Flavour trend predictions for 2009

Mintel has identified seven flavours that it predicts will come into the limelight in 2009.

1. Persimmon: Viewed as a unique and exotic fruit, persimmon is poised to make a major splash in food and beverage. Mintel expects companies to blend it with more common fruits, as seen in a new Japanese yoghurt that contains white peaches, persimmon and apricots.
    
2. Starfruit: Another unusually shaped, distinctly flavoured fruit, starfruit is catching on around the globe. Already seen in Flor De Hibiscus's Chutney with Star Fruit (Brazil), the exotic fruit will become a major global player in 2009.
    
3. Lavender: Mintel expects lavender to move beyond the home and personal care categories and into food and beverage next year. Already seen in products such as Lindt Chocolat Provenance's Lemon–Lavender dream chocolate (Germany), lavender can be paired with more familiar ingredients to bring a naturally soothing, aromatic quality to food and drink.
    
4. Cactus: Cactus is already a popular food flavour in Latin America, seen in products like Nopalia Cactus Toasts (Mexico) which contain both cactus and corn. Next year, look for manufacturers to incorporate this regional taste into new food products around the world.
    
5. Chimichurri: Another classic from Latin America, chimichurri is a sauce for grilled meats, recognised for its clean, clear flavour. It has already begun to win fans in the US, seen in new products like Gaucho Ranch's Original Argentinean Chimichurri Steak Sauce, but we could well be enjoying this spicy flavour further afield.
    
6. Peri-Peri: This is an African hot sauce that has been made famous in the UK by the Nando's restaurant chain. But we can expect to see peri-peri appear in more products on our supermarket shelves as 2009 will be peri-peri's year to set the world alight.
    
7. Masala: Chicken Tikka Masala is one of the most popular curries in the UK, but masala as a flavour is expected to become the hot star across the globe for 2009.