Food trends according to Google

Google has translated the search behavior of its American users into (emerging) food trends and hypes that are truly completely over. Important, because to use FavorFlav’s Marjan Ippel’s words: ‘what (not) to speak’ is at least as important in food as ‘what (not) to eat’.

In the Google Food Trends report, both rising trends and hypes that are passé are divided into three categories: trends that are steadily gaining or losing popularity, seasonal trends experiencing erratic growth or decline, and trends that go sky high or rock bottom out of nowhere.

Under the spell of ramen

Ramen on its way out? No way. David Chang put the Japanese variety on the map more than ten years ago with his Momofuku Noodle Bar. Slowly but surely, the entire Western world became obsessed with ramen, and the soup remains ever popular for now. The same goes for FavorFlav’s Emma, who recently stood in line for hours for it in Japan.

According to Google, Asian cuisine is trending in general. Korean bibimbap – meaning ‘mixed rice meal’ – is also on the list. Just like phở: a Vietnamese noodle soup topped with a mountain of fresh herbs and red chili pepper. The report shows that consumers are searching en masse for the best places to eat phở. In Amsterdam, you can certainly go to Little Saigon: a no-nonsense Vietnamese restaurant where you eat street food as it was meant to be eaten.

Gender reveal cakes

Also striking is the revival of rigatoni and linguine pasta, grandmother’s Bundt cake and gender reveal cakes: white cakes with a blue or pink interior to reveal the baby’s sex. To each their own, we’ll say.

Bye-bye kale

The report also shows that – at least in the US – the health craze dominated by gluten-free bread, quinoa and kale chips seems to have come to an end. On the other hand, interest in other ingredients with purported medicinal properties continues to grow. Think of turmeric and jackfruit, among others, both of which are also popular in Asian cuisine.

This ‘Superfood 2.0’ craze is driving more and more consumers toward Asian grocery stores, which according to FavorFlav’s editorial team is a positive development. You can immediately stock up on everything you need for this delicious Thai Penang curry. Double score, because it contains turmeric too.

Text: Renée Conradi
Image: Google