Unlock World Flavours: Top 5 Emerging Cuisines to Watch in 2024-25

Our top 5 cuisines to watch

As the culinary world continues to evolve, the demand for diverse and vibrant flavours grows stronger. Here, we explore five emerging cuisines that are set to make waves in 2024-25 and provide you with how you can stay ahead of the competition to ensure you're ready with on trend delicious dishes that excite your customers.

Source: Lumina Intelligence UK Menu & Food Trends Report

Filipino cuisine

1. Filipino Cuisine

Filipino cuisine has seen a significant increase in searches and social media mentions, indicating a rising interest among food enthusiasts. This cuisine is a melting pot of Spanish, American, and Asian influences, offering a unique combination of bold and diverse flavours. Signature dishes like adobo, sinigang, and lechon are gaining popularity across the UK. This cuisine's rise is driven by its hearty, comforting dishes that resonate with the growing trend of home-style cooking. Using some of our Santa Maria range such as our Ground Ginger, Granulated Garlic, Bay leaves and Tellicherry Black Pepper enable you to capture the essence of Filipino cuisine.

Bibimbap with sesame fried egg, pointed cabbage kimchi, pickled cucumber & Korean mayo

2. Korean Cuisine

Korean cuisine has increased by 34% among younger consumers, driven by the popularity of Korean pop culture. The global phenomenon of “Hallyu” or the Korean Wave has significantly impacted culinary trends, particularly among Gen Z. Key ingredients such as kimchi, ssamjang, and doenjang are essential to popular dishes like Korean corn dogs, barbeque, and hot pots. Contemporary restaurants like Chungdam in Soho showcase the versatility and appeal of Korean cuisine.

Portuguese cuisine

3. Portuguese Cuisine

Portuguese cuisine, characterised by its blend of Mediterranean, African, and Middle Eastern influences, is emerging as a trend in the UK. According to The Food People's 2023 report there was a 20% rise in interest for Mediterranean and African-inspired dishes, with Portuguese cuisine being a key driver. Iconic dishes like salted cod, pastel de nata, and piri-piri chicken are gaining traction. Establishments such as Joia and Casa do Frango are bringing these traditional flavours to the forefront of the culinary scene.

Fish and Chip burrito

4. British Fusion

British Fusion is all about blending familiar British dishes with global flavours, meeting consumer demands for both novelty and comfort. This trend also aligns with the growing emphasis on sustainability, appealing to 63% of eco-conscious consumers. Restaurants like KOL in London are leading the charge, combining British ingredients with Mexican inspiration.

Afghan dish

5. Afghan Cuisine

Afghan cuisine, influenced by Middle Eastern and Asian flavours, features dishes rich in spices, nuts, and fresh herbs. Core dishes like Kabuli Pulao are becoming more recognised, thanks to establishments like Balkh Restaurant in London. The cuisine's complex, aromatic flavours offer a new taste experience for adventurous diners. To help you to capture the essence of Afghan flavours, we offer key herbs, spices and seasonings such as Cardamom Pods, Mint and Cumin.

How you can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary

Unlock a world of flavour with Santa Maria

Our diverse and versatile range of Santa Maria seasonings, spice blends, accompaniments and sauces can help you recreate emerging on trend dishes, that will enable you to transport your customers to different locations around the world. Our offering focuses on 'from scratch' style cooking providing you with deliciously authentic flavours that are the perfect base for creating innovative fusion dishes.

As flavour experts, we specialise in supporting Pubs & Bars, Restaurants, QSR, Education and Casual Dining. From our Middle Eastern spice blends and authentic herb mixes such as cumin and coriander spices that capture strong flavours of Afghanistan dishes, to our extensive range of Asian spice blends, seasonings and sauces Santa Maria provides the ingredients you need.

Whether you’re looking to build ‘total solutions’ or optimise specific categories, we’re here to help. From our multi-use product range and culinary, marketing and category expertise, to offering hands-on product demos and development days. We transform the ordinary into the extraordinary with innovative ideas, dishes and food concepts that work across the seasons, trends and every daypart.

Put simply, we work together with our out-of-home customers to create endless opportunities that drive operational efficiency and commercial growth.

Want to find out more about how we can support your business? Click here to get in touch now and one of our team will be in touch!