Just as fashion trends come and go (can we keep you forever, high-waisted jeans?), so do food trends.

It is evident that the pandemic, the popularity of Tiktok, Brexit, sustainability, climate change and supply chain issues have caused the emergence of various food trends in the last two years. However, the main driver has clearly been the pandemic with over a third of people now making more of an effort to be healthy than they were back in 2019. This is reflected with over 7 in 10 adults in the UK proactively trying to lead a healthy lifestyle!

As we are now in a year where cooking robots could be a thing, we wanted to investigate the predicted trends for 2022. With Spring fast approaching, let’s see if there are any which you may have already tried…

Going Alcohol Free

Millennials and Gen Z have embraced sober-curious culture and have made sobriety more popular and normal. Limiting alcohol has obvious health benefits, such as decreasing the incidence of many diseases, mental health problems, driving accidents and of course less calories!

It has been predicted that this year, you’ll see everything from alcohol-free spirits, wine, and beer to fancy sparkling water that can serve as a mocktail. 

Turmeric

Although the golden spice turmeric has been used for centuries, supermarkets are now starting to see an increase in cereals, sauerkrauts, and even ice cream sandwiches that feature turmeric. It is more than just an ingredient in a curry! It’s got great anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and it can help with depression and arthritis.

It has a very distinct earthy taste, with mild notes of a peppery spice. You can add more flavour to stews, soups, rice, or even smoothies and coffee! Particularly, if you mix it with cumin, ginger, cinnamon, paprika, or coriander.

Yuzu

Yuzu is a citrus fruit which is currently taking the culinary world by storm. They are mainly cultivated in Asian places including Japan, Korea and China. It’s like the sister of oranges and lemons. Health benefits include low calories, improved blood flow and can even have anticancer properties.

They are the perfect amount of tart for vinaigrette, seltzers and mayo. Many chefs today incorporate it into pastas, soups, noodles and even into cakes!

Hibiscus

Hibiscuses are not only extremely ascetically pleasing but they can help protect your eyes and help lower your bloody pressure. They have been around for a while by tea consumers and are famous for its high Vitamin C content! As they are sweet and tart, they make a great addition to all kinds of yoghurts, spreads, and drinks.

Sunflower Seeds

Another emerging trend are sunflower seeds. They have always been a thing however they are now making their way into crackers, butter, protein bars, ice-cream, even cheese! They are nutrient powerhouses with high levels of zinc, protein and unsaturated fats.

People with nut allergies will be able to enjoy these as they are made entirely of sunflower seeds and do not include nuts.

Potato Milk

Yes, you read that correctly. Potato milk is poised to overtake oat milk as the most popular non-dairy substitute for cow’s milk.

Consumers have cycled through a variety of non-dairy choices in recent years, including soy, almond, coconut, and oat. While they are all currently all the rage, don’t be shocked if your favourite barista soon attempts to persuade you to switch to potato milk. This was produced in Sweden using a unique method of mixing and emulsifying potatoes with rapeseed oil.

Is there anything these days that we don’t turn into milk?

This may appear to be a step too far, but it is a more environmentally responsible choice. They require half as much land as oats to grow and need 56 times less water than almonds!

More Mushrooms

Flexitarianism is still a hot topic in the food world. The concept of limiting our intake of meat, fish, and dairy for a portion of the week and focusing our diets mostly on plant proteins and vegetables.

As a result, it’s no wonder that vegetarians and vegans choose mushrooms since its hearty texture imitate a meaty umami flavour. Another bonus: low calorific load. Consider all the varieties, such as oyster mushrooms masquerading as scallops!

Moringa

Moringa, often known as ‘horseradish tree’ or ‘wonder leaf’, is the newest superfood to hit the market. Their leaves contain seven times more Vitamin C than oranges and fifteen times more potassium than bananas: extremely healthy! This leaf is also praised by the World Health Organization for its capacity to combat malnutrition.

It’s available as a powder, much like matcha. It is expected to appear in a variety of common products such as grain blends, protein bars, chocolate, and frozen desserts, smoothies and sauces!