We all crave something unique in our dishes every day. Some of us seek sweet and fruity notes in our food, while there are those who prefer bold and spicy flavors to add thrill and excitement to the way we eat. Others, on the other hand, may crave comforting and hearty flavors but cooked differently.
This is what McCormick Philippines had in mind because, after thorough research and experiments done by a team of culinary experts, the esteemed food company has proudly announced the Flavor Forecast 25th Edition—an annual global report on emerging culinary trends. In this year’s iteration of the Flavor Forecast, McCormick Philippines unveiled the three flavor trends of the year: Tropical Vibes, Charred & Smoked, and Deliciously Unexpected. These flavor trends are set to shape the culinary scene and elevate dining experiences.
The McCormick Flavor Forecast 25th Edition: The three flavor trends
The McCormick Flavor Forecast 25th Edition has introduced three exciting flavor trends that are set to influence menus and home kitchens alike, ensuring a gastronomic journey like no other.
The first trend, Tropical Vibes, brings a refreshing take on dishes by incorporating the vibrant flavors of tropical fruits, such as mango, coconuts, and more. This trend allows tropical fruits to step beyond desserts and treats. They’re making their way to savory dishes, sauces, and spice blends, bringing a subtle sweetness, zesty notes, and depth to dishes.
The first trend, Tropical Vibes, brings a refreshing take on dishes by incorporating the vibrant flavors of tropical fruits, such as mango, coconuts, and more.
More than just a theme, Tropical Vibes serves as a “flavor passport,” inviting us to explore new and adventurous flavors and elevate normal dishes to extraordinary ones.
“Tropical Vibes is not just a theme. It’s a shift in the way we cook and eat. [It’s] a flavor passport, opening the door to new and exciting taste experiences. It goes beyond tropical fruits; it’s about reimagining them in unexpected ways,” said chef Tenten Casasola, the head of innovations and new product development of McCormick Philippines.
The second trend, Charred & Smoked, highlights the powerful flavors brought by grilling and smoking. The trend not only puts an emphasis on cooking over an open flame but to the flavor dimension and depth these techniques add to a dish, creating an immersive palette experience.
“Charred and Smoked has always been part of cooking. But what’s exciting about it now is how these techniques are evolving,” said chef JB Reyes, the innovation chef of McCormick Philippines. “The appeal goes beyond barbecue. It’s now about creating flavors and ways that are both rustic and fiery.”
The last trend, the Deliciously Unexpected, is all about taking the familiar ingredients and reimagining them into something new to the palate. This trend challenges the traditional norms of cooking, pushing flavor boundaries but surprisingly has a perfectly balanced combination—whether combining a touch of sweetness into savory dishes and vice versa.
“[Deliciously Unexpected] is all about taking what’s familiar and [turning] it into a completely new dish. It’s about challenging what we know,” McCormick APZ research chef Chef Pix shared.
“[Deliciously Unexpected] is all about taking what’s familiar and [turning] it into a completely new dish. It’s about challenging what we know,” McCormick APZ research chef Chef Pix shared. “Unexpected flavors fuel curiosity and it will surprise you after taking something familiar and turning it into a different dish.”
“For years, the Flavor Forecast 25th Edition has consistently been at the forefront in identifying emerging trends, unique ingredients, and innovative cooking techniques that are shaping culinary experiences throughout the world,” McCormick PH president Rebecca Sy said. “With years of research, the Flavor Forecast has empowered businesses to stay ahead of the curve inspired by menus, products, and experiences that truly resonate with consumers.”
“At McCormick Philippines, we remain committed to leading the way to discovery and delivering the next great flavors that would reshape menus, influence consumer preferences, and drive innovations across the whole industry,” Sy added.
Chef Tenten also highlighted that McCormick Flavor Forecast is a “roadmap for future flavors.”
“The Flavor Forecast is more than just a report, it’s a vision of the future of taste. In this report, we don’t only follow trends, we define them, shaping how people will cook, flavor, and eat in the years to come,” said chef Tenten.
The McCormick 2025 Flavor of the Year: Aji Amarillo
Aside from the three flavor trends, McCormick Philippines also introduced its flavor of the year: the aji amarillo.
Aji amarillo, whose name translates to “yellow chili pepper,” is a South American hot chili pepper that is a staple in Peruvian cuisine for sauces, marinades, and other dishes. It features fruity, tropical notes with a moderate heat, adding the right amount of kick to every dish.
“This chili brings more than just heat. It’s bright and fruity, with notes of passion fruit and mango, and with just the right amount of spice. It’s bold and balanced, adding depth without overpowering the dish,” chef Tenten shared. “It adds a fresh and bright contrast to smoky flavors. Its vibrant heat and bold color make it a standout ingredient across appetizers, entrees, and even cocktails.”
“This chili brings more than just heat. It’s bright and fruity, with notes of passion fruit and mango, and with just the right amount of spice. It’s bold and balanced, adding depth without overpowering the dish,” chef Tenten shared.
Chef Tenten added that aji amarillo has been on the rise, predicting that this chili pepper will dominate every dish, especially in Filipino cuisine as many Filipinos crave something spicy in their food. “A lot of Filipinos right now love spicy food, like the spicy ginataan. So, I think we are more open to trying more spicy food and different types of chili. We’re not sticking with only siling labuyo or siling haba—the one that we used for dynamite, we’re going more than that,” chef Tenten said.
“We’re exploring more in terms of spicy options out there and aji amarillo is one of the good examples of chili that’s been trending out there.”
“With years of research, the Flavor Forecast has empowered businesses to stay ahead of the curve inspired by menus, products, and experiences that truly resonate with consumers,” McCormick PH president Rebecca Sy said.
True enough, McCormick Philippines unveiled that searches for aji amarillo have jumped to 22 percent and social media conversations have been upped by eight percent. The South American hot chili pepper is also expected to have a menu growth of 59 percent across all segments.
“Aji amarillo shows up in a lot of food worldwide and it’s not just a passing trend. [This chili] is on the rise, why? Because it checks every box and it ties to all our flavor trends,” chef Tenten shared.
McCormick Philippines’ Together We Flavor 2025: Blazing Trails with Flavors
Along with the release of the Flavor Forecast 25th Edition, McCormick Philippines celebrated this significant milestone with “Together We Flavor 2025: Blazing Trails with Flavors” held at the Grand Hyatt Manila in Taguig City.
Gracing the event were chefs, restaurateurs, culinary experts, food innovators, and industry partners, including chef Tenten, McCormick Philippines innovation chef JB Reyes, and McCormick research chef, chef Pix. Guests also got a chance to taste dishes inspired by the three flavor trends.
McCormick Philippines also unveiled its newest products based on Sour Power, from the Flavor Forecast 24th Edition: lime, tamarind, and calamansi seasonings.
To know more about the McCormick Flavor Forecast 25th Edition, visit https://www.mccormick.com/flavor-forecast-2025. Shop their newest products now via their Lazada and Shopee stores.