by Helen Burrett
In the ever-evolving world of food and beverage, certain flavours capture the heart and taste buds of consumers. Biscoff type flavour profiles have taken the culinary world by storm, proving itself as JPL’s Greatest Of All Time Flavouring for 2023.
We’ve had a look into the reasons behind the caramelised biscuit’s rise to popularity, its unique taste profile, the science behind our love for high-fat foods, popular flavour pairings and the influence of social media food trends on younger consumers.
The allure of speculoos flavour
Speculoos, known often by it’s brand name ‘Biscoff’, is a caramelised biscuit with a distinctively rich and indulgent taste. Its unique blend of warm spices, caramel notes and a hint of sweetness creates a warm and aromatic taste that appeals to many people. This versatile flavour can complement a wide range of bakery, beverage and dairy products.
Speculoos biscuits were typically seasonal and given as gifts in December or served at festive gatherings. The explosion of caramelised biscuit flavoured treats in the last few years means this is now a much more mainstream flavour profile that is popular all year round.
The science behind our love for high-fat foods
Scientifically, our preference to high-fat foods can be attributed to our evolutionary history. Our ancestors relied on high-calorie foods in order to survive. As fats provide a concentrated source of energy, our taste buds are naturally inclined to savoury these flavours. Our Biscoff type flavouring, with its buttery richness, taps into this innate preference, adding a sense of indulgence to new product developments.
Flavour pairings
Biscoff type profiles are versatile enough to pair well with a wide range of flavours:
- Chocolate: the warm and spiced flavour of speculoos complements the richness of chocolate, whether it’s in the form of chocolate spread, chocolate bars or a chocolate desserts.
- Caramel: In terms of trending popularity, Biscoff is certainly rivelling salted caramel. The sweet and buttery notes of caramel complement the spiciness of speculoos.
- Tart fruits: the warming spices used in speculoos work well with the natural sweetness and tartness of apples and cherries. Biscoff type flavours can be added to cherry pies, apple crumbles, berry sundaes or even a sweet apple dip.
- Coffee: speculoos biscuts are often served and enjoyed with coffee. The flavour combination of coffee and speculoos create a rich, indulgent taste that can be used cross-category in ice-cream and dairy applications for example.
Social media trends
Social media platforms have transformed the way we discover, share and engage with food trends. Younger consumers in particular, are heavily influenced by the captivating visuals and innovative recipes they encounter on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The popularity of Biscoff on social media has propelled it to new height, as younger generations seek out these trending flavours in incorporate them into their culinary experiences.
Google trends graph showing the rise in popularity of biscoff searches in the UK
Summary:
The journey from a seasonal caramelised biscuit to JPL’s G.O.A.T. flavour of 2023 is a testament to its irresistible taste and the power of social media. It’s moreish flavour profile, scientifically aligned with our preference for high-fat foods and the flavours that resonate, has made it a favourite this year.
As social media continues to shape our culinary landscape, biscoff type flavour profiles shows no signs of waning.
So whether you’re indulging in a caramelised biscuit cake or sipping on a decadent speculoos hot chocolate this Christmas, embrace the flavour the has captivated the UK and join the revolution!
p.s. if you really were looking for a goat flavour… we do of course have vegan-suitable meat flavour profiles too!
