HUNT VALLEY, Md. — McCormick for Chefs has unveiled its Flavour Forecast 25th Edition, an annual report on the latest culinary trends. With this year’s report, McCormick announced its 2025 Flavour of the Year: aji amarillo, a pepper native to South America featuring fruity, tropical notes with moderate heat. McCormick will also host its first-ever Flavour Night Market in Miami.
The 2025 Flavour of the Year — aji amarillo — translates to “yellow chili pepper” in English and is grown in Peru and native to South America. Despite its name, the yellow pepper turns orange when fully mature. Today, aji amarillo is trending beyond Peruvian cuisine, showing up as a key ingredient in appetizers, drinks, entrées and more, with an anticipated 59 per cent menu growth over the next four years.
Flavour predictions and trends identified in the Flavour Forecast 25th Edition include:
- Tropical Vibes: In this trend, taste buds travel through warm-weather flavours and cuisines to taste tropical fruits, seafood and island and beach cuisines.
- Charred & Smoked: These culinary techniques underline and emphasize the natural characteristics of a dish or ingredient. Smoky, charred and roasted and ultra-caramelized notes come through in unique ways and a variety of applications.
- Deliciously Unexpected: This trend is all about re-imagined familiar ingredients and unexpected combinations. Early evidence of this includes the chili cucumber salad trend that has amassed nearly 23 million views on TikTok.
“For nearly 25 years, McCormick has defined flavour and influenced flavour trends through the Flavour Forecast, inspiring discovery and innovation in everyday foods and beverages. From chipotle to chai, matcha and tamarind – these are all flavours we’ve predicted that have cemented themselves in global cuisine,” says Tabata Gomez, Chief Marketing Officer at McCormick. “As a global leader in flavour, we’re champions of bold flavour. We continue to see younger generations explore creative ways to spice up their foods so we love that this year’s Flavour of the Year, aji amarillo, is providing the perfect getaway for consumers to explore and expand their palate.”
