Global Flavors Inspire Traveling Around the World with Walnuts

With less travel and many consumers trying to balance a mix of comfort and exploration, globally inspired foods are trending upward and inspiring U.S.-based manufacturers to take a page out of international foodies’ playbooks. They are bringing the world to us, one packaged meal at a time, focused on ingredients that blend the familiarity of home with new, exciting, exotic flavors.

Walnuts are a proven “hero” ingredient throughout the world, as shown in a variety of globally inspired trends that feature the nut.

Trend No. 1: Diversity of Cultures

Travel has been restricted for more than a year, and even though some restrictions are being lifted, consumers have shifted to traveling through food. Manufacturers are reimagining old favorites with new, global flavors. Kristen Wemer, director of beverage development for Flavorman, told Food Business News, “Tracing flavors to a specific region creates a transportive experience that helps differentiate an otherwise standard flavor. As the market continues to saturate with the usual essentials, consumers can expect more diversity and premiumization through varietals of familiar flavors.”

We may not be able to travel far, but we can still be transported to different cultures, and the shift has gone from a want to a consumer demand. As diners feel more comfortable going out, the same old menus won’t cut it anymore. And, when consumers are choosing products to eat both at home and on the go, they are picking meals, dishes and snacks that are inspired by regional fare like heritage cooking, African-inspired cuisine and new ethnic meals, according to Food & Wine. Walnuts are being included in these inspirational products more and more, thanks to their versatility in flavor, texture, functional properties and familiarity as an ingredient.

Trend No. 2: Excitement Through Food

Boredom has a way of bringing out creativity, and Roger Lane, senior marketing manager, Sensient Flavors, told Nutritional Outlook, “Consumers were forced to stay at home without even the most mundane travel. They were desperate for something new, and trying a new, exotic dish — with all of the flavors associated with it — was an easy way to ‘travel’ without ever having to leave the comfort and safety of home. With the monotony of cooking three meals a day, every day, consumers branched out to try cuisines and dishes that provided some excitement and global flair.”

Consumers are willing, possibly more than ever, to experiment with new flavor combinations at the grocery store with international travel and restaurant dining limited. This experimentation is bringing a form of excitement into everyday lives, and Imbibe’s marketing associate Holly McHugh predicts that globally inspired flavors, which have been upwardly trending in the last few years, will accelerate because of the pandemic.

A Global “Hero” Ingredient: The Walnut

How do walnuts fit into the global phenomenon? In a recent webinar, “Global Walnut Ingredients: Product Innovation & Whitespace for Walnuts,” Mintel senior consultant Michele Golden identified key areas of growth with walnuts as the hero ingredient. Golden said during the webinar that pasta sauces from around the world often feature walnuts, and it’s a trend that’s starting to gain traction in the United States.

Further, walnuts provide plant-based functionality with applications like packaged salads and sauces; granola; trail and snack mixes; and dairy alternatives. Attaining comfort and nutrition within a global space is the “holy grail” of product development, and Mintel’s Global New Products Database captured more than 4,700 food and drink product launches containing walnuts during the past three years. Markets like the U.S., Canada, France, Austria, Poland, Singapore and Taiwan are having positive growth with sauces, bread, cereals and snack mixes in the walnut space, as evidenced by these inspirational made-with-walnuts products.