Firmenich, the world’s largest privately-owned company in the fragrance and flavor business, has revealed that coconut is the Flavor of the Year for 2016.
Used for centuries in Southeast Asian cuisine, coconut was only embraced globally in the last decade. Before, in much of the western world, coconut would mainly conjure up images of sugary-sweet cocktails such as pina coladas. It wasn’t until coconut water hit the shelves en masse between 2005 and 2008 that the world took serious notice. Since then, coconut has continued to increase its presence in the food and beverage world, and its popularity shows no sign of slowing.
“Coconut in general is benefiting from being ‘on-trend’ on a number of fronts, and coconut flavored variants as a whole can be expected to continue to grow across the food and drink sector,” says Chris Brockman, senior food and drink analyst at global market intelligence agency Mintel.
Firmenich believes the appeal of coconut lies in consumers’ attraction to the feelings of balance and well-being that coconut evokes. The company notes that, in the U.S., coconut water first appeared in yoga studios, and the association between wellness and coconut has remained strong.
Coconut, which is in fact a seed and not a nut, can have flavor described as anything from toasted and sweet, to creamy and lactonic, to fatty and fresh. As with most perennial favorites, this versatility is part of the appeal. One reason for the variety of coconut flavors is that there are many ways to consume coconut, depending on the maturity of the seed. For example, in non-Asian cultures, the sweetness that was traditionally associated with coconut reflects the flavor of the meat, which develops over time and represents a riper seed.
The proliferation of coconut water introduced much of the world to a new way to experience coconut flavor: young and fresh. Now that the world has embraced all that coconut has to offer, the flavors have become consumer favorites.
“This new generation of coconut flavors in particular is modern and redefined, adding freshness and giving a different spin to products if compared to the well-established ‘classic coconut’ flavors,” says Gerry Van Gerven, senior flavorist at Firmenich in Thailand.
Coconut also is a team player, happy to take a supporting flavor role. Firmenich notes the popularity of combining other flavor profiles with coconut.
“Great examples are coconut with vanilla, coffee and chilies, while fruits like pineapple, lychee and mango are great blenders for drink concepts,” says Van Gerven. “But coconut flavors and fusions can be applied across numerous categories beyond drinks, from bakery and confectionary, to dairy and savory, you name it and we can make coconut work.”
Since 2010, the number of coconut flavored food and drink products introduced on the market globally has increased by 121 percent, with an annual growth rate of 17 percent. This surge in product launches includes soups and sauces; coconut chips (both sweet and savory); popcorn and trail mix; coconut oil chews; and much more. That’ not to mention a coconut beverage craze that’s blossomed well beyond water, including coconut-flavored coffee, tea, vodka, milks and sparkling water.
Preference for coconut extends beyond packaged products. Firmenich trend spotters note coconut on menus in innovative dishes such as prosciutto-wrapped duck confit with white bean and apricot puree finished with fresh shaved coconut. In Brazil, the fifth largest coconut producing country, world-renowned chef Alex Atala has created a signature dish with coconut at his Sao Paulo restaurant D.O.M, recipient of two Michelin stars: scallops cooked with coconut milk, aromatic pepper oil (flavored with cachaca, vinegar and rosemary), crispy mango and Brazil nuts.
“Coconut is a fantastic flavor for savory dishes. It works well in soups and sauces, and pairs beautifully with all four of the main animal proteins: fish, chicken, beef and pork, which is rare,” says Stefano Marciano, a techno chef in the savory group at Firmenich. “It adds a layer of complexity and depth to whatever you are cooking which makes it a fun flavor to work with as a chef.”
What’s more, as an ingredient, coconut has become a holy grail within the “free-from” circles: coconut flour allows for gluten-free baking; coconut aminos are touted as a soy-free alternative to soy sauce; and cultured coconut milk has found a place on the shelves as a dairy-free alternative to traditional yogurt.
