January’s Quirkiest Flavour Highlights
From electrifying blue-raspberry pickles to candy-flavored nitrous canisters, the world of food, beverage, and fragrance took some decidedly unexpected turns this January. Established brands and inventive newcomers alike pushed boundaries, blending playful novelty with clever strategies—and occasionally diving into the downright bizarre. The result? A flavor-scape where one can spritz on Jarritos-scented shampoo, bite into a Warheads pickle, or dissolve “holy water” paper, all in the name of exploring new sensory frontiers. This report spotlights those particularly quirky or oddball launches, trends, and stories that made January a month of delightfully strange flavor happenings.
Disclaimer: The artwork depicts Elon Musk holding back a giant diet coke can.
Van Holten’s & WARHEADS: Blue Raspberry Pickle-In-A-Pouch
Summary: Van Holten’s and WARHEADS teamed up to introduce a sour-and-salty snack inspired by TikTok trends that mix pickles with sour candies. The Blue Raspberry Pickle-In-A-Pouch merges WARHEADS’ tart flavor with Van Holten’s classic dill pickle, launching at Five Below in April 2025 with plans for wider availability later.
Reference: https://www.cstoredive.com/press-release/20250130-from-social-to-store-shelf-van-holtens-and-warheads-expand-partnership-1/
Native & Jarritos: Limited-Edition Personal Care Collection
Summary: Native partnered with Jarritos to create personal care items (deodorant, body wash, lotions, shampoo, conditioner) in fruity soda-inspired scents like Watermelon, Passion Fruit, Mandarin, and Pineapple, exclusively at Target and Native’s website, emphasizing playful, vibrant fragrances.
Reference: https://news.pg.com/news-releases/news-details/2025/Native-Announces-New-Limited-Edition-Collection-with-Jarritos-in-Partnership-with-Target/default.aspx
Smokeland’s “State of Cannabis 2024” Report
Summary: The report details California’s leading cannabis products—top strains (like Blue Dream), potent pre-rolls, popular vape pen flavors (Birthday Cake, Northern Lights), concentrates (Black Diamonds, Strawberry Lemonade), and CBN-rich edibles—highlighting consumer demand for variety and strong effects.
Reference: https://mgmagazine.com/press-releases/california-delivery-service-reveals-2024-trends/
NotCo’s Generative AI Fragrance Formulator
Summary: NotCo expanded its AI platform “Giuseppe” into fragrance creation with partner Cramer. The system instantly devises new, market-ready scents—like “nostalgic aroma of Christmas” or “fresh spring morning”—bypassing lengthy R&D and promising faster, more affordable premium fragrances.
Reference: https://perfumerflavorist.texterity.com/perfumerflavorist
Pantone & Pura: 2025 “Mocha Mousse” Collaboration
Summary: Pantone unveiled its Color of the Year (Mocha Mousse) and partnered with Pura on two matching home scents—Mocha Moments (coffee shop warmth) and Mocha Suede (coffee plus suede/saffron)—reflecting the indulgent, comforting qualities of the mocha hue.
Reference: https://perfumerflavorist.texterity.com/perfumerflavorist
Summary of Trends & Themes (2025)
Summary: Various articles highlight fewer teen parties, a surge in viral manifestation content, rising nitrous oxide in candy flavors like “blue razz,” and increasingly experiential fragrances and flavors (e.g., Mocha Mousse). These shifts point to an era of escapism, health consciousness, and new cultural behaviors.
Reference: https://afterschool.substack.com/p/magical-thinking-and-party-down?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
New Product Launches in Israel
Summary: Fragrance Du Bois’s “Sirène” perfume (cherry + incense), KLENÔR haircare lines (keratin, curls, hemp, silver treatments), Osem’s Bissli Falafel & Onion Twist snacks (with “secret” flavors), and Ben & Jerry’s vegan sorbets (Pina Colada, Passion Fruit) all spotlight diverse, creative flavors.
Reference: https://www.jpost.com/consumerism/consumer-news/article-836969
The Art and Science of Creating New Flavours
Summary: This piece explains how flavorists combine science with creativity to invent new tastes, guided by cultural preferences and tech innovations. It also notes the vast, “nearly infinite” possibilities for novel flavor combinations and the challenges in replicating natural tastes.
Reference: https://www.watoday.com.au/national/near-enough-to-infinite-how-to-invent-a-flavour-20241125-p5kt9i.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed
Consumers Want AI Disclosure on Food Labels
Summary: A survey by Ingredient Communications found that 83% of consumers think AI use in food production should be stated on labels. There’s concern over naturalness, with 64% saying “AI-designed” items shouldn’t be called “natural,” indicating a strong desire for transparency.
Reference: https://candyusa.com/cst/consumers-say-use-of-ai-should-be-declared-on-food-beverage-labels/
The Miracle Berry (Synsepalum dulcificum)
Summary: This West African berry contains miraculin, which makes sour or acidic foods taste sweet for 30–60 minutes. It’s popular in “flavor-tripping” parties, helps mask bitter flavors (especially helpful for those on certain medications), and may have additional health benefits.
Reference: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/the-miracle-berry-can-make-sour-foods-taste-sweet-should-you-try-it-100001397.html
Elon Musk & Diet Coke
Summary: Musk joked about giving up Diet Coke for a month—finding no health changes but feeling less happy because his “one source of joy” was gone. He ultimately decided he’d never quit Diet Coke again, underscoring a strong personal preference for the beverage.
Reference: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/global-trends/us-news-elon-musk-diet-coke-elon-musk-says-he-will-never-quit-diet-coke-reveals-how-life-changed-after-he-gave-up-his-favourite-beverage/articleshow/117601135.cms?from=mdr
Quranfi Ruqyah Paper
Summary: Quranfi offers edible Ruqyah Paper printed with Quranic verses to dissolve in water, creating “spiritual healing” water used for drinking, bathing, and home purification. Made with halal starch and oils, it streamlines a traditional Islamic practice.
Reference: https://quranfi.com/products/full-quran-ruqyah-sheet
Why Food & Drinks Taste Different on Airplanes
Summary: Airplane cabin conditions—low humidity, lower pressure, constant noise—diminish sweet and salty perceptions by up to 30% while enhancing umami. Airlines often compensate by adding more salt and sugar, but the reheating process still impacts overall flavor.
Reference: https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/food-drinks-taste-different-plane-reason
Six Food Trends Shaping Consumer Culture in 2025
Summary: Vogue Business identifies major food trends including functional “health-boosting” ingredients, reimagined comfort foods (“chaos cakes”), dining as a social “third space,” multi-sensory experiences, cultural cross-pollination (Mediterranean influences), and greater demand for sustainability.
Reference: https://www.voguebusiness.com/story/fashion/6-food-trends-fashion-needs-to-know-about-in-2025
