Over 50% experts foresee people rediscover cultural roots thro' food

Hyderabad There is a growing desire among people to rediscover cultural roots through food, predict more than half of the culinary experts' panel. In the same vein, curiosity about culinary cultures will see people experimenting with cuisines other than their own, say about half of the panelists.

The fifth edition of the food trends report by Godrej was unveiled by Nadir Godrej, Chairman and Managing Director, Godrej Industries Limited in the presence of who's who of the culinary space in India. Started as an annual initiative in 2018, Godrej Foods Trends Report 2022 – Collector's Edition, saw the coming together of over 200 thought leaders that included celebrity chefs, home chefs, professional chefs, food bloggers, health professionals, media professionals, mixologists, nutritionists, restaurateurs, sommeliers, food producers, and more, all of whom shared deep insights about their respective areas of expertise.

The other findings of the survey include the following.

Snacking: With health in sharp focus, 55.6 per cent predict millet-based snacks will be in demand.

Dining in: Home Delivery is set to soar. More than 80 per cent panellists say that consumers will rely on home-delivered meals from trusted sources.

Dining Out: Eating for wellness will drive cuisine choices on restaurant menus. Half of the panel picked mountain cuisines of India, and 48.4 per cent voted for a deeper exploration of North East cuisines.

Health Hygiene and Lifestyle: Food safety will be in focus in 2022. More than 70 per cent of the panelists weighed in on the need for clean, hygienically packaged meats and seafood from trusted sources. While 45 per cent of the panel predict a rise in proactive use of home pest relief, hygiene and sanitation products.

Dietary Fat: Consumption and rotation of fats in the diet will be an important conversation in 2022, more than 80 per cent of the panel see cold pressed unrefined oils being popular. While 71 per cent predict gourmet premium ghee varieties will grow.

Desserts: Little more than 60 per cent of the panelists predict desserts with healthier claims will prevail, in-home and on dining out menus. About 57 per cent predict bite-sized, portion-controlled desserts will be popular. Indian Mithai will see a marked more than 40 per cent of the panel weighing in on a growing sense of pride in traditional, regional Indian sweets and mithais at home and 50 per cent predicting a rise in popularity for gourmet mithai from the industry.

Beverages: India has woken up to gourmet Indian coffee. About 70 per cent of the experts says that gourmet Indian coffee will be the top focus in 2022 in the Non-Alcoholic Beverage Segment, while more than 50 per cent see gourmet Indian origin artisanal coffee/tea brands being popular in homes.

Food Studies: More than 55 per cent panelists see people investing in documenting culinary heritage while 64.1 per cent of professionals will invest in super-specialisation in hospitality programs. For example, specialisation in wines, mixology, breads, etc)

"I am happy to present the 2022 Collector's edition of the Godrej Food Trends Report. The objective has been to bring together the best minds from the food industry and collectively track the emerging trends in the food space," Tanya Dubash - Executive Director & Chief Brand Officer, Godrej, said.

"As per the findings, 2022 will be about recognizing eating for wellness. Some of the other key trends that have emerged showcase the rediscovery of our culinary roots, supporting local, and taking pride in all things Indian. The focus will be on traditional food systems, inherent wisdom in culinary practices, and building a connection with what we eat," she added.