HUNT VALLEY, Md. – McCormick® has unveiled the 22nd Edition of the Flavor Forecast®, the brand’s yearly report on the latest trends influencing the way we cook, flavor, and eat.
After an extensive, year-long research process involving flavor experts across five worldwide regions, McCormick has uncovered three themes in the 22nd Flavor Forecast:
- Food Stories recognizes both a flavor and the story behind it. From professional chefs and restaurant operators to the grandmothers passing down recipes to keep generational techniques alive, this year’s food story celebrates the power of women in food and flavor in a contemporary way.
- Plus Sweet looks at how sweetness finds new dimensions through subtle and unexpected flavor combinations. Consumers are moving away from overly sweet tastes and incorporating a symphony of other flavors to achieve surprisingly balanced results.
- Time as a Luxury Ingredient highlights time as an irreplicable and precious ingredient, after periods of isolation and reflection have put the value of time into perspective. Many are rethinking the ways they use time in food, whether investing it to build flavor or finding smart shortcuts to spend quality time outside the kitchen.
For the first time in the Flavor Forecast’s 22-year history, McCormick will bring the trend report to life through a groundbreaking pop-up hospitality experience. This May, McCormick will launch the Flavor Suite, a vibrant reimagining of the hotel experience that infuses the Flavor Forecast’s themes into every corner. In partnership with Omni Berkshire Place, the iconic and historic hotel steps away from Central Park, McCormick will transform the luxurious, 1,000-square foot Rodgers & Hammerstein Suite into a creative and multisensory destination with interactive interior design and whimsical but flavorful amenities. McCormick will also give flavor adventurers a chance to win a two-night weekend stay at the hotel, from May 20, 2022 through May 22, 2022, including one night in the Flavor Suite.*
From the moment guests enter the Flavor Suite, they’ll find eye-catching décor, intricate textiles, and vivid colors inspired by Egypt and India, two countries with rich culinary histories. To create this immersive environment, McCormick tapped the expertise of two women who inspired this year’s Food Stories trend with their soulful interpretations of regional foods: Monica Saxena, the founder of award-winning Indian restaurant aRoqa in New York City, and Iman Moussa, a pioneer of plant-based Egyptian cuisine at Koshary Corner in Clarksville, Maryland.
The Flavor Suite will also feature zany and crave-worthy amenities that highlight the Flavor Forecast themes:
- A retro bedside phone will offer Sundae Service at the push of a button, delivering ice cream on-demand with a Plus Sweet-inspired toppings bar. Adventurers can mix and match toppings like gomashio, a Japanese condiment made with sesame and salt, or chamoy, a Mexican sauce made with pickled fruits and chile peppers, for complex and unpredictable layers of sweetness.
- The Time Out Mini Bar will serve mindful cocktails and mocktails that showcase the power of time. While guests sip on Blood Orange & Beet Margaritas and other infusions, aromas of green tea and lemongrass promote a relaxing experience.
- Whether guests are looking for photo-worthy moments or a good night’s sleep, the magical king-sized ice cream bed will rise to the occasion with adorable dessert-inspired bedding, pillow props, and a scratch-and-sniff headboard enveloping guests in Plus Sweet scents.
- An edible wall will encourage guests to broaden their horizons and palates as they taste delicious regional snacks pinned to a world map.
“For over two decades, the world has looked forward to McCormick’s Flavor Forecast for the big emerging trends in the culinary world, and we’re excited to take it to new heights,” said Chief Marketing Officer Jill Pratt. “The trends identified this year highlight the people, flavors, and ingredients both near and far that are so often overlooked. Through the Flavor Suite, we hope to create not just a fun-filled experience, but also whet an appetite for the world of flavors out there.”
Those inspired by the Flavor Forecast can immerse themselves in the trends outside of the Flavor Suite in many ways. From now until the end of May, locals and travelers alike can stop by Berk’s Bar in Omni Berkshire Place for a Blood Orange & Beet Margarita, a sweet and earthy cocktail made with infused sours inspired by Time as a Luxury Ingredient.
In another first, McCormick has also created new products inspired by the Flavor Forecast for its Flavor Inspirations line, which features an eclectic mix of limited-edition seasonings with imaginative flavors. Available to order at www.shop.mccormick.com, two limited-edition seasoning blends inspired by the Plus Sweet trend, Vanilla, Lime & Thyme and Miso Caramel, will allow the flavor-curious to discover stunning flavors in the comfort of their kitchens.
Anyone craving the Flavor Suite experience can enter the sweepstakes now until May 10, 2022 through McCormick’s Flavor Maker App, available on iOS and Android.* For more details about the Flavor Suite and a deeper dive into this year’s Flavor Forecast trends, please visit www.flavorforecast.com.
Media: To download high-resolution images of the Flavor Suite, full recipes and more, please click HERE.
*Sweepstakes Rules: NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. and D.C., age 18+ (19+ in AL and NE, 21+ in MS). Void outside the 50 U.S./D.C. and where prohibited. Promotion starts at 12:00:01 AM ET on 4/26/22; ends at 11:59:59 PM ET on 5/10/22. To enter, download the McCormick Flavor Maker App for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play, open the App and follow instructions to fill out the entry form for this sweepstakes. Prize: One (1) winner will receive a trip for two (2) to New York City, NY on 5/20/22-5/22/22, including travel and accommodations. ARV: $4,900.00. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries received. Limit: one (1) entry per person. For full Official Rules, visit here. Sponsor: McCormick & Company, Inc.
About the Flavor Forecast
Since 2000, the McCormick® Flavor Forecast® has identified top trends and ingredients to discover the tastes of tomorrow. For over 130 years, McCormick & Company has been guided by a passion for flavor. This passion drives our constant pursuit of what’s next in flavor. Created by a global team of McCormick experts — including chefs, culinary professionals, trend trackers and food technologists — the Flavor Forecast inspires culinary exploration and innovation around the world. Visit www.flavorforecast.com to learn more.
About McCormick
McCormick & Company, Incorporated is a global leader in flavor. As a Fortune 500 company with over $6 billion in annual sales across 170 countries and territories, we manufacture, market and distribute spices, seasoning mixes, condiments and other flavorful products to the entire food industry including e-commerce channels, grocery, food manufacturers and foodservice businesses. Our most popular brands with trademark registrations include McCormick, French’s, Frank’s RedHot, Stubb’s, OLD BAY, Lawry’s, Zatarain’s, Ducros, Vahiné, Cholula, Schwartz, Kamis, DaQiao, Club House, Aeroplane and Gourmet Garden. Every day, no matter where or what you eat or drink, you can enjoy food flavored by McCormick.
Founded in 1889 and headquartered in Hunt Valley, Maryland USA, McCormick is guided by our principles and committed to our Purpose – To Stand Together for the Future of Flavor. McCormick envisions A World United by Flavor where healthy, sustainable and delicious go hand in hand. To learn more, visit www.mccormickcorporation.com or follow McCormick & Company on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About Omni Berkshire Place
Conveniently located on 52nd Street between Madison and 5th Avenue in the heart of Manhattan, the hotel rooms and suites at Omni Berkshire Place provide guests the power to choose when and how they access all that New York City has to offer. Just beyond the front doors of the hotel, guess can walk to headquarters of Fortune 500 companies, 5th Avenue and the best shopping, theater and historical attractions in the city. Central Park (0.5 miles), Times Square (0.7 miles), Rockefeller Center (0.3 miles), Radio City Music Hall (0.4 miles) and the greatest musical theaters anywhere in the world aren’t just a cab ride away — they’re mere steps away. Guests can dine at Berk’s Bar for an authentic dining experience featuring oversized cocktails in a lively atmosphere. Take time to enjoy our St. Patrick’s Terrace, located on the 17th floor across from the fitness center, showcasing views of the cathedral. For more information on Omni Berkshire Place, please visit omnihotels.com/new-york-berkshire.
