Saddle up, Goodtasters! This year’s food and drink trends are serving up innovation, flavor exploration, and wellness-inspired choices. From snack culture and white chocolate to low- and no-alcohol wines, this year’s culinary trends will be an adventure worth savoring. Here are our favorite food and drink trends you’ll be seeing much more of in 2024. Get ready to indulge, explore, and elevate your dining game!
Plant-Forward Menus and Plant-Based Food
Expect to see more plant-based foods and more plant-forward menus this year. Consumers are beginning to understand that the global population cannot be sustained on meat-centric diets. A GlobalData report says 70 percent of the world population is either reducing meat consumption or eliminating it altogether. According to a report by Bloomberg Intelligence, the plant-based food market is expected to grow by 451 percent by 2030 – and food experts are taking it seriously. This year, the Culinary Institute of America will host its 6th annual “Global Plant-Forward Culinary Summit” in April 2024 in Napa, California.
Fruit Wines
According to a report by Future Market Insights, the demand for fruit wine is expected to rapidly rise through 2034. The report states, “The market for sweet, fruity wine is anticipated to exceed $2.4 billion by 2034.” Among the top fruits for this sweet trend: strawberries, oranges, elderberry, and apples. If sweet wine is your thing, you’re going to love this trend!
Snacks
Snacks are trending and for good reason: with the all-too-common complaint that there aren’t enough hours in a day, quick bites can save your sanity. Rather than spending hours buying ingredients, chopping, prepping, and cooking a meal, people are making whole meals out of ready-to-eat snacks. Snack collaborations that mash up your favorite treats and brands are on the rise (think milk chocolate dipped cranberry bites – a collaboration between the Hershey Co. and Ocean Spray). Other snack sensations to watch for include chickpea everything, pickle-flavored anything, and interesting flavor combinations in the jerky aisle – like mango habanero and sesame teriyaki. Yum!
Mushrooms
Mushrooms will be a top ingredient this year, both in restaurants and in home kitchens. With people turning more to plant-based diets, mushrooms are a nutritional powerhouse. The value found in functional fungi like lion’s mane and chaga mushrooms has resulted in a spike in popularity among these lesser-known toadstools. The world’s functional mushroom market is set to exceed $19 billion by 2030.
Countertop Ovens
These magic little miracle workers are the appliance of the year. In recent years, the easy-to-use air fryer changed public opinion about countertop appliances and now, we want more. Consumers are now looking for multipurpose countertop ovens that can air fry, bake, roast, toast, broil, and more. Not only do they heat up faster than a traditional oven, but countertop ovens also consume less energy. One of our Goodtaste staffers received one for Christmas and it’s had nonstop use since!
No-Alcohol and Low-Alcohol Wine
The no- and low-alcohol drink trend has been growing in recent years and it’s set to take off in 2024. While the non-alcoholic market has focused almost exclusively on beer in the past, things are changing – fast. Non-alcoholic wine and low-alcohol wine are making waves for health-conscious people who still want to imbibe without all the side effects. Among millennials and Gen Z, there’s a trend toward healthier lifestyles and more mindful consumption. The global no- or low-alcohol market is expected to grow by 31 percent by 2024. Don’t like wine? The trend of non-alcoholic spirits like tequila and vodka are on the upswing too!
White Chocolate
According to a market research report published last year, the white chocolate market is expected to grow by $9.05 billion by 2027. White chocolate is becoming more expensive, so producers are coming up with higher-quality varieties. One trend researchers are paying attention to is consumers’ burgeoning preference for caramelized white chocolate. This is one food trend we’re getting on board with!
“Rooster” Pasta
Rooster pasta? You bet. Multiple market research teams are predicting that the ruffle-edged pasta called cresto di gallo (crest of the rooster) will rule the roost this year. It got its name because it resembles a rooster’s crest, of course. The pasta’s shape gives it a unique ability to hold sauces and fillings. It’s projected to be a favorite among chefs and home cooks alike this year.
Tamarind
McCormick – the king of spices – has deemed tamarind the 2024 Flavor of the Year in their annual Flavor Forecast. This versatile spice is native to Africa, India, and the Middle East. It’s sweet and tangy and is common in Latin, South Asian, Caribbean, and Mexican cuisine.
Linda Fredrickson says
I have had an air fry/ toaster/ Bake/warm oven since they first came out. I use it everyday in some capacity. It’s a great addition to my built in oven. Love your show. Keep the great recipes coming.