The lightly seasoned 'Ottotto' fried potato puffs that are commonly sold as snacks in convenience stores were the inspiration for the potato flavor of this limited-edition ice cream dessert. To make the unusual ice cream treat, convenience chain Family Mart joined forces with food producer Morinaga to create 'Ottotto Ice.'
The taste of the ice cream is described as both sweet and salty, which is appealing to adventurous foodie consumers who are looking to venture beyond simple one-note flavors.
Other unconventional ice cream flavors that have been previously experimented with in Japan include ones that take after the taste of everything from root vegetables to sushi, indicating a shift in consumer preference towards more salty and savory ice cream varieties.
What's Driving This Trend
- Savory Ice Cream
- Creating unique ice cream flavors that experiment with savory and salty ingredients to appeal to adventurous foodie consumers.
- Unconventional Flavor Inspiration
- Drawing inspiration from unconventional flavors, like potato puffs, to create innovative ice cream offerings.
- Multidimensional Tastes
- Developing ice cream flavors that offer both sweet and salty taste profiles to meet the growing demand for multidimensional taste experiences
Who This Affects Most
- Food Production
- Exploring opportunities to collaborate with other companies and experiment with unconventional ingredients to create new and exciting foods, like potato-inspired ice cream.
- Convenience Store
- Introducing unique and limited-edition ice cream flavors, like Ottotto Ice, to entice adventurous consumers and differentiate from competitors.
- Frozen Desserts
- Developing and marketing innovative ice cream products that appeal to consumers seeking unique taste experiences, like savory and sweet flavor combinations.
