McCormick predicts this flavor will dominate menus in 2026

New York CNN Black currant s origins are in Europe and central Asia but spice maker McCormick predicts the tart berry will soon be big in American dishes and drinks McCormick has named black currant as its Flavor of the Year part of its annual analysis on dining trends that helps the company develop products consumers want to buy These kinds of annual reports can help companies stay fresh in the minds of shoppers But this year s spice is also notable because it underscores the way price-squeezed Americans are looking for small luxuries in a tough financial market and cooking at home more to offset the high cost of dining out Flavor forecasting assists the brand in bolstering it portfolio which includes Old Bay Frank s RedHot and French s according to Neil Saunders managing director and retail analyst for GlobalData It s also a strategic tool for McCormick as the -year-old company fends off growing competition from trendy startups and cheaper private labels This keeps the McCormick brand visible and it possibly drives sales of specific of the products featured he reported CNN Of unit it doesn t totally offset things like the threat from private labels but it is more helpful than not Although McCormick s stock has lost more than of its value this year the company s the majority modern earnings description beat analysts sales expectations because people are increasingly cooking at home The company lowered its annual profit forecast however citing tariffs and rising commodity costs The summary identifies other trends that McCormick predicts will become more popular next year too McCormick revealed that sauce experimentation has exploded in popularity a shift visible across the fast food industry Plus the concept of attainable opulence is rising with diners treating themselves to small extravagances partially as an escape from economic uncertainties Black currant ties back to the latter trend because it really does signal opulence stated Hadar Cohen Aviram McCormick s executive chef noting its rich purple color and that the berry can elevate numerous dishes to take them from simple to spectacular Researching the review For the flavor analysis McCormick deploys a global crew of about people such as chefs marketers and food technologists to spot a trending flavor Black currant was seen in liqueur in Europe a vinegar in Australia and as a pork glaze in Singapore It s starting to appear on menus in the United States Aviram explained CNN notably in cocktails and soft drinks when it necessities that little oomph of tartness and fruitiness Black currant appears on just of US menus but it s climbing fast according to Datassential Menu Trends Mentions of the berry have jumped over the past months the firm narrated CNN driven largely by the rise of non-alcoholic beverages Beyond drinks Aviram sees anticipated use in baked goods and gamey meats like duck or pork