliability of one of the world’s most popular treats and leave businesses looking for alternative options, including using cocoa booster instead of pure cocoa powder.

The bulk of chocolate worldwide originates in West Africa. Over 70 percent of the world’s cocoa bean supply rests on weather events, harvests, and political stability in the region. With so much dependence on a steady supply, it’s easy to see how businesses are thinking outside the box for solutions to any future interruption. At Metarom USA, we help guide you through the shifts of a changing world economy.

What’s Causing Increased Prices?

Unpredictable elements have emerged as the primary factor in increased prices for chocolate production. Using cocoa booster as an enhanced flavor profile can combat some of these factors, which are difficult to predict. Here are a few ways the cocoa crop has been impacted in recent years.

• Variations in temperature, weather events, and the impact of climate change have affected the growth and harvest of cocoa beans.
• Pests and disease have impacted the industry by reducing crop yield from year to year and adding to inconsistencies.
• Tariffs and uncertainty in global trade have added an extra challenge to manufacturers worldwide.

All of these factors have emerged as players in the future of the chocolate industry and the use of cocoa booster as a substitute. The big question is: where do we go next?

How Do We Combat Increasing Prices?

When faced with a colossal challenge, the answer is collaborative and creative. Combatting an increase in prices means rethinking the balance in both the short and long term. Let’s look at some solutions that can help maintain the supply to consumers without compromising on flavor quality.

• Using a cocoa booster can replicate the taste, aroma, and texture of cocoa. Sometimes, it can substitute up to half of the cocoa content in a food product, decreasing the reliance on stable crop hauls.
• This enhanced flavor profile offers cost savings for various applications in cocoa products, including baked goods and beverages.
• Using a cocoa booster can support heart health and circulation, as the flavanols in each serving support these functions.

Boosting the flavor content naturally is a great way to combat increasing prices and other uncertainties in production. Let’s examine some of the benefits.

What is Cocoa Booster?

The terms cocoa powder and cocoa booster are often used interchangeably, but their ingredients have some key differences. Cocoa powder is purely derived from cocoa beans and has only one ingredient. Cocoa booster blends cocoa powder and other ingredients, including sugar, sweeteners, vitamins, and milk powder. It may even include elevated protein and have different health benefits.

Until recently, cocoa powder was preferred for flavoring baked goods, smoothies, and other popular drinks, including hot chocolate. With increasing prices, it makes sense to explore alternatives. Our team at Metarom USA can help you achieve great flavor at the right price point for your clientele. Combining cocoa powder with an expertly crafted cocoa booster could be a solution to create balance and an enhanced flavor profile. The best part? You’ll reduce the social and environmental impacts of an interrupted or uncertain supply.

What Are the Health Benefits of Using Cocoa Booster?

Flavonoids have fantastic health benefits, and using cocoa boosters can also support a low-caffeine alternative to hot chocolate and other products that require this sought-after flavor. Popular in beverages, the right cocoa booster can boost vitamin intake and protein while tasting like plain cocoa powder.

Since cocoa booster is a blend, creating a mixture targeting certain elements to gain positive health impacts is possible. Here are some positive health implications of using cocoa boosters in your product line:

• Flavonoids have been linked to heart health benefits such as vascular function and excellent circulation.
• Specific boosters can be infused with protein, Vitamin B, or caffeine for the desired outcome.
• Adding prebiotics or fibers is optimal for digestive health and regularity.

Our team at Metarom can help you customize your cocoa booster to maximize positive health elements and discover an enhanced flavor profile over time.

How Does Using a Cocoa Booster Combat Increasing Prices?

Maintaining a steady budget and reliable supply is paramount to business success. When unexpected weather or political events interrupt the flow, playing catch-up is difficult. You’ll be ahead of the curve by considering alternatives in a worst-case scenario. Here’s how using a cocoa booster can be good for the bottom line:

• You can reduce the quantity of pure cocoa needed in your product while achieving great taste.
• The texture and consistency of your product will remain unaffected and may even be enhanced compared to using pure cocoa.
• Shelf stability can be targeted to gain a longer lifespan in sales.

Other benefits include lowering fat content and targeting specific niche markets that desire health benefits using a perfectly balanced cocoa booster.

The Future of the Chocolate and Cocoa Industry

In short – nobody knows what the future brings. That’s why having a plan in place is so essential. Maybe your team isn’t ready to delve into recreating the structure of your product line. Even so, it may be worth exploring what other options and price points could look like using a cocoa booster as an alternative. Here’s how we offer the most innovative options to help you maintain momentum:

• Our flavor chemists work with your vision in mind and provide a breakdown of alternatives.
• We help open a discussion involving mitigating risks using pure cocoa products vs. using cocoa booster.
• We help explore an enhanced flavor profile and consider various options that work.

Contact our team and discover more solutions to move your business forward.

Reach Out Today

Don’t let increasing prices and global restructuring dampen your business’s future. Discover what the future has in store, and contact our team for custom solutions. Ask us for a sample and visit Metarom online to discover how we can tailor cocoa booster to your needs.

Technology can be key in identifying emerging flavor trends and creating memorable flavors. Although its use is commonplace in the food and beverage industry, it has recently reached a new level of application with the rise of AI and a broadened scope. The ability to analyze large amounts of data easily and quickly makes it more precise daily, creating the perfect recipe for success.

With the power of optimizing ingredient ratios and adding sensory analysis integration, our team at Metarom USA has extensive experience using technology to enhance functional flavors and more. Discover how technology’s role is constantly evolving and learn how the production process has become more streamlined with the rise of AI.

What Is the Role of AI in Food Production and Flavor Development?

Identifying emerging flavor trends and taste-testing for the market used to be based chiefly on experimentation and trial and error. In this time-consuming process, ingredients were added, removed, and tried again until the taste reached optimal satisfaction. AI technology is quickly taking the guesswork out of the process and deepening the role of technology in creating new, more balanced flavors. Here are a few of the ways AI is changing the flavor development process:

• AI technology can use data more accurately to create balanced nutritional ingredients that meet specific health and dietary needs.
• Technology has simplified optimizing ingredient ratios to achieve the right textures and flavors for the market.
• Technology can help reduce food waste, suggest ways to optimize nutritional content, and create new flavor combinations that are a growing need.

AI also offers some innovative ways to streamline the production and distribution process.

Sensory Analysis Integration Using Technology

Sensory analysis is essential in marketing or testing any new food or beverage product. The role of technology in analyzing consumer reactions to new products is to help guide how food products are assessed and presented to a global market. So, what is sensory analysis? It offers a way to interpret human reaction to flavors and texture:

• During flavor development, testing requires time spent integrating sensory analysis, with technology as a key component.
• AI technology and machine learning can help identify emerging flavor trends and pinpoint complex patterns. AI helps analyze large amounts of data to determine or predict consumer preferences.
• When it comes to substitutions (dairy-free alternatives or vegan options), sensory analysis and the role of technology become even more crucial to ensure that the consumer experiences the taste they are looking for.

AI goes beyond optimizing ingredient ratios. It can mimic flavors in natural foods and fully activate the senses.

Identifying Emerging Flavor Trends Using Computer Data and AI

One of artificial intelligence’s extraordinary powers is its ability to adapt quickly and analyze enormous amounts of data. Using this data makes it increasingly easy to identify emerging global trends before they take hold, which is valuable information for flavor development.

• The role of technology is to get ahead of the curve and tailor flavors to the next trend in food and beverages.
• Think of it as a crystal ball into the future of food and beverage trends – AI can help predict what consumers might latch onto next, leading you into the next emerging market.
• Using sensory analysis integration, it’s possible to recreate favorites with specific dietary requirements so that every consumer can enjoy the product on the shelf.

Optimizing ingredient ratios makes it possible to create niche-market products catering to a specific audience while maintaining excellent flavor.

Get Personalized Results

One of the abilities of new technology is to obtain personalized results for premium food profiles. Metarom USA knows that the role of technology is vast in a growing market. Whether your business is looking to add gluten—or dairy-free options or just trying to understand a new geographical area, technology can play a crucial role.

• It can sort and analyze preferences by region and target markets that haven’t been tapped yet.
• It can help research regulatory components and flavors that will be more successful in various regions.
• AI helps identify emerging flavor trends using current data.

The role of technology is crucial in identifying key trends that affect product success and market growth.

Consult Our Team at Metarom USA

At Metarom, we specialize in flavor development using the latest analysis methods. Our team helps guide you through the process and uses cutting-edge flavor engineering to preserve the integrity of your product and enhance all the flavors that will please a growing market. From caramel to vanilla and everything in between, our team is on standby to help you create the perfect product from beginning to end. Contact us today for an online sample!

What type of yeast works best for your baking needs? Learn how to choose the right yeast for baking all your favorite recipes. Create new tastes and textures, and watch your bread and baking rise to the next level! From essential instant yeast and active dry yeast to more specialized forms made with cutting-edge technology, we have your go-to guide for achieving the perfect balance.

Discover how swapping to deactivated yeast, crumbled yeast, cream yeast, or compressed yeast can change the look, taste, and texture of your creations. Our experts at Metarom USA weigh in on the ideal types of yeast for baking bread, cakes, cookies, pizzas, and more on a large scale and in the home kitchen. Let’s start with the most common forms.

Instant Yeast

It’s simple to use and easily found in any grocery store with a baking aisle. Since it’s dry in texture, you can add this form of yeast straight into your dry ingredients when making any bread recipe or other baked goods requiring yeast as an ingredient. Here are some key things to keep in mind if you are baking with instant yeast:

• Instant yeast has a lower moisture content than other types of yeast for baking, allowing it to ferment faster.
• It has a slightly longer shelf life than active versions, making it ideal for long-term stocking in the pantry.
• Expect a slightly granular texture, making it perfect for quick-rise recipes where baking time is a factor.

Use it to make bread, pizza dough, and other baked goods with a quick rise. Deactivated, cream, crumbled, or compressed yeast versions can be substituted, but nothing beats quick and easy instant yeast!

Active Dry Yeast

One of the key differences between this and other types of yeast for baking is the timing. While instant versions can be added straight into your dry baking ingredients, active yeast is typically mixed into warm water first to dissolve. This process is called proofing, and it takes longer than simply using instant yeast in your recipe. Here are some other characteristics:

• Active dry yeast has slightly larger granules than its instant counterpart.
• You can use instant yeast instead, but it may alter the time you need to let your baking rise due to a protective coating that needs to dissolve in water. Active yeast, including instant versions or even crumbled or deactivated yeast, may take longer to rise than other types of baking yeast.
• It should be stored in a cool, dry place. When sealed, it can last for years, but once opened, it stays in the refrigerator for about four months.

If you have more time, active dry yeast can work its magic. It’s more sensitive to external temperatures than compressed or cream yeast, but it’s great for bread machines or recipes with slower rise times.

Deactivated Yeast

Known interchangeably as deactivated or inactivated yeast, this vegan-friendly option has become a cultural trend when creating specialty baked goods. Other types of yeast for baking contain living organisms. Deactivated yeast is yeast without living cells. For strict vegans, it’s a great solution to avoid the consumption of the living organisms found in your typical instant yeast product. Here’s what sets it apart:

• It’s perfect for high-protein flours since it promotes dough relaxation more than active dry yeast.
• Combined with cutting-edge technology, it can shorten the time it takes to mix the dough from start to finish.
• It supports a more uniform appearance after baking.

Deactivated yeast is perfect for pizzas, tortillas, croissants, and other flaky baked goods.

Other Types of Yeast for Baking

Several types of yeast on the market are less known and created in different forms, including crumbled yeast, compressed yeast, and more. Each of these textures has its benefits regarding use and baking – and some are better used on a larger scale. Here are a few lesser-known yeast options that are easier to transport and better used for larger projects.

Cream Yeast

Cream yeast is used commercially by bakers and contains about 80% water. It includes extra moisture and water compared to deactivated, instant, active dry yeast and other types of yeast used for baking. Since it preserves a good portion of living organisms and is easy to transport, it’s an excellent option for the large-scale production of baked goods.

Compressed Yeast

This yeast type is fresh cream yeast with the moisture and water content removed and drained. It’s also known by other names, such as cake, wet, or fresh yeast, and is widely used by commercial bakers. Unlike some different types of yeast for baking, the compressed version has a shorter shelf life than instant yeast or active dry yeast, and it must also remain refrigerated.

Crumbled Yeast

Crumbled yeast is simply fresh yeast crumbled into a different texture. It can be easier to use since it’s already separated from a block and crumbled up. It can be packed and transported in air-tight bags that preserve its function upon arrival.

Request a Sample Online Today

Metarom USA is well-versed in alternative yeast options that help boost nutritional quality and make production easy. Discover how our team can help you grow! You’ll gain access to various types of yeast for baking, including cream and compressed yeast, which are used on a larger scale. Contact our team at Metarom USA and request a sample online.

Consumers are quickly discovering the excellent health benefits of tamarind. This powerful fruit contains many vitamins, reduces inflammation, supports digestive health, and boosts immunity when needed. It’s no wonder tamarind is used in a diverse range of new recipes for food and beverages on the market. From trendy curries to nutrient-filled smoothies, tamarind is an up-and-coming superfood.

As a trailblazer in the flavor industry, Metarom USA is on the cutting edge of techniques that infuse tamarind into everyday products to enhance nutritional content. The health benefits of tamarind are plentiful. Let’s look at some of the many perks of using tamarind flavors.

Better Digestion

Tamarind comes from the Tamarindus indica tree, which is native to Africa but also grows in other tropical locales, including Asia, India, and South America. This fiber-packed fruit has long been used in herbal remedies to support easier digestion. It is a natural laxative that helps support regularity and enhance bile production. Recipes with tamarind can help remedy some of the most common digestive issues. Here are some other amazing health benefits of tamarind related to digestive health.

• Tamarind’s prebiotic properties promote healthier bacteria in the stomach.
• Its high fiber content helps combat gas and bloating from excess stomach acid or indigestion after meals.
• The fruit’s alkaline properties help balance the digestive tract.

The tamarind flavor profile varies between sweet, jammy, sour, or tangy. As a rule of thumb, it gets sweeter as it ripens. Tamarind’s health benefits are easy to obtain. It can be added to sauces, marinades, beverages, sweets, and soups. It’s integral to many traditional South Indian, Thailand, and African dishes. Your favorite curry or spicy pad Thai likely has a dash of tamarind thrown into the mix.

Immunity Boost

If you need an immunity boost, Tamarind is the perfect addition to your diet. It’s naturally high in Vitamin C and other antioxidants. There are so many ways you can enjoy this fantastic fruit. You can eat the pulp raw, compress it into a block, or boil it into a concentrate infused with immunity-boosting vitamins. The health benefits of a tamarind infusion are enormous,

• Tamarind is high in magnesium, which has anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. This fruit contains at least a quarter of the recommended daily intake!
• Eating tamarind may help combat seasonal ailments and shorten their lifespan – for example, reducing common cold symptoms.
• This fruit is full of antioxidants and gives you a boost any time of year.

Discover how using recipes with tamarind can amplify the nutritional qualities for a serious immunity recharge. Several global dishes use tamarind to add texture and a bit of sweetness. The health benefits of tamarind are plentiful, and they pay off in the long term.

Decrease Serious Illnesses

Tamarind contains polyphenols that may help combat various serious ailments, including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Its flavor profile is ideal for natural flavoring. Tamarind can be a healthy substitute in food and beverages, so its use is becoming more widespread in the flavor industry.

• Although high in sugar, tamarind ranks low on the glycemic index, making it a potential nutritional substitute for individuals with diabetes.
• It’s high in various B Vitamins, making it ideal for brain health, promoting longevity, and providing other health benefits.
• Even an ounce of tamarind contains essential vitamins and minerals, which can reduce cancer risk when combined with other healthy habits.

Discover why tamarind is a key component of daily nutrition and a healthy diet.

Glowing Skin

Of course, you can ingest tamarind for its fantastic health benefits, but it’s also great for the skin’s surface. Adding tamarind into your skincare regime can boost that glowing look and keep your skin looking healthy, glowing, and young. Here’s how to gain even more health benefits of tamarind:

• Tamarind’s anti-inflammatory properties reduce inflammation and blemishes.
• Its high Vitamin A and C content helps even skin tone, leaving a fresh glow.
• It’s a gentle exfoliant, removing build-up on your skin and leaving it refreshed and smooth.

Simple recipes with tamarind can help your skin. A bit of natural extract or paste will refresh it.

Strong Bones

Some of the perks of tamarind aren’t visible on the outside. One of the health benefits of tamarind is helping to promote strong bone density. There are some key components in tamarind that aid bone health and density. Here are some ways tamarind supports strong bones:

• Tamarind is full of magnesium, which is linked to better bone density, especially in older age.
• Tamarind contains high levels of calcium, which could help prevent bone fractures and osteoporosis.
• Vitamin C is excellent for your skin, and the power fruit packs a lot into even a tiny amount.

Combined with Vitamin D and regular weight training, they are linked to enhanced strength and bone density.

Discover Metarom USA

Metarom USA infuses tamarind and other healthy natural flavors into your product line or recipe. You can check out our best selection of natural products and flavors online. Contact our experienced team of flavor chemists for guidance and discover the added health benefits of tamarind by using our tamarind flavor profile or other natural methods. Request a sample online today.