Caramel
Pairings & Twists
Caramel
Pairings & Twists
Twist in the Caramel Family Tree
Though many classic caramel products are not going out of style, adding a twist to your caramel creations will attract consumers' attention and tempt their curiosity, here are some caramel flavors going from nostalgic to experimental:
- Salted caramel - Present for some years and one of the most popular caramel flavors - a perfect balance between sweet and salt. Chefs call this flavor layering, and the right mix - not too sweet not too salty - gives your brain a positive response. Read more later on in the article.
- Biscuity, custard-like, cheesecake-like - Bakery and dessert-inspired creations are becoming more and more popular in all segments. Caramel is the perfect way to make it happen for you.
- Burnt or smoky notes - Bringing more sophistication to the flavor pallet. This is a trend coming from Asia and is also inspired by the whiskey industry. Same golden color, playing with burnt and smoky notes.
- Infused caramel with coffee, beer - A wide array of combinations is possible to trigger consumer appetite for novelty by combining 2 of the favorite flavors.
The most popular caramel twist: Salted Caramel
Salted caramel products continue to increase year over year since debuting in 2008. The flavor has been featured in breakfast cereals, dairy, snacks, desserts and ice cream, ready-to-drink beverages and confectionery, illustrating this is a flavor profile that has a lot of staying power.
The marriage of salty and sweet is one that shouldn’t work, but magically and deliciously does. Consumers can’t get enough of it. Too much sugar is overly intense and too much salt simply tastes terrible, but when you mix the two, the combination is heavenly.
Chefs call this flavor layering, and the right mix – not too sweet and not too salty – gives your brain a positive response. With flavor layering, flavors melt together in your mouth without giving you 1 specific taste leading to sensory-specific satiety. Therefore salty/sweet combinations double the taste sensation and create a pleasurable experience that keeps consumers coming back for more.
More twists and pairings to keep in mind
Caramel makes great pairings with a variety of different inclusions to create multi-sensorial experiences. Especially combinations with healthier inclusions like seeds, nuts and dried fruits are appealing for consumers. All sorts of caramel twists, including combinations with cocktail-based flavors, rosemary and sea-salt, cocoa nibs, etc. can bring your caramel creations to the next level and create a more premium perception. It also has incredible potential to satisfy various eating occasions and consumer need states like on the rising trend in on-the-go consumer snacking.
Keep in mind that creative flavor combinations give a premium touch to your creations.
Click below and get inspired by the many possibilities of caramel for confectionery, bakery & pastry, and ice cream creations.
