2016 Flavor Report: The top 10 flavors on Pinterest
Pinners are always hungry for new food ideas. Every day, people use Pinterest to find recipes, snack inspiration and meal-planning tips. In 2015 alone, Pinners saved nearly 4b food ideas. Since Pinners love to search and save food-related Pins, we always have a pulse on what’s trending.
So what’s cooking with Pinners these days? To find out, we had our insights team whip up the 2016 Flavor Report. This freshly-baked report shows that Pinners love to get creative, whether they’re writing their own recipes or buying packaged foods at the grocery store. From new takes on herbs to clever ingredient substitutions, here are the hottest flavor trends on Pinterest right now:
Secret weapon spices
- Saffron (+20%) turns regular rice into the crown jewel and kicks up a Morrocan couscous. Paired with honey, it mixes nicely into an exotic iced tea.
- Turmeric (+99%) in a chai latte trumps the same old pumpkin spice. And paired with apple cider vinegar, it’s a colorful thirst quencher.
Tropical twists
- Coconut (+20%) gives crunch to crispy chicken and a Maui-style touch to muffins. And coconut bacon is a match made in paradise.
- Pineapple (+35%) in poke bowls? Yes! Ideally washed down with a pineapple dark and stormy or a tropical iced tea.
Sneaky substitutions
- Cashew milk (+40%) is the new almond milk, but creamier and less nutty.
- Chickpea flour means chocolate chip cookies can go gluten-free.
Herbs get creative
- Basil (+18%) always belongs in a summer caprese salad, but it’s also the new star ingredient in hummus, ice cream and even candied basil. Paired with chickpeas, you get a summery chickpea pesto side salad.
- Cilantro (+20%) makes a statement in margaritas and tacos, and also dresses up a chickpea salad.
A new spin on sweets
- Coffee liqueur (+110%) adds a spike to desserts like tiramisu shots. Paired with cinnamon, it transforms into a creamy cocktail.
- Tapioca (+80%) is venturing beyond boba and making a cameo in banana crepes.
Working these flavors into your Pins should be easy as pie. Here are some tips to get started:
1. Inspire home chefs with Rich Pins that show how to make a recipe. Pins with how-to instructions drive an 80% higher save rate!
2. Spice up your Pin descriptions with flavor keywords. Whether you’re sharing recipes or showcasing your products, compelling descriptions help Pins index higher in Pinterest search.
3. Work some of the top 10 flavors into your keyword targeting strategy to reach people who are searching for ways to try the trends.
4. Go organic–organic traffic, that is. Use Pinterest Analytics to track your Pins’ organic performance, then promote your top-performing Pins.
–Thea Carp, currently saving to soup addict
