East meets West: ofi uses artificial intelligence to predict the regional cocoa flavors about to go global

Choosing the right cocoa powder is a powerful tool for helping manufacturers win on taste. So, we hope what we’re sharing today will inspire our customers to look again at cocoa as a pairing for fresh, on-trend flavor combinations and applications that will surprise and delight consumers around the globe. Thanks to our network of Customer Solutions Centers, we’re well placed to support customers with ingredients that can be sustainable and traceable and to test whether these new concepts can be commercialized at scale.“

The top flavor trends by geography are:

Europe:

• Dragon Fruit – starting to trend in the UK in bakery. The punchy flavor pairs perfectly with deZaan’s N11N cocoa powder in pastries or N21N cocoa powder in ice cream or sorbet.
• Sesame – becoming popular in bakery in France, this flavor pairs excellently with deZaan’s D11S – a deep intense cocoa flavor – in a chocolate banana brioche.
• Chilli – emerging particularly in German confectionery, for example a chocolate bar. It also works with deZaan’s TrueDark – a rich natural cocoa powder with notes of nuts and fruits – in a chipotle chili, lime and passionfruit dessert.

US:

• Lychee – growing in popularity in the bakery category, it pairs well with deZaan’s D23A cocoa powder – a full chocolatey taste and creamy texture – in a rich pastry filling.
• Yuzu – also booming in the bakery space, this works excellently with deZaan’s N11N – a well-rounded cocoa powder with delicate fruity notes in a chocolate crumb cake with a yuzu curd, or in a panna cotta.
• Miso – emerging in confectionery, this pairs with deZaan’s D21CM, with notes of chocolate, nuts and caramel, in chocolate fudge.

Asia:

• Marshmallow – on the rise in confectionery in Indonesia. This flavor pairs well with deZaan’s 254DP11 – a premium cocoa powder with an intense cocoa flavor in a nougat or in a S’mores-style breakfast cereal.
• Black Forest – also growing in popularity in Indonesian beverages. This punchy flavor blends perfectly in a frappe-style drink with deZaan’s 350DP11 – with a rich and full-bodied chocolate taste.
• Cookies and Cream – an emerging trend in India in confectionery, this classic sweet flavor combination is the perfect match for deZaan’s H910N, in ice cream, confectionery, and frappes.

Visit ofi’s interactive flavor map for more insights into the research and to delve into the full collection of cocoa pairings and applications.