Rapid technological advancements and the growing presence of AI are transforming how consumers interact with the world, redefining their expectations – including the foods and beverages they enjoy. ADM APAC marketing director, Flavours, Zona Negri, delves into what to expect with flavours and colours.
As the world rapidly changes it gives rise to a new human nature, where past traditions blend with future innovations and fuel trends that emphasise wellness, personalisation, and emotional connections.
Colours and flavours are central to this transformation, reflecting consumers’ evolving sensory and emotional responses.
Brands that harness these elements have the opportunity to create unique, captivating experiences that resonate with modern consumers in the Asia-Pacific region.
Revisit & Re-Invent
Nostalgia for simpler times has inspired consumers to seek familiarity, comfort, and authenticity in their lives.
From the revival of vintage video games and 80s and 90s fashion trends to social media throwbacks, they are reconnecting with cherished moments of the past.
Source: ADM
In food and beverages, this trend manifests in the resurgence of single-flavour profiles like strawberry and watermelon, which offer fresh, approachable notes and timeless appeal.
ADM’s 2025 Flavour and Colour Trends Report found vibrant red hues like coral red and regal burgundy add depth to the emotional connection to the past, while pairing perfectly with many familiar berry and fruit flavours, including citrus notes like pink grapefruit.
At the same time, brands are reinventing classic profiles to cater to evolving tastes. Lemon, a favourite among Australian consumers is being reimagined with next generation “lemon” tastes like yuzu, combined with fruity pairings, or transformed into refreshing lemonade twists.
For a comforting touch, manufacturers can explore creamy and indulgent profiles such as caramel and vanilla, along with comforting spices like cinnamon
Adaptive eating
Tools like online resources, mobile apps, and social media are empowering consumers to make smarter nutritional choices, aligning their goals with lifestyle factors like budgeting and wellness trends. With greater access to information, Australian consumers are increasingly gravitating towards better-for-you food and beverage products to support both physical and mental health.
A 2023 survey by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) found nearly three-quarters of Australian and New Zealand consumers actively strive to maintain a healthy diet.
This presents an opportunity for brands to experiment with flavours and colours to meet emerging consumer motivations. Fruity flavours like apple, orange, and pear convey a sense of healthiness, while flavours that deliver creaminess and richness can enhance the feeling of satiety, creating the perception of fullness even in smaller portions. This appeals to consumers seeking products that support portion control. Complementing these rich flavours, such as cheese, honey, maple, brown sugar, and butterscotch, are vibrant yellow and orange hues.
While consumers are seeking functional benefits to improve their overall health, they still crave indulgent flavours in better-for-you formulations and do not want to compromise on taste in healthy products. Flavour technology can play a key role in ensuring these formulations deliver a satisfying taste experience.
ADM helps brands meet consumer expectations by maintaining taste in healthy products through its TasteSpark portfolio. This range of natural flavour modulation solutions, powered by proprietary TasteSpark captive flavour technology, addresses key challenges in sugar and salt reduction. Applicable across various food and beverage categories, these solutions rebalance the interconnected elements of flavour, enhance desired taste aspects, and mask off-notes.
Euphoric wellness
Driven by a heightened awareness of the connection between diet and overall well-being, modern consumers are increasingly drawn to food and beverages that evoke positive emotions. When positioned with ingredients connected to supporting mental health, flavours and colours can play a key role in fostering emotional connections during eating occasions.
Fresh and zesty flavours like calamansi, along with new citrus varietals such as Tahitian lime, offer tangy, revitalising properties that energise and uplift moods. Tropical flavours, including kiwi and pink guava, also introduce an element of escapism, evoking cherished memories and eliciting a sense of relaxation, celebration, or a virtual getaway.
At the same time, nature-inspired flavours and colours are expected to gain popularity as they evoke calm and grounding sensations. Green hues – from honeydew melon to earthy olive tones – alongside complementary flavours like green apple, cucumber, and even fig leaf, cater to consumers’ desire for natural experiences that promote tranquillity and mental well-being.
Additionally, botanicals and florals, like basil, rose, and hops, are making their way into trend-forward beverages, amplifying the sense of freshness and uplifting moods.
Made for you
In the coming year, consumers are expected to embrace bold experimentation in their food and beverage choices, seeking flavours that excite and spark personal joy. In Australia, interest in playful and fantasy-inspired flavours reflects a growing desire for fun, unexpected taste experiences. Concepts like mango fizz cater to the trend, delivering a multi-sensory flavour experience and a fresh twist on popular fruit profiles.
Cool, lighter blue shades complement this sense of playfulness and vibrant energy, while deeper hues inspired by blueberries and emerging options like mulberries bring richness and depth. These “dark” berries not only add visual appeal but also align with the trend of exploring bold, intense flavours that evoke novelty and indulgence.
The appetite for novelty extends to personalisation, with consumers seeking more tailored food and beverage experiences. Brands can cater to this demand by experimenting with flavour combinations that resonate with individual preferences, whether through accentuating and masking specific taste notes or creating custom experiences. For example, bold flavour pairings featuring heating or cooling sensations, such as orange and Sichuan pepper or watermelon and chilli, create unique experiences that capture the senses of consumers seeking exploration.
To stay ahead of the curve, brands can tap into ADM’s portfolio of flavours, colours, and speciality ingredients to develop food and beverage products that resonate with the evolving tastes of Australian consumers.
With our expertise in formulation, taste modulation, and technical innovation, we collaborate with manufacturers from conceptualisation to commercialisation to create delicious, trend-forward products that translate today’s insights into tomorrow’s winning products.
This article first appeared in the February/March 2025 edition of Food and Drink Business magazine.
