Spicy and Fruity Are

NEW products of tomorrow certainly won't be bland, mild or boring. From food and drink to household and personal care, Mintel's leading new product expert, David Jago, is excited about new tastes and smells he expects to see hitting global markets soon. Looking ahead to 2009, Mintel forecasts that manufacturers will reach for exotic fruits and fresh, soothing flavors with a touch of spice to jazz up their new products. Nature-inspired aromas will also be a real hit. "Today's manufacturer is constantly looking for those tastes and aromas that stand out and capture shoppers' imaginations. By adding exotic fruits and more unusual ingredients to everyday products, companies give people the opportunity to experiment and move out of their comfort zones without breaking the bank," says Jago. Mintel has identified seven flavors that will come into the limelight this year. These flavors and scents will spread across the globe, moving beyond their core market or country of origin to become the heavy-hitters of 2009. 7 Flavor Forecasts for 2009 PERSIMMON Viewed as a unique and exotic fruit, persimmon is poised to make a major splash in food and beverage. Mintel expects companies to blend it with more common fruits, as seen in a new Japanese yogurt that contains white peaches, persimmon and apricots. STARFRUIT Another unusually shaped, distinctly flavored fruit ?starfruit ?is catching on around the globe. Already seen in Flor De Hibiscus's Chutney with Star Fruit (Brazil), the exotic fruit will become a major global player in 2009. LAVENDER Mintel expects lavender to move beyond the home and personal care categories and into food and beverage next year. Already seen in products such as Lindt Chocolat Provenance's Lemon-Lavender dream chocolate (Germany), lavender can be paired with more familiar ingredients to bring a naturally soothing, aromatic quality to food and drink. CACTUS Already a popular food flavor in Latin America, cactus is seen in products like Nopalia Cactus Toasts (Mexico), which contain both cactus and corn. Next year, look for manufacturers to incorporate this regional taste into new food products around the world. CHIMICHURRI Another classic from Latin America, chimichurri is a sauce for grilled meats, recognized for its clean, clear flavor. It has already begun to win fans in the US, seen in new products like Gaucho Ranch's Original Argentinean Chimichurri Steak Sauce, but we could well be enjoying this spicy flavor further afield. PERI-PERI This is an African hot sauce that has been made famous in the UK by the Nando's restaurant chain. But we can expect to see peri-peri appear in more products on our supermarket shelves, as 2009 will be peri-peri's year to set the world alight. MASALA Chicken Tikka Masala is one of the most popular curries in the UK, but masala as a flavor is expected to become the hot star across the globe for 2009.Hombre