2023 is here and what can we expect?

Seaweed converted into tuna, date-based butter, and mayo made with avocado oil. These are examples of food that has been predicted to take off this year! All 3 of them classics that we have grown to love but now with an added twist.

Kelp

Have you heard of Kelp? The superfood that are high in antioxidants, which means they might help play a role in combating heart disease, cancer, and other diseases. Yet there is no factual data to prove this, supermodels such as Chrissy Teigen can be seen posting images on her Instagram after workouts and Beyoncé is also a big fan and could be seen endorsing this superfood when following the 22 Days Vegan Plan.

But, despite it already being popular among the health-conscious, kelp is still one of 2023's hottest food trends, according to a report by Whole Foods. Most larger supermarkets already sell noodles, popcorn, chips and soya converted from the seaweed. Jade Hoai, analyst from a major supermarket chain, predicts there will be more 'quirky usages' of kelp in the year ahead. “Kelp, a seaweed made up of algae, is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, iodine and vitamin D, which experts say are great for your heart, bones and muscles. Manufacturers peddle it as being a good alternative to kale or spinach for because of its leafy looks and nutrients. But it is also used to create a substitute soy sauce due to its salty and umami flavour. Not only that, it is also used in fish-free tuna, with consumers comparing its taste to fresh oysters.”

Whilst we’re on the Kelp/Algae speal, it’s worth mentioning Future Farm Tvna. Would you believe that this vegan tuna replacement actually gets its taste from algae to replicate the tuna taste? Yet to try? Get in touch with us to request a sample.

Avocado Oil

The avocado has seen a rise in popularity over the last few years, mainly due to the craze of avocado on toast with bacon, salmon or just by itself. Another boom has been the variety in oil, whether that be for cooking or dressing, we have seen some whacky and wonderful choices. You could argue that chilli oil started this trend and now we can find garlic, lemon, mandarin and now…avocado.

 

So as well as being spread on bread, the creamy fruits, abundant in healthy fats, can be mashed into guacamole and blended in smoothies, the newest trend is seeing the fruit turned into an oil and added to snacks, mayo and salad dressings.

Whole Foods says it can be used instead of canola or sunflower oil - two types that are already popular among health-conscious shoppers because they are so high in monosaturated fats.

Nationality Dishes on the Rise - Asian and Mexican

The cultural influence of Korea and Japan is surging. Cooks dive deeper into Japanese food and get creative with cuisine mashups, sweet formats and pantry staples. Meanwhile Korean film, fashion, music and art sweeps across the globe. The Korea Craze draws consumers to dishes such as tteokbokki, bulgogi, fried chicken and Korean Corn Dogs.

Mexican has been a firm favourite in the UK for some time. Favourites such as tacos, chilli con carne and burritos aren't going anywhere soon but the rise in churros, elote, tortas and birria is evident and expected to rise. Watch this space!

Dates

The date trend, well, isn’t a trend — they’ve been cultivated and enjoyed since the days of ancient Mesopotamia.

However, thousands of years later, dehydrated fruit is having a huge renaissance as a sweetener, being added to cereal bars, peanut butter and syrups.

But it is also becoming popular among home bakers, with cookbooks featuring dates in recipes for cakes, chocolate brownies and the glorious Icky Sticky Toffee Pudding.

The sweet, dried fruit is a source of fibre, typically containing around 8g of fibre per 100g. They are also full of potassium, calcium and magnesium.

However, a single Medjool date contains 66.5 calories.

The Yumello Salted Date Almond Butter (26588), available from us is a real winner and has fewer calories than most Salted Date Peanut Butters on the market.