Hot honey to dragon fruit: Tastes to keep (and test) in your pantry in 2026

• Flavour time travel is here: Lemon, strawberry and vanilla still rule, hot honey and matcha are rising fast, while blood orange and passionfruit are waiting in the wings.
• The pantry is going global: Dragon fruit is booming worldwide, botanicals like hibiscus and orange blossom are blooming, and "swicy" favourites such as hot honey and spicy mango are heating up bakery aisles.
• It’s hyper-local too: Beyond the global view, the charts drill down into country-specific tastes – from curry laksa in Malaysia and grass jelly in Singapore to scallion pancake in Taiwan and beef rendang in Australia.

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Kerry, a company specialising in taste and nutrition, has unveiled its 2026 Global Taste Charts, offering a glimpse into the flavours set to define food and beverage innovation over the next year. Built on insights from more than 1,200 scientists, 100 flavourists, and extensive consumer research, this year’s edition features eight product categories – up from six last year:

• Refreshing beverages,
• Alcohol & alcohol-inspired beverages,
• Tea, coffee & cocoa,
• Savoury snacks,
• Sweet,
• Soups, sauces & dressings,
• Meat & meals, and
• Supplements.

Each taste chart features at least two lifecycle categories:

• What's now – Dominant flavours, i.e., top 20 largest flavours over the past five years.
• What's 'new – Trending flavours, i.e., top 20 fastest-growing flavours over the past year.
• What's next – Flavours of the future

From exotic to iconic

Globally, the charts point to a consumer appetite that craves both novelty and familiarity.

One standout is dragon fruit, which was traditionally rooted in Asia, but has become a global favourite. With new product launches projected to grow at a 17% CAGR through 2025, the flavour is reshaping refreshment categories across Europe and the Americas, while also finding new life in confectionery and alcoholic drinks.

Botanicals and florals are also blooming. Orange blossom and hibiscus are tipped as future beverage flavours in the US and APAC, offering complexity without excess sugar. In Europe, finger lime is popping up thanks to its tart profile and distinctive texture.

As a whole, the top three flavours by lifestyle category are as follows:

What's now:

1. Lemon
2. Strawberry
3. Vanilla

What's new:

1. Raspberry
2. Hot honey
3. Matcha tea

What's next:

1. Blood orange
2. Brown sugar
3. Passionfruit

Asia Pacific: Where tradition gets a twist

According to the charts, the Asia Pacific region continues to push boundaries, reworking heritage ingredients into modern formats and unexpected pairings.

Yuzu kosho, which makes a debut in "new" sauce charts, delivers fermented heat with a citrus kick. At the same time Matcha, firmly a "now" flavour, is no longer confined to lattes – branching into sparkling drinks, frozen desserts, and bakery. Mango, meanwhile, shows no signs of slowing down, remaining a top-three flavour across beverages and sweet categories, often paired with lime, cream, or sticky rice for comfort-driven indulgence.

Emerging botanicals such as pandan and osmanthus are also gaining traction in refreshing beverages, adding floral notes and a sense of escapism to premium drink concepts. The takeaway? APAC consumers are open to experimentation – especially when nostalgia is served with a modern edge.

Flavours beyond borders

Cross-cultural flavour exchange is accelerating. Gochujang launches in the US have surged 120% in the past year, while South Korean bulgogi has jumped into the top five fastest-growing flavours in meat and meals. Elsewhere, Sichuan peppercorns, Mexican birria, and Chile chiltepín are moving into mainstream snacks and condiments.

Even the much-loved "swicy" (sweet-and-spicy) trend is evolving, with hot honey and spicy mango driving double-digit growth in bakery and confectionery.

Finally, on the cheese front, consumers are trading everyday cheddar for heritage-rich cheeses such as Manchego and Pecorino, bringing both familiarity and excitement to savoury snacks.

Regional fun facts

Australia

Refreshing beverage:

What's now:

1. Orange
2. Red apple
3. Pineapple
4. Mango
5. Passionfruit

What's new:

1. Rose
2. Blackberry
3. Mandarin
4. Pomegranate
5. Yuzu

Tea, coffee & cocoa:

What's now:

1. Ginger
2. Vanilla
3. Lemon
4. Caramel
5. Peach

What's new:

1. Cheesecake
2. Mandarin
3. Yuzu
4. Cherry 
5. White chocolate

Savoury snacks:

What's now:

1. Sea salt
2. Roasted chicken
3. Barbecue
4. Cheddar cheese
5. Salt & vinegar

What's new:

1. Mango habanero chilli
2. Sriracha chilli
3. Honey butter
4. Beef rendang
5. Japanese teriyaki

China

Refreshing beverage:

What's now:

1. Orange
2. Lemon
3. Peach
4. Red apple
5. Grape

What's new:

1. Job's tears
2. Chrysanthemum
3. Loquat
4. Orange peel
5. Jasmine

What's next:

1. Apricot
2. Tomato
3. Sugarcane
4. Turmeric
5. Ginseng

Tea, coffee & cocoa:

What's now:

1. Ginger
2. Vanilla
3. Lemon
4. Caramel
5. Peach

What's new:

1. Cheesecake
2. Mandarin
3. Yuzu
4. Cherry 
5. White chocolate

Savoury snacks:

What's now:

1. Sea salt
2. Roasted chicken
3. Barbecue
4. Cheddar cheese
5. Salt & vinegar

What's new:

1. Mango habanero chilli
2. Sriracha chilli
3. Honey butter
4. Beef rendang
5. Japanese teriyaki

Hong Kong

Refreshing beverage:

What's now:

1. Red apple
2. Orange
3. Peach
4. Lemon
5. Mango

What's new:

1. Matcha
2. Honey
3. Salted plum
4. Yuzu
5. Elderflower

Tea, coffee & cocoa:

What's now:

1. Lemon
2. Honey
3. Jasmine
4. Milk chocolate
5. Peach

What's new:

1. Tropical fruits
2. Pistachio
3. Mint chocolate
4. Chocolate chip cookie
5. Crème Brûlée

Savoury snacks:

What's now:

1. Cheese
2. Shrimp
3. Sea salt
4. Truffle mushroom
5. Barbecue

What's new:

1. Salted egg yolk
2. Nacho cheese
3. Spring onion
4. Seaweed
5. Truffle mushroom

India

Refreshing beverage:

What's now:

1. Mango
2. Orange
3. Lemon
4. Cola
5. Pineapple

What's new:

1. Peach
2. Blueberry
3. Red grape
4. Green mango
5. Carrot

Tea, coffee & cocoa:

What's now:

1. Ginger
2. Lemon
3. Cardamom
4. Masala
5. Basil

What's new:

1. Lemongrass
2. Lavender
3. Strawberry
4. Cranberry
5. Cloves

Savoury snacks:

What's now:

1. Masala
2. Salt
3. Chilli
4. Cheese
5. Piri piri

What's new:

1. Himalayan salt
2. Sweet & spicy
3. Lemon-lime
4. Truffle mushroom
5. Smoked

Malaysia

Refreshing beverage:

What's now:

1. Orange
2. Apple
3. Mango
4. Lemon
5. Lychee

What's new:

1. Pear
2. Muscat grape
3. Sour plum
4. Kumquat
5. Elderflower

Tea, coffee & cocoa:

What's now:

1. Ginger
2. Lemon
3. Jasmine
4. Hazelnut
5. Honey

What's new:

1. Da hong pao
2. Pistachio
3. White peach
4. Oolong tea
5. Black sesame

Savoury snacks:

What's now:

1. Cheese
2. Barbeque
3. Chilli
4. Seaweed
5. Chicken

What's new:

1. Onion cheese
2. Curry laksa
3. Grilled
4. Melted cheese
5. Buttermilk chicken

Philippines

Refreshing beverage:

What's now:

1. Orange
2. Red apple
3. Mango
4. Strawberry
5. Pineapple

What's new:

1. Mixed berries
2. Carrot
3. Pomegranate
4. Green grape
5. Coconut

Tea, coffee & cocoa:

What's now:

1. Hazelnut
2. Caramel
3. Lemon
4. Vanilla
5. Milk chocolate

What's new:

1. Tres leches
2. Pistachio
3. Speculoos
4. Pandan
5. Black sesame

Savoury snacks:

What's now:

1. Cheese 
2. Barbecue
3. Garlic
4. Chilli
5. Onion

What's new:

1. Ranch
2. Korean kimchi
3. Black pepper
4. Salted caramel
5. Italian seasoning

Singapore

Refreshing beverage:

What's now:

1. Apple
2. Orange
3. Lemon
4. Pineapple
5. Mango

What's new:

1. White peach
2. Sour plum
3. Kumquat
4. Elderflower
5. Grass jelly

Tea, coffee & cocoa:

What's now:

1. Ginger
2. Lemon
3. Chrysanthemum
4. Jasmine
5. Chamomile

What's new:

1. Osmanthus
2. Da hong pao
3. Matcha
4. Yuan Yang
5. Pistachio

Savoury snacks:

What's now:

1. Cheese
2. Chilli
3. Barbecue
4. Seaweed
5. Garlic

What's new:

1. Parmesan cheese
2. Fried egg
3. Korean fried chicken
4. Grilled
5. Korean rose

Taiwan

Refreshing beverage:

What's now:

1. Lemon
2. Red apple
3. Red grape
4. Orange
5. Peach

What's new:

1. Mixed berries
2. Blueberry
3. White peach
4. Muscat
5. Jasmine

Tea, coffee & cocoa:

What's now:

1. Lemon
2. Honey
3. Caramel
4. Red apple
5. Brown sugar

What's new:

1. Blueberry
2. Apricot
3. Date
4. Peppermint
5. Lavender

Savoury snacks:

What's now:

1. Chilli
2. Cheese
3. Garlic
4. Roasted chicken
5. Shrimp

What's new:

1. Scallion pancake
2. Pepper bun
3. Oyster omelette
4. Bacon
5. Barbecue

Thailand

Refreshing beverage:

What's now:

1. Orange
2. Lemon
3. Cola
4. Red grape
5. Strawberry

What's new:

1. Chinese pear
2. Pink lemonade
3. Calamansi
4. Muscat grape
5. Pineapple

Tea, coffee & cocoa:

What's now:

1. Lemon
2. Strawberry
3. Dark chocolate
4. Jasmine
5. Honey

What's new:

1. Uji matcha
2. Osmanthus
3. Yuzu
4. Muscat grape
5. Taro

Savoury snacks:

What's now:

1. Barbecue
2. Cheddar cheese
3. Chilli
4. Seaweed
5. Sour cream & onion

What's new:

1. Seafood sauce
2. Lobster
3. Thai spicy lime
4. Roasted chilli
5. Butter caramel

Vietnam

Refreshing beverage:

What's now:

1. Cola
2. Lemon
3. Lime
4. Lychee
5. Mango

What's new:

1. Mixed berries
2. Blackcurrant
3. Celery
4. Cherry
5. Coconut

Tea, coffee & cocoa:

What's now:

1. Artichoke
2. Ginger
3. Honey
4. Jasmine
5. Lemon

What's new:

1. Almond
2. Blueberry
3. Caramel
4. Lime
5. Pomegranate

Savoury snacks:

What's now:

1. Chilli
2. Seaweed
3. Salt
4. Barbecue
5. Shrimp

What's new:

1. Lime
2. Milk
3. Soy sauce
4. Smoked
5. Truffle