In recent years, a never-ending need for innovation has come to define the food and beverage industry.
That won’t be changing in 2026, either.
In fact, it looks to be more critical than ever.
Driven by ever-evolving trends and growing consumer demands, this need is making it harder and harder for developers to keep up and even easier to feel like they’re falling behind.
If that wasn’t enough, distinguishing whether something's just “the flavor of the month” or a long-lasting trend with staying power is also becoming increasingly complex.
This makes staying on trend stressful, not only for R&D teams but also for development timelines and budgets. At the same time, doing nothing isn’t an option. Waiting it out could lead to missed opportunities and the even greater stress of watching competitors pull ahead.
But 2026 doesn’t have to be that way.
By starting with a clear vision of what consumers are demanding now and what they’ll be craving next, companies can lead the way today while shaping the taste of tomorrow.
“We know how hard it is to understand ongoing and emerging trends and what they can mean for your brand. Even then, just knowing isn’t enough,” says Jaime Osnaya, Sr. Digital & Brand Communications Specialist at Edlong.
“For us at Edlong, it’s about helping our partners turn trends and insights into impact and lead the next wave of innovation.”
That’s why we created our latest report, Shaping Tomorrow: Edlong 2026 Top 10 Flavors.
"Through foresight and thought leadership, supported by flavor science and application, we've identified five trends and corresponding flavors that will define this year. These trends aren’t distant forecasts, predictions or possibilities; they’re here now and actively transforming where industry innovation is headed", explains Silvia Schnicker, Edlong’s Director of Marketing.
Yutian Xu, Digital Marketing Analyst at Edlong, adds, “We designed this report to propel brands from trend awareness to flavor creation.”
“By blending cultural insights with social listening and real-word market observations we aim to help customers better understand how flavor, indulgence and consumer needs are evolving.
But what really sets it apart is how our experts interpret these trends through a lens of flavor science and application expertise."
Schnicker continues, “Our goal with this flavor outlook is to empower our customers to anticipate change and spark creativity, so they can lead this and next wave of flavor experiences. But this is more than a trend report, it’s a roadmap of how Edlong helps you move faster, innovate smarter and win bigger to stay ahead of the curve.”
Whether it’s taking sensory experiences to the max, exploring the world through taste, classics elevated and reinvented for "NEXTalgia" combinations or diving into the next generation of “clean labels” and personalized nutrition, this flavor and trend report helps put companies in the development driver’s seat for this year’s trends and beyond.
Because at Edlong, flavor isn’t just our craft; it’s our calling. With more than 110 years of expertise, we don’t chase trends; we help you create them.
Experience what's next for yourself with Edlong’s 2026 Top 10 Flavor Report.
Download your complimentary copy of the report to start shaping the taste of tomorrow, today!
