For well over a century, McCormick has shaped the way we season and savor our favorite foods—and our lives are more flavorful because of it. The brand recently unveiled its Flavor of the Year, and spoiler: It brings the heat. Ají Amarillo is this year’s spice star, and it’ll be available in seasoning form for a limited time starting February 3.
According to McCormick’s 2025 Flavor Forecast, our taste buds will also be heading to the tropics, enjoying smoky flavors, and finding comfort in the unexpected. The report, which is known for its accuracy, is based on the spice giant’s international, on-the-ground research.
Here are the major takeaways (and recipes) you need to know.
Tabata Gomez
For nearly 25 years, McCormick has defined flavor and influenced flavor trends through the Flavor Forecast, inspiring discovery and innovation in everyday foods and beverages. From chipotle to chai, matcha, and tamarind—these are all flavors we’ve predicted that have cemented themselves in global cuisine.
— Tabata Gomez
About Ají Amarillo: McCormick’s Flavor of the Year
Ají amarillo, which means yellow chile pepper in Spanish, is as fruity as it is spicy. The pepper comes from South America and is used in classic Peruvian cuisine. But don’t expect a literal yellow pepper—mature ají amarillos are actually orange. McCormick reports that the pepper’s usage will increase by 59% in the coming four years.
“We continue to see younger generations explore creative ways to spice up their foods so we love that this year’s Flavor of the Year, Aji Amarillo, is providing the perfect gateway for consumers to explore and expand their palate,” Tabata Gomez, chief marketing officer at McCormick, said in a press release.
McCormick’s Aji Amarillo-inspired seasoning features tropical notes (like passion fruit and mango), oak smokiness, and a moderate kick of spice (between 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville Heat Units). You can use it in anything, from appetizers and desserts to your favorite cocktails.
“Its versatility lends itself to diverse applications, amplifying both sweet and tangy flavors and adds dimension to smoked or charred items,” said executive chef Hadar Cohen Aviram. “The Aji Amarillo Seasoning is a delicious, sweet and spicy blend that enhances any dish, including seafood, poultry, sauces, salsas, and more.”
McCormick
McCormick 2025 Flavor Forecast
The Flavor Forecast report relies on industry data and customer insights to hone in on relevant culinary trends that are growing worldwide.
“For nearly 25 years, McCormick has defined flavor and influenced flavor trends through the Flavor Forecast, inspiring discovery and innovation in everyday foods and beverages,” Gomez said. “From chipotle to chai, matcha, and tamarind—these are all flavors we’ve predicted that have cemented themselves in global cuisine.”
Here are three more food fixations you’ll be seeing in restaurants, home kitchens, and grocery stores in 2025 and beyond.
1. Tropical Flavors
Get ready for more pineapples and shrimp! Warm-weather cuisine encompasses tropical fruits and veggies paired with the freshest seafood. To get in on the flavor-forward action, whip up our Caribbean Chili with Mango or follow McCormick’s recipe for Banana Guava Coconut Bread Pudding.
2. Charred and Smoked
It’s still winter, but it won’t be long before we’re gathered by the barbecue, enjoying all things charred and smoky. According to McCormick, the goal of this flavor trend is to “emphasize the natural characteristics of a dish or ingredient.” To take part regardless of the season, roast and caramelize your favorite produce in the oven, or find new ways to add a char to surprising dishes, like in McCormick’s Charred Plum Crostini.
3. Deliciously Unexpected
Step out of your comfort zone in 2025 by giving fun, bold twists to classic ingredients. Remember the viral Chili Cucumber Salad? That distinctive recipe—along with McCormick’s Thai Tea-Spiced Pork with Condensed Milk Sauce—embody what this trend is all about. Because who would have thought to put tea on pork? These out-of-the-box ideas will continue pique home cooks’ curiosity.
Anyone in Miami can experience the Flavor of the Year and the other trends at McCormick’s first Night Market on Friday, February 21 and Saturday, February 22. Find out more about the event and Ají Amarillo at www.FlavorForecast.com.
