The culinary world is always evolving, and with the dawn of a new year, it’s time to explore the Top 5 Food Trends for 2023. Food and social media, two distinct entities, have come together to shape these trends. With platforms like TikTok and Instagram, the way we perceive and share food has transformed.
As the Top 5 Food Trends for 2023 suggest, there’s a blend of nostalgia and innovation:
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Foods that trigger nostalgia are all the rage
Covid and the ensuing lockdowns have left people craving the life (and food) they savoured from a simpler bygone era. This nostalgic craving has galvanised a food trend that we believe is here to stay. So from childhood favourites like fancy French toast, to suji halwa, to mom’s innovation like pizza toast and 3 ingredient apple pie; nostalgia is one of this year’s biggest food trends. We bet you’ve already seen tons of these kinds of videos on your Instagram feed. We are super stoked to see many more during the course of the year.
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Oh honey? What was that, you’re thinking of substituting me!
For millions of people the world over, honey has been their go-to sugar substitute. Unlike the empty calories of white refined sugar, honey is rich in antioxidants and unique flavour. But there exists a dark side to the honey industry. Commercial honey can oftentimes be made at a huge detriment to the bees that produce them. With this in mind, people are looking to substitute this once popular breakfast table staple. Alternatives like date syrup, agave nectar and especially natural Maple syrup are being considered. We expect this trend to reach a cult status like the cronut or cupcake craze.
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Tamarind is clearly the ingredient of the year
Known as imli to most Indians, tamarind is native to Africa. Thanks to imperialism however, tamarind has become a cross-cultural ingredient and is now indispensable in African, Indian, Southeast Asian, and even Mexican cooking. While turmeric, saffron, lavender, chillies and other condiments have all had their time, we believe that 2023 is the year of tamarind. In the United States, cult brand Doritos launched a new flavour at the end of 2022, called Tangy Tamarind, that has become a huge craze. The import of Mexican tamarind taffy is also on the upswing and Indian chutneys, sauces and foods like Bhel that are rich in tamarind are growing in popularity. Watch out as tamarind takes the chatakedaar centrestage this year!
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Rustic cooking is on the rise
Cooking on a woodfire or over the coals is not a new practice. Slow cooking over embers however is the new cuisine trend in fine dining restaurants. And it’s not restricted to just meat, savoury and mains. Even starters, and surprisingly desserts are also being cooked over coals these days. Even a cursory glance at your Instagram feed will definitely reveal videos of this surprising trend.
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Gut healthy foods are on the rise
Since the Covid pandemic, people in general have become more health conscious. Trends like supplementation, consuming green tea, reduction in the popularity of alcohol, and gut healthy prebiotic and probiotic foods are all evidence of this. In 2023, we anticipate the rise of more gut-healthy food. These could take the form of curd, kefir, kombucha, kimchi, pickled veggies, tempeh, miso and many others.
So there you have it, our list of the most trending foods for 2023. Whatever be the trend, good eating is always in vogue. So begin your exploration of some of the world’s best ingredients with us. Visit us at www.chenabgourmet.com today.