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McCormick’s 2024 Flavor of the Year Is Unexpected (and Delicious)

Pucker up, buttercup

mccormick flavor of the year: tamarind pasilla chili seasoning on a cutting board with tamarind pods
McCormick

2023 is almost over, so it’s time we turn our taste buds to the year ahead to see what deliciousness is in store. Just as we were readying our shopping lists for buckwheat pasta, faux fish and mushroom coffee, McCormick gave us another of-the-moment ingredient to keep in mind. For its 24th annual Flavor Forecast, the brand named tamarind its 2024 Flavor of the Year.

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mccormick flavor of the year: tamarind pod cracked open, showing flesh on inside
Caterina Oltean/500px/Getty Images

In case you’re unfamiliar, tamarind is a tropical fruit that grows on trees in bean-like pods. Inside hides a nutrient-rich, fibrous, pasty pulp that’s beloved for its tangy, sweet-and-sour flavor. It’s native to Africa, India and the Middle East, but is also a common ingredient in Latin and Caribbean cuisines. It can be used in sauces, drinks, desserts, chutneys and marinades, but if you ever have a chance to eat it straight out of the pod, you won’t want to miss out.

The brand’s announcement coincides with its release of Tamarind & Pasilla Chile Seasoning (which is available online, BTW). In addition, Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer—aka that burger joint with the massive milkshakes that always cross your IG feed—will also be launching a few tamarind-infused menu items in February 2024.

Other Flavor Forecast predictions from McCormick include:

  • Acidic Ingredients Taking the Spotlight: From tangy tamarind to gourmet vinegars, sour ingredients will continue to deliver layers of complex flavor that consumers can’t get enough of.
  • Thoughtful Cultural Fusions: Regional-traditional cooking evolves as a result of our collective backgrounds, cultures and experiences. People will be inclined to cook with components that pay homage to their roots.
  • Indulgence Redesigned: Through newstalgic foods (meaning what’s old is new again; see nostalgic-yet-artisanal twists on foods from your childhood, for example) and food maximalism (layering flavors and textures in over-the-top ways), we’ll be treating ourselves to all the ingredients and dishes that bring us joy in the new year.

taryn pire

Food Editor

  • Contributes to PureWow's food vertical
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  • Studied English and writing at Ithaca College