Coconut flour, cactus water and charred food: Waitrose unveils 2016’s top food trends
Were cactus water, wonky vegetables and coconut flour on the list for your latest weekly shop? No? Well, get with the times, apparently they were among the top food trends of the past year.
So says Waitrose's 2016 Food and Drink Report, as consumers are becoming ever more focused on eating "lighter and fresher", while "faddy diets seem to be on the decline".
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Of 2,000 shoppers surveyed by the supermarket, 60 per cent said the food they choose is naturally lighter and fresher than five years ago, while 71 per cent claim that eating healthily and looking after themselves is "part of who they are".
As for some of the specific hits, aubergine sales were up 18 per cent as people are using it as a carb substitute, while sales of Guinness got a boost in March thanks to St Patrick's Day (up 40 per cent).
Natalie Mitchell, head of brand development at Waitrose, said: "Consumers are doing what's right. We're living in an era when people are walking the walk, not just talking the talk."
Apparently, 46 per cent of us throw away less food than we did give years ago.
GOING UP – THE FOOD TRENDS OF 2016
Seaweed – apparently it's this year's kale
Churros – delightful Spanish doughnuts
Wonky veg – as part of Britain's war on waste
Cactus water – the new coconut water
Seeds and grains – buckwheat sales are up 82 per cent, chia seeds by 62 per cent
Charred food (good news all of you poor chefs out there)
Coconut flour – a gluten-free alternative high in fibre and protein
Picanha – a Brazilian rump steak don't you know
Veggan diet – no, not a typo, but simply a vegan diet with eggs
Bao buns – street food-inspired Asian steamed buns
THE DRINK TRENDS OF 2016
Gin and tonic – this year's tipple of choice (sales up 34 per cent compared to 2015)
Whispering Angel rosé – sales of rosé are up 14 per cent this year
Japanese whisky
Pignoletto – an alternative to Prosecco
Craft beer in cans
Gavi – the new sauvignon blanc
Snowball – the 70s favourite is back with a vengeance
Beaujolais Nouveau – a fruity red
Premium bourbon
Seedlip – a distilled alcohol-free spirit made with botanicals