Fifty years ago, most Americans were unfamiliar with spices such as Hungarian paprika and star anise and herbs like cilantro and lemongrass, unless they were part of a culture whose cuisine included these ingredients or lived in ethnically diverse neighborhoods. Today more than ever, thanks to the Internet and social media, consumers are learning more about and falling in love with flavors and foods hailing from around the world.
Manufacturers specializing in food flavors and colors are taking note of consumers’ increasingly sophisticated palettes and developing ingredients to bring new and rediscovered flavors and colors to a host of products: Snacks; baked goods; toppings; and more. In fact, according to “Global Markets for Flavors and Fragrances,” a new report from Rockville, Md.-based MarketResearch.com, a provider of global marketing intelligence products and services, the global flavor industry, which was worth $10.6 billion in 2011, is expected to grow to nearly $11.1 billion in 2012 and $14.5 billion in 2017.