Category
Business
Category Mashups
Trend cluster
Category
Mainstream
Taro
Brands are popularizing taro flavoring in drinks and foods in North America.
4.4
Trend score
Trend
What is the Mainstream Taro trend?
Mainstream Taro: Brands are launching teas, ice creams, and other sweet foods made with taro flavoring. Taro is a popular starchy ingredient from Southeast Asia that appeals to western customers for its subtle sweetness and nutty flavor. The introduction of Taro in the west offers more variety for consumers.
Insight
The consumer insight behind the Mainstream Taro trend
Consumers in North America are continually searching for new flavors, specifically with respect to dessert-style drinks and foods, as sweet flavors are easy for customers to try. This places pressure on brands to look outward and try flavors and ingredients from other cultures, rather than trying to find new mixtures of flavors already popular in the west. Consumers then become drawn to these flavors as modern trends or obsessions, despite the long-standing history in other regions.
Trend themes
Themes within the Mainstream Taro trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Innovative Flavors
Brands are exploring and offering unique flavor combinations that appeal to consumers' desire for new and exciting taste sensations.
02
Convenience and Portability
Brands are catering to consumers' busy lifestyles by offering convenient and portable options, such as instant kits and canned drinks.
03
Authenticity and Cultural Influence
Consumers are drawn towards trends and products that showcase authenticity and cultural influence, leading brands to experiment with traditional and historical ingredients.
Industry implications
What the Mainstream Taro trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Food and Beverage
Innovative flavors and unique products have captured the attention of food and beverage consumers looking to explore new tastes.
For
Retail
Convenience and portability in food and beverage products is a disruptive innovation opportunity for retailers looking to meet the needs of busy consumers.
For
Cultural and Ethnic Market
The growing interest and demand for authentic ethnic products has led to disruptive innovation opportunities for companies in the cultural and ethnic market.
Workshop question
How could your brand incorporate cultural flavors into new products?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Mainstream Taro
Trend score 4.4 out of 10, from popularity 67%, activity 52%, freshness 15%.
Popularity67%
Activity52%
Freshness15%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X
- Boomer
Market
North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
Evidence
Examples of the Mainstream Taro trend
7 featured examples from Jun 3, 2021 to Feb 24, 2023CategoryLifestyle
Bubble Tea-Inspired Ice Creams
Noona's Taro Ice Cream Celebrates Authentic Asian Ingredients
The food and beverage industry can incorporate bubble tea-inspired flavors and ingredients in their products to keep up with market trends and attract new customers.
CategoryLifestyle
Asian-Inspired Oatmeal Cups
Yishi's Plant-Based Oatmeal Cups Have Flavors Like Matcha & Bubble Tea
Plant-based food companies can explore opportunities to expand their product lines by creating more convenient and on-the-go options, like Yishi's oatmeal cups.
CategoryBusiness
Canned Taro Teas
Inotea Launched a Taro Flavor of its Ready-to-Drink Bubble Tea Lineup
As the demand for convenient and affordable beverages grows, beverage industry players can capitalize on this trend by introducing new products such as canned or shelf-stable bubb…
CategoryLifestyle
Portable Vegan Bento Boxes
Sweetfin, Postmates & Liza Koshy Created the Plant-Based Sweetbox
As the demand for plant-based options increases, there is a need for unique and portable menu items that cater to vegan customers and those looking for healthier meal options.
CategoryLifestyle
Instant Boba Expansions
BobaBam Confirms its Retail Expansion to Northeast and West Coast Costco's
The food and beverage industry can explore creating more instant boba kits and alternative milk tea flavors to meet consumer demand.
CategoryBusiness
Instant Bubble Tea Kits
Tealise Debuted a Bulk Instant Bubble Tea Kit at Costco Wholesale Stores
The Tealise Instant Marbling Bubble Tea Kit Set is an example of how the food and beverage industry can create more convenient, on-the-go products that cater to a wider range of d…
CategoryLifestyle
Spicy Vegetable Chips
Terra Chips' Screamin' Hot Flavor Shares a Kick from Capsicum Extract
Snack food brands can tap into the trend of recreating beloved flavors as ultra-spicy varieties while offering healthier options for ingredient-conscious snackers.
