• by Teresa Buyikian , March 8, 2024

2023’s global tastes and quality ingredient trends are still holding up in 2024, at least according to a new report published in time for International Women’s Month by Les Dames d’Escoffier International (Les Dames), an international organization which unites women leaders in the fields of food, beverage, and hospitality.

The report, compiled from a survey of Les Dames’ over 2,800 global members and available here, was commissioned to collect member insights into current and emerging trends in the food, beverage, and hospitality industry.

One of the key highlights of the report are the findings of continued enthusiasm for global flavors. Moving beyond the now commonplace condiment sriracha, trending tastes now include gochujang and North African hot sauces, with a growing interest in various regions and micro-regions of the world. The report found the top three trending flavors are Asian, Mediterranean and Latin.

The quest for distinctive flavors goes beyond the global into the health category as well; “florals like lavender, chamomile, cherry blossoms and hibiscus are gaining popularity for flavor and health benefits in various culinary applications.”

Another key point in the report was also the continued influence of real food with easy-to-understand ingredients over ultra-processed options. In the fast-casual realm, “the demand for high-quality yet quick or on-the-go options is being met by chef-driven fast-casual establishments.” This goes hand in hand with global tastes, as the report cites than many global cuisines are heavily plant-based, with many chefs bringing their own heritage and experience to unique fast casual menus.

Other key findings include that pop-up restaurant experiences will also remain popular. Additionally, the report found that there is an increase in consumers wanting to reduce their environmental impact. Thus terms like “carbon-neutral, regenerative agriculture, soil health and responsive agriculture” are gaining in popularity.