Developing On-Trend Flavors: Lessons from Mango Chamoy

Developing on-trend flavors is far from easy.

For product developers, it means balancing innovation with formulation challenges, as well as protecting shelf stability and maintaining performance over time.

Success is about doing all of the above and offering exciting and authentic taste experiences that consumers won’t forget. 

Today, it’s global fusion flavor trends dominating social media, restaurant menus, and product innovation pipelines alike. From viral sensations like Dubai chocolate, Tajin-topped fruit, or matcha everything, travelling through taste and unexpected combos is taking over.

Yet, nothing has captured Gen Z’s attention like the sweet‑spicy combo now known as swicy.

This makes sense when we consider that younger generations are always seeking something new. It’s not surprising, then, that over 90% of Gen Z and Millennials say they actively seek out on-trend flavor experiences. Many expressing that “the wilder the better”.

A recent survey found that 78% of Gen Z shoppers either like or love spicy foods and flavors. With 66% of respondents saying they’re more likely to buy a food item that’s advertised as spicy.

Another flavor study from Daymon’s found that 53% of Gen Z consumers enjoy “swicy profiles”.

All of this makes one thing clear: younger generations are not afraid to try new flavor combinations. Quite the opposite. They’re actively seeking to experience them. 

Their embrace of swicy is also what makes fruit and fire mash-ups like mango chamoy such a winning combination.

However, incorporating these trending tastes into your lineup is about more than simply adopting the “hottest” flavors (pun intended). It’s about understanding your brand, your audience, and the challenges you’ll face.  Not to mention where each product and flavor fits into the bigger picture of what’s next. 

A perfect case study in developing on-trend flavors that resonate with consumers is our very own Mango Chamoy Madness.

When Heat Meets Sweet: Developing On-Trend Flavors That Work

What makes something like spicy fruit work so well, when at first glance it probably shouldn’t?

It really comes down to what I like to call the “heat and retreat”.

On the front end, you’re hit by the intense heat and spiciness. But then, the sweet, cooling effect of the fruit brings you back and rounds out the experience.

Still, understanding the unlikely harmony between flavors isn’t enough to guarantee your swicy success.

Developing on-trend flavors like mango chamoy requires achieving the perfect balance between the mango and chamoy. In our case, that also meant getting the ice cream base just right.

But the perfect balance, according to whom?

This is where knowing your audience really matters. And as much as we talk about generational differences with profiles like these, our experience shows us that there may be an even stronger demographic differentiator at play.

Regional Tastes and Flavor Boldness

How bold a developer chooses to go with a flavor like mango chamoy may depend more on the region of distribution than anything else.

What we found on this project, in particular, was that different parts of the country had very different reactions to the same flavor combination.

On the West Coast, people may feel it’s plenty spicy, maybe even a little too spicy. Consumers in the South, especially the Southwest, might find it delicious, but give you an “Oh bless your heart. That was a nice try, but where’s the chamoy?” 

But it’s not only the consumers of each region that have unique expectations. Retailers want to make sure these products appeal to the palates of their local consumer base.

This allows each company to find its own ideal balance for bold flavors like mango chamoy, perfect for its brand.  

However, on-trend flavor development like this can be easier said than done, unless you know what you’re looking for.

Balancing Boldness and Brand Authentic Flavor Development

For Gen Z and Millennials, few things matter more than authenticity.

This isn’t limited to authentic taste experiences (which we’ll dive into more in the next section), but it’s about choosing flavors and products that represent your brand’s authenticity.

Some brands can be bold enough to offer more heat. While others know their consumers prefer a more tempered flavor experience.

For example, a smaller regional brand or startup with a dedicated following might have the flexibility to be more adventurous than a national CPG that needs to appeal to a much broader audience, and in the case of mango chamoy, a wider level of spice tolerance.

Then, of course, there can be certain brands that, if they came out with a mango chamoy, your customers won’t believe you. That’s just, that’s not who you are. A customer might think.  “I expect a root beer float from you. I expect nostalgia from you. I’m looking for comfort and familiarity, global fusion.”

This is why, at Ever Fresh, our authenticity comes from intimately knowing the needs of our partners as well as their consumers. It comes from having the flexibility to cross all bridges and boundaries and customize our ingredient systems to fit your brand and brand persona so that they resonate with your consumers.

And this is where the rubber meets the road in terms of authentic on-trend flavor development.

True-to-Taste Formulation and Authentic Flavor Innovation

When setting out to create a new taste experience, what developer doesn’t want their customers to try the product and think, “Now, that’s what I’m talking about.”

Hitting the mark with taste authentic to your consumers’ expectations can be a challenge, especially when it comes to fruit.

For example, everyone knows what a strawberry should taste like, right?

Well, are we talking about the flavor of a strawberry straight from the garden, the kind that’s not quite ripe? Or maybe a really ripe strawberry that’s super rich and melts when you first put it in your mouth.

When you look across the strawberry spectrum, there are probably more than a dozen different strawberry tastes to choose from.

If we take our example of developing on-trend flavors, mango chamoy ice cream, mango is obviously going to drive the flavor profile of the finished product.

But what type of mango? After all, like I mentioned with strawberries, each varietal of mango is going to provide a slightly different profile. How do you know which one is right for your product? 

And which one will complement the spice of your chamoy? 

Visual Appeal Matters: Creating On-Trend Flavors Consumers See First

As much as we think about satisfying our taste buds, we also can’t forget how much we eat with our eyes. That might even count double for younger generations, who seem to nearly always snap, post, and share before they even take their first bite.

It doesn’t matter if it’s by the pint or by the bar; buyers are hungry for frozen desserts that are as delicious to the eye as they are to the palate. Achieving this could range from getting the color just right to creating a thicker, darker, more vibrant Chamoy swirl.

To be honest, it’s a lot, especially with the inherent risk that developers might feel when formulating on-trend flavors

And that’s before we factor in the challenges of meeting specifications such as organic and clean label requirements, functional ingredients, or tailored diet requirements like low-sugar, plant-based, and keto.

Ever Fresh knows fruit. From the freshest, most reliable fruit sourcing to ingredient systems tailored to your exact specifications. We help you craft incredible taste experiences that are authentic to your brand.

Additionally, we help you go from benchtop to store shelf, fast. 

We can’t stress the value of this enough. Especially when trying to stay ahead of flavor fusion trends and developing on-trend flavors that last.

Innovation Isn’t About Reinvention, It’s About Translation

Jumping on board the latest trends or trying to get ahead of the competition doesn’t always have to be about creating something 100% new.

Actually, that could be the wrong approach altogether.

Why? Well, as much as people are craving novel experiences, 52% of Gen Z say they want something new to them, but that is still familiar.

Taking classic flavors and adding an international twist could be a great way to go.

When developing on-trend flavors and sticking with swicy, dark chocolate and Cayenne is a great place to start. Not limited to mango, other fruits like strawberry, lime, and lemon handle the addition of heat incredibly well, for a new spin on refreshing fruity favorites.

Wading deeper into the international waters, other ingredients like Moroccan spice, cinnamon, or chai can take a standard vanilla to a whole new level.

Asian flavors like matcha and ube continue to grow in popularity, but there is also plenty of opportunity for “swalty” or “swavory” innovation with ingredients like miso, sesame, or a Middle Eastern tahini.

Honestly, with the delicious diversity of dishes from around the world, the options might literally be endless.

As exciting as these opportunities for innovation are, the best place to start is with finding which on-trend flavors will excite your customers, while remaining authentic to your brand.

The next best place to start is partnering with Ever Fresh to help make it happen.