Kale, quinoa, and cauliflower instead of carbs is so last year. So say goodbye to this year’s hot food items, and say hello to what to you should expect next year. Keep reading to find out what food trends you should get ready to see a lot more of in 2020.
Ube
Ube, a sweet potato indigenous to the Philippines, may already be on your radar from 2019. (And if it is, expect it to go even more mainstream this coming year.) It gives everything its paired with a vivid purple hue that not only looks beautiful, but tastes delicious, too. According to Forbes, we should expect to see Ube popping up in some unlikely places in 2020, such as ice cream, donuts, lattes, and even bubble tea.
Sumac
Turmeric may have been the spice of 2019, flavoring everything from curries to golden lattes. But 2020 should expect to see sumac taking over this spot. Sumac comes from a berry bush that grows throughout all Mediterranean areas and is popular in Arab cuisine. Giving whatever it seasons a lemony zing, sumac is now being featured as a dusting element for everything from roasted vegetables to meats to rice, and is a flavor you should look forward to seeing much more of this coming year.
Plant-Based Fast Food
We’ve all heard of Burger King's Impossible Whopper, and we should expect to see more similar items in 2020. With vegetarianism and veganism on the rise, fast-food chains are going to have to keep up with the meatless demand. And the best part? It all tastes almost identical to the real stuff. Whether you hop on the bandwagon to keep up with the trend, for health reasons, or due to environmental consciousness, more plant-based options should be expected to be available in all drive thrus as we move into the new year.
Less Plastic
Less about flavor, this last food trend is one that will hopefully stick around for the years to come. The pushback on plastic will be stronger than ever in 2020 as we become more and more aware of the dangers that plastic waste causes to our planet. As we’ve already begun to move away from plastic bags and straws, consumers should expect to see more environmentally-conscious efforts from all sides of the food industry, including sit-down and fast-casual restaurants, cafes, supermarkets, and even production sites.
It's hard to know what will blow up in the year to come, as trends come quickly and are ever fleeting. But keeping these predictions in mind means that you can brag about the fact that you knew about the trend BEFORE it was even trendy.