Whole Foods Market global buyers and experts unveiled their top 10 anticipated food trends for 2022 in the retailer’s seventh-annual trends predictions. Buzz-less spirits, yuzu, hibiscus, turmeric and functional beverages made with prebiotics and botanicals are among the food influences expected to rise in popularity in the next year.
Each year, a Trends Council of more than 50 Whole Foods Market team members – including local foragers, regional and global buyers, and culinary experts – compile trend predictions based on decades of experience and expertise in product sourcing and studying consumer preferences, as well as in-depth workshopping with emerging and existing brands.
“Last year, we saw tremendous pandemic-related shifts in grocery buying habits as the world adjusted to spending more time at home,” said Sonya Gafsi Oblisk, chief marketing officer at Whole Foods Market. “As the food industry slowly adjusts to a new normal, we expect to see consumers prioritize food and drink products that deliver additional benefits – like functional sodas and tonics – and products that support their sense of well-being, like urban garden greens and products grown with farming processes that help address soil health. We look forward to watching these trends take form in grocery aisles and on our plates in 2022.”
While Whole Foods Market’s predictions for 2021 – including upcycled foods, boozy kombucha and the up-leveled pantry staples – continue to evolve, the 2022 Trends represent the future of food and beverages.
Tea Industry Take Note
Here are a few of Whole Foods Market’s top 10 food trend predictions for 2022, which may be of interest to the tea industry:
TREND: YUZU
Yuzu – a lesser-known citrus mainly cultivated in Japan, Korea and China – is taking the culinary world by storm, according to Whole Foods. Tart and sour, this tangerine-sized fruit is popping up in vinaigrettes, hard seltzers, mayos and more. In the restaurant scene, chefs are using its lime-lemon-grapefruit flavor to accent their soups, veggies, noodles and fish. Get ready to see this fruit shine in 2022 – both on and off the grocery aisles in a variety of different ways.
TREND: HIBISCUS
Hibiscus has a long and delicious history in the world of teas, and customers have historically kept it in their rotations for its vitamin C content. Now, producers are harnessing its sweet, tart flavor in the form of fruit spreads, yogurts and beyond. Of course, beverage makers are keeping up, leaning on hibiscus to craft delicious drinks that adopt its signature hot-pink hue.
TREND: BUZZ-LESS SPIRITS
The dialed-down spirits category experienced record growth in our stores this year. With millennials and Gen Z-ers dabbling in “drysolation” during the pandemic, Whole Foods doesn’t see the sober-curious mindset going away anytime soon. Enter a new lineup of drinks that provide the taste and sophistication of cocktails without the buzz. For consumers that want to shake things up, there are elegant mocktail options to explore. Of course, tea cocktails and mocktails were heavily explored at the 2021 World Tea Conference + Expo, co-located with Bar & Restaurant Expo (the events will co-locate again in March 2022).
TREND: MORINGA
Often called the “miracle tree,” moringa is traditionally used as an herbal remedy in India, Africa and beyond. Moringa leaves have plenty of nutrients, and these fast-growing, drought-resistant trees have been used as a source of food to fight malnutrition in certain parts of the world. Gaining steam in the U.S. as matcha’s latest alternative, it can be found in powder form and added to make magic in smoothies, sauces and baked goods. It’s also showing up in unexpected products like frozen desserts, protein bars and packaged grain blends.
TREND: FUNCTIONAL FIZZ
Today, bubbly beverages are doing double duty. That’s right, people are looking for sparkling drinks that not only taste great but also offer ingredients that balance out the sweetness. We’re talking soda with probiotics and fizzy tonics with added prebiotics, botanicals and more. Fruity flavors. Unconventional ingredients. Think sparkling prebiotic tonics with tea or sparkling tea with botanicals.
TREND: TURMERIC
Turmeric, aka “the golden spice,” has been used for centuries in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine, and has become popular in the U.S. as a dietary supplement and in herbal teas. While golden milk lattes and turmeric supplements are nothing new, the spice is taking root as an ingredient in packaged foods like cereals, sauerkrauts and even plant-based ice cream sandwiches. People want to have their turmeric and eat it too, so the turmeric trend isn’t going away anytime soon.
Other trends for 2022, as noted by Whole Foods, include ultraurban farming, reducetarianism, grains that give back and sunflower seeds.
In addition to highlighting these trends for 2022, Whole Foods Market is offering the Trends Discovery Box, a curated assortment of 10 products to represent each of the 10 trends in the forecast. The boxes, available for $30 (valued at over $50) allow consumers the chance to taste all the trends at once. Boxes went on sale Oct. 18th and are available for a limited time only at wfmtrythetrends.com.
To learn more about Whole Foods Market, visit WholeFoodsMarket.com.
Plan to Attend or Participate in the
World Tea Conference + Expo, March 21-23, 2022
To learn about other key trends, issues and hot topics within the global tea community, plan to attend the World Tea Conference + Expo, March 21-23, 2022, celebrating its 20th anniversary. World Tea Conference + Expo will be co-located with Bar & Restaurant Expo, creating unique opportunities and synergy. Visit WorldTeaExpo.com.
To book your sponsorship or exhibit space at the World Tea Conference + Expo, co-located with Bar & Restaurant Expo, contact:
Veronica Gonnello
Companies A-L
e: [email protected]
p: 1 (212) 895-8244
Fadi Alsayegh
Companies M-Z
e: [email protected]
p: 1 (917) 258-5174
Also, be sure to stay connected with the World Tea Conference + Expo on social media, for details and insights about the event. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.