South American Inspired Flavors
South American Inspired Flavors
As consumers continue to seek new and adventurous flavors, food and drink brands need to find inspiration in new and adventurous places. One way you can do this is by exploring the unique flavors of a given region.
South American cuisine offers a wealth of exciting flavor options that hit all of the trending consumer desires from heat spice to sensational citrus flavors and even a host of sweet treats to entice even the more cautious consumer.
Heat Spice
With heat spice, the goal has become far more about creating a complex and well rounded flavor profile than simply trying to achieve the most intense heat experience.
In Brazil, tempero baiano, or Bahian seasoning named after the Bahia region in Brazil, is used to season a variety of dishes from soups and stews to chicken, fish, and even vegetables. It is the very definition of complex with a blend of cayenne, cumin, garlic, oregano, turmeric, and more delivering just enough heat with a uniquely intricate flavor profile.
We can’t talk about heat spice without talking about peppers. The aji amarillo of Peru is a bright yellow orange with a slightly fruity flavor paired with the perfect amount of heat. The peppers are commonly used to make a sauce that is often paired with chicken and vegetable dishes as well as being a dipping sauce for fries and fried yuca.
For the true heat seakers, molho apimentado is a Brazilian hot sauce made with chili peppers, tomatoes, vinegar, spices, and lime juice. While the heat is the main feature, the total flavor profile is strong enough to not be drowned out so that it supports the heat with its unique flavor.
Citrus Sensations
Even though citrus fruits mostly originated in Asia, limes in particular have become a major part of Latin American cuisine with Mexico ranking as the worlds top producer of the small sour fruit.
Lime juice is the main catalyst and flavor ingredient in the preparation of ceviche, a Peruvian dish in which the citric acid from the lime is used to cure fresh raw fish. The dish is traditionally spiced with chili peppers and often includes red onions and cilantro as well. A civech flavor walks the line between exotic flavors and familiar ingredients giving that highly sought after balance of adventure and predictability.
Another South American classic that walks this fine line is chimichurri. The uncooked sauce comes out of Argentina and Uruguay and combines garlic, parsley, olive oil, red wine vinegar, lime juice, and cilantro. The blend of flavors in chimichurri lend themselves to nearly any application.
Sweet Treats
When it comes to South American desserts offer a range of delectable spenlors from ice cream and cookies to chocolates and the many regional variations of caramel creations. In Argentina and Uruguay its dulce de leche, the same dish is known as arequipe in Colombia and Venezuela, manjar in Chile and Ecuador or manjar blanco in Peru and Bolivia, while Mexico has cajeta made with goat’s milk.
Dulce de leche is the star in the Argentinian chocotorta, a chocolate cake made with layers of chocolate wafer cookies soaked in coffee and covered in a mixture of dulce de leche and cream cheese. The mix of chocolate, coffee, caramel, and cream cheese create a full and decadent flavor profile that could easily adapt to traditionally sweet products like ice cream, or add an enticing indulgence factor to a health and wellness product like supplement bars, shakes, and powders.
Combining the classic caramel flavor of manjar blanco with the light decadence of Iatlian meringue topped with the scent of port and cinnamon, Peru’s suspiro Limeño is a truly indulgent treat. This subtle flavor shift in the sticky world of sweetness can add excitement and novelty to a flavor profile that is still familiar and undeniably craveable with an added versatility that could open doors in the beverage space.
Get Authentic Flavor Profiles from Renaissance.
When it comes to crafting authentic South American inspired flavors, trust the experts at Renaissance Flavors. Whether you’re looking for something spicy, sweet, or the newest trend in citrus, our dedicated team of flavorists will create the perfect flavor profile for your brand, your product, and your target consumer.
From extending the flavor line of an established product to launching entirely new products and working with burgeoning startups, the experts at Renaissance are ready to help you make your next produce a success with a bespoke flavor profile that can’t be beat.
