Savory Squid Ink Buns

These Unusual Black Pastries are Covered in a Layer of Garlic Butter

'85°C Bakery Café' is a Taiwanese bakery that serves squid ink pastries covered in a layer of garlic butter. Although the idea of using squid ink as a form of food colouring is not new, many North American consumers were unfamiliar with the practice until the release of Burger King's black Halloween Whopper. This bakery offers a different take on squid ink by using it to make savory garlic buns.

85°C Bakery Café is a Taiwanese bakery franchise located throughout the US, Australia and Asia. On an average day, the bakery produces anywhere between 2,000 to 3,500 pieces of bread. One of the bakery's most popular items are its Japanese calamari sticks. These unusual black pastries are died with squid ink and then coated in a layer of garlic butter.

The unusual black pastries reveal one of the countless uses for squid ink in consumer food products.

Squid Ink Food Products
Explore the versatile use of squid ink in food products beyond colouring, as seen in 85°C Bakery Cafe's savory garlic buns.
Unconventional Food Coloring
Consumers are receptive to unconventional food coloring as seen by the popularity of 85°C Bakery Cafe's Japanese calamari sticks and Burger King's black Halloween Whopper.
Global Bakeries with Unique Offerings
Bakeries like 85°C Bakery Cafe, which offers unique menu items inspired by cultures from around the world, have the opportunity to expand and offer their products internationally.

Where This Applies

Bakery
Bakeries have the opportunity to innovate and create unique menu items like 85°C Bakery Cafe's savory squid ink buns that appeal to a diverse range of consumers.
Fast Food
Fast food chains, like Burger King, have a market for unconventional food coloring and can use it to create buzz around limited-time menu items.
Food Manufacturing
Food manufacturers can experiment with alternative food coloring options, such as squid ink, to create new products and stand out in a crowded market.
SCORE
1.3 out of 10
GENDER
50% Men50% Women
MARKETTop markets: North America, Asia
GENERATION
  • Gen Alpha
  • Gen Z (primary audience)
  • Millennial (primary audience)
  • Gen X (primary audience)
POPULARITY
Popularity 24%
Activity 7%
Freshness 8%