As seasons change, so do our seasonings and flavors. With fall, we can expect the usual onslaught of pumpkin-spiced everything, from bundt cakes to lattes. At Northwest Naturals, we can definitely appreciate the deliciously delightful craze; however, we also know that there is a wealth of flavor opportunities businesses can take advantage of beyond pumpkin spice. The abundant cornucopia of fall fruits, herbs, and spices bring endless flavor possibilities, sweet and savory, that can capture the coziness and decadence of the season.
Read on to dive into fall flavor essentials, recipe inspiration, and more!
For starters, what are fall flavors? Fruits in season include apples, pears, cranberries, pomegranates, grapes, and lemon ginger. Fall herbs and spices include cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, clove, maple, ginger, and pecan. Apple is the fruit most associated with autumn. Behind the apples are pears and cranberries.
Now that we have our ingredients, let’s start creating!
The colder season is a peak indulgent opportunity for beverage and dessert companies. Capture the crispness of freshly harvested apples or pomegranates in fruity beers, mead, cider, cocktails, and mocktails. Home mix kits like simple syrups, shrubs, and mixers can work as potential-full canvases for drinks like cranberry-orange whisky sours or butterscotch butter-beer punch.
Sweets like pastries and ice cream are ideal for fall flavor experimentation. Try a dulce de leche peach tart, cranberry-gingerbread cakes, or gelato with pomegranate syrup.
Specialize in savory products? Autumn flavors can work excellently for you too! Glazes, dressings, vinaigrettes, dips and jellies, cream cheese inclusions, condiments, and even hummus work well with fall ingredients. Try apple cider pork chops, cranberry chipotle chicken enchiladas, turkey with berry compote, or creamy pumpkin hummus!
Using a potent juice concentrate is an excellent option for maximizing your creation’s potential. Northwest Naturals has seasonal flavors ready year-round for you to craft your next application well before the weather turns. For example, our “Pie Type” blends include fruit with notes of caramel, brown sugar, and spices. They mimic the flavor profile of pies and are tasty when used in beverages and also in glazes, pastries, ice cream, and yogurt. Not only is this a delicious option, it is also time efficient for your company.
In the last decade, we have seen some incredible creations. Apple cider glazed donuts, maple pear ales, chocolate toasted marshmallow lagers, and yuzu citrus and lemon ginger simple syrup for cocktails are just a few of the delicious applications that have already graced the market shelves.
These flavors represent a time of year when temperatures drop, leaves fall, and yearly harvests are completed. Popular fall flavors reflect the seasonal, bright colors and (persistent but fading) sunshine with tart fruits. Fall flavors conversely reflect the incoming darker days, rain, and colder temperatures with warmer, comforting offerings of spices and sweets. Understand the shift in season and take advantage of its potential to create something new and delicious.
Contact us to get started.