Five Trending Foods to Look Out for in 2023

What’s the difference between a food trend and a food fad? Roughly speaking, a fad is a passing fashion, reminiscent of the ubiquitous fondue dish that featured on menus in the 1970s.

A trend is a permanent shift in the way we eat – as illustrated by our ever-increasing preference for healthy, life-enhancing ‘superfoods’ such as spirulina and chia seeds. Sustainable ingredients such as kelp, plant-based versions of classic comfort foods, and natural sweeteners are all also set to feature in supermarket aisles in the near future.

Blending sweet and sour flavours, kombucha is a drink made from yeast, sugar and tea. First brewed in China more than 2,000 years ago, today it's one of the world’s most popular fermented drinks, thanks to its reputation as a probiotic promoting a healthy gut. Advocates say it also aids digestion, rids the body of toxins and boosts energy levels. Tasting a little like sparkling cider, you can buy it pre-bottled in flavours from raspberry to ginger and lemon.

Following the global trend for combining sweet and sour flavours led by kombucha, we predict that ‘swicy’ foods are going to be big in 2023. A portmanteau word blending ‘sweet' and ‘spicy’ – think chilli chocolate bars or curry-infused ketchup – swicy flavours have their roots in South Korean cuisine. Using gochujang, a thick red paste made from red chilli peppers, fermented soya beans, salt and sticky rice, swicy sauces taste fantastic on meat, fish and vegetarian dishes, as well as in desserts.

In light of increasing awareness of our holistic wellbeing, gluten-free diets are being adopted around the globe. With them, pastas made from gluten-free ingredients including lentils, chickpeas and rice are becoming increasingly popular. In addition, pastas and noodles made from courgettes, parsnips or broccoli help to cut down on calories as they're low in carbohydrates. Unusual treats we might soon find in the shops include spaghetti made from palm hearts or even green bananas.

With the current – and vital – interest in sustainability, we can expect to see more kelp-based products in grocery shops come 2023. A type of brown seaweed, kelp is a superfood full of life-enhancing vitamins and minerals that benefit health and are thought to prevent disease. Whether it's kelp snacks or kelp noodles, this algae is doubly good for the environment, thanks to its ability to absorb carbon from the atmosphere, as well as the fact that fresh water is not needed for its cultivation.

Originating in the Middle East, dates are the fruit of the date-palm tree and have been a sweet treat for thousands of years. Come 2023, we’ll see them trending as an alternative, natural sweetener, packed with a variety of antioxidants and high in fibre. They're also believed to promote heart health and are a major source of bone-friendly minerals including potassium, calcium and magnesium. Eat them dried or raw as a healthy snack or start your day with dates sprinkled on your porridge.