2020 is here and adventurous eaters are turning away from the oat milk, acai bowls, and plant-based meat substitutes of 2019’s food and beverage trends toward the newest health crazes and Instagram-worthy plates of the modern, roaring 2020s.
For businesses trying to attract customers, keeping up with current food industry trends may seem like a never-ending task. There’s one ingredient, however, that will help you use at least 4 of 2020s biggest food trends to your advantage and bring in diners looking for the newest dishes and exciting flavors: Matcha.
Matcha is a powdered form of green tea that has been enjoyed in Japan for over 800 years. Matcha tea leaves are specially grown and shaded, then dried and ground into a fine powder that is whisked directly into beverages instead of steeped in tea bags. As an all-natural tea, matcha is a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals, and it’s so versatile that it can be used in almost any food industry trend from beverages and desserts to savory dishes and more. In fact, here are four easy ways to use Matcha to bring the biggest food and beverage trends of 2020 to your business:
According to Morning Consult, 43% of the public doesn’t drink and 46% of adults across all age ranges have tasted a non-alcoholic beer or cocktail. Health, the high cost of alcohol, and the fear of hangovers are some of the main reasons that nearly half of all adults don’t drink, but that doesn’t mean “sober curious” consumers don’t want to socialize.
Eric Schmidt, Director of Alcohol Research at The Beverage Marketing Corp suggests that companies explore non-alcoholic beverage food industry trends to grow business, ultimately making tastier products for every kind of drinker.
Ikeda bulk ceremonial grade Matcha’s savory, umami flavor and its deep green hue make it a mild tasting but complex addition to innovative drink recipes. Stay tuned to the Ikeda Matcha blog to catch our favorite match-inspired mocktail recipes!
Walk into any popular food spot from Starbucks to your local mom-and-pop ice creamery, and you’re likely to be greeted by carefully curated spaces that look like an Instagram model’s dream. Walls covered in murals or floral wall hangings and neon lights might adorn special corners with the hope that consumers will use these backdrops to share their meals and snacks on social media. When the setting looks so vibrant, the food should too.
Benchmark Global Hospitality has taken note and listed “bright and bold” hues as a top food industry trend of 2020. Some of the most successful food and beverage trends of the last few years feature unique colors that appeal to diners on both an aesthetic and delicious taste level.
So what’s an easy way to add a pop of natural color (and incredible health benefits) to your menu? Matcha green tea! This unique powered tea turns dishes a gorgeous, deep green that looks festive when baked or added to beverages. Matcha’s health benefits also include a natural boost of antioxidants, energy from caffeine, and the calming effects from an amino acid called L-Theanine that promotes calm and relaxation – so matcha not only helps food look pretty but it makes you feelgood, too!
In its forecast of food industry trends in 2020, Yelp has reported a rise in reviews for “elevated breakfast” options in the US. “Reviews for dishes like souffle pancakes and cinnamon swirl pancakes have increased by 156.2% in the last year.”
With the lovely color and nutritional benefits that come with matcha green tea, adding this ingredient immediately upgrades traditional breakfast favorites to make them upscale and innovative. Matcha granola, matcha souffle pancakes, and matcha lemonade are all new and innovative options for cutting edge menus.
According to Cosmopolitan, a superfood they expect to see everywhere in 2020 food and beverage trends is matcha itself! When you consume matcha, you are consuming the whole tea leaf and an increased amount of nutrients compared to other green teas. Scientific studies on green tea show that matcha is a versatile superfood that may reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, arthritis, and a decline in cognitive function. The chlorophyll from matcha tea also promote healthier skin, while the amino acids reduce stress, and vitamin C boosts the immune system.
As its health benefits catch on with consumers, more and more people are seeking matcha out as their next big food industry trend. Many nationally recognized brands including Starbucks, Jamba Juice and the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf all now sell some form of matcha product. As of 2018, the matcha market in the US exceeded 1.6 billion and growth is expected to continue 4.7% per year through at least 2025 according to a report by Grand View Research.
Don’t let the food industry trends that are getting consumers into stores pass you by! Adding Ikeda’s bulk matcha green tea to your menu is a simple but effective way to stay on trend and offer customers exactly what they’re looking for this year. Get in touch and let us know how we can help make the biggest food and beverage trends of 2020 a reality for your business!
