Thermal and Textural Flavor Experiences

• 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.