1-31-2025 4:47am

HUNT VALLEY'S McCORMICK

Jeff Barto Editor

McCormick unveils flavor of the year as part of 2025 flavor forecast

McCormick has announced the 25th edition of its Flavor Forecast, an annual report on the latest culinary trends shaping the way people prepare and enjoy food worldwide.

Headlining the report is McCormick's 2025 Flavor of the Year: Aji Amarillo. This pepper native to South America features fruity, tropical notes with moderate heat. McCormick is offering a taste of this standout flavor with their new Aji Amarillo Seasoning, available for a limited time online beginning early February.

Aji Amarillo, which translates to 'yellow chile pepper' in English, is a pepper grown in Peru and native to South America that is a staple ingredient in Peruvian cuisine. Despite its name, the yellow pepper turns orange when fully mature. The vibrant pepper has fruity, tropical notes, reminiscent of passion fruit and mango, with a moderate heat ranging from 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). It's trending beyond Peruvian cuisine, showing up as a key ingredient in appetizers, drinks, entrees and more, with an anticipated 59 percent menu growth over the next four years, according to Datassential's Menu Trends, 2024.

Established in 2000, the McCormick Flavor Forecast is the company's annual global trend report, which has predicted flavors like pumpkin pie spice, chipotle, ube, Korean BBQ, Ube, Swicy and more. The report explores what is shaping the future of flavor at home, restaurants and grocery stores. It's determined through on-the-ground research across the globe, social listening insights, SEO trends and more. It encompasses flavor, culinary trends and stories, cooking techniques and applications, exploring trends on the cusp of adoption around the world.

Among the flavor predictions and trends identified in this year's Flavor Forecast:

Tropical Vibes - Taste buds travel through warm-weather flavors and cuisines to taste tropical fruits, seafood, and island and beach cuisines.
Charred & Smoked - These culinary techniques underline and emphasize the natural characteristics of a dish or ingredient. Smoky, charred, roasted and ultra-caramelized notes come through in unique ways and a variety of applications.
Deliciously Unexpected This is all about reimagined familiar ingredients and deliciously unexpected combinations, evoking curiosity and cravings. An example of this is the chili cucumber salad trend that has amassed nearly 23 million views on TikTok.

"For nearly 25 years, McCormick has defined flavor and influenced flavor trends through the Flavor Forecast, inspiring discovery and innovation in everyday foods and beverages. From chipotle to chai, matcha and tamarind – these are all flavors we've predicted that have cemented themselves in global cuisine," says Tabata Gomez, chief marketing officer at McCormick. "As a global leader in flavor, we are champions of bold flavor. We continue to see younger generations explore creative ways to spice up their foods so we love that this year's Flavor of the Year, Aji Amarillo, is providing the perfect gateway for consumers to explore and expand their palate."

"Our Flavor of the Year, Aji Amarillo, is the true embodiment of flavors that pack a punch," says Hadar Cohen Aviram, executive chef and senior manager, culinary development, US consumer at McCormick. "Its versatility lends itself to diverse applications, amplifying both sweet and tangy flavors and adds dimension to smoked or charred items. The Aji Amarillo Seasoning is a delicious, sweet and spicy blend that enhances any dish including seafood, poultry, sauces, salsas and more."

To celebrate the release of the Flavor Forecast's 25th edition, McCormick is hosting its first-ever Flavor Night Market in Miami, Florida. In partnership with Smorgasburg, the Flavor Night Market will bring the vibrant flavors of Aji Amarillo and this year's three trends to life at Miami's favorite open-air food market, open Friday, February 21 from 4-11 pm and Saturday, February 22 from 2-10 pm EST. The event is free to attend and will feature more than 30 food vendors serving up creative Aji Amarillo-inspired food and beverages. Attendees can also enjoy games, music and a McCormick pop-up store where the new Aji Amarillo Seasoning and other merchandise will be available for purchase