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The Home Economics Institute of Australia Inc. (HEIA) is the peak professional body for home economists in Australia. HEIA advocates for the interests of professionals working in education, industry, community health, consumer affairs, and family and hous

Flavour Forecast recipe challenge

What is the Flavour Forecast?

The Flavour Forecast® is an annual report created by McCormick® Foods that highlights the emerging food trends and flavours for the year ahead. It is developed through extensive research, expert insights, and global culinary trends. McCormick® compiles the forecast to inspire chefs, home cooks, and food lovers by showcasing innovative flavours, ingredients, and culinary experiences. Each edition focuses on the specific flavours and trends McCormick® predicts will influence the food world in that year.

HEIA involvement with the Flavour Forecast

HEIA has been proudly involved with the Flavour Forecast® recipe challenge since 2013 and the Tertiary Flavour Forecast® recipe challenge since 2020. Each year, HEIA collaborates with McCormick Foods Australia to develop a design brief that aligns with the current trends outlined in the Flavour Forecast® report for each challenge. This partnership inspires both secondary and tertiary students to explore emerging flavours and culinary trends, fostering creativity, innovation, and practical skills in their recipe development. HEIA’s involvement ensures these challenges offer meaningful learning opportunities, enhancing students’ understanding of global food trends. HEIA is involved in judging alongside the team from McCormick Foods.

While the design briefs for the Flavour Forecast® and Tertiary Flavour Forecast® recipe challenges both address the same trends, they are distinct in their specifications.

Flavour Forecast® recipe challenge

The Flavour Forecast® recipe challenge is designed for Year 9 and Year 10 students. It encourages students to explore and create recipes that reflect emerging culinary trends, fostering creativity and innovation in culinary education. Developed by McCormick Foods Australia and the Home Economics Institute of Australia Inc., the challenge invites students from Australian schools to respond to a design brief and create two original recipes that align with the McCormick® Flavour Forecast®.

2025 Flavour Forecast recipe challenge

Tertiary Flavour Forecast recipe challenge

The Tertiary Flavour Forecast® recipe challenge is designed for all Australian undergraduate, honours, and master students. It provides an opportunity for students to create, experiment, and select one flavour trend that inspires them to develop an original recipe. Participants must respond to the brief, which includes the required specifications.

2025 Tertiary Flavour Forecast recipe challenge

Past Flavour Forecast trends

Explore past Flavour Forecast® trends [Link to past trends – info coming soon] to gain a fascinating insight into how food and flavour innovations have evolved over time. Revisit these trends to gain a better understanding of how culinary preferences shift and find inspiration in the creative recipes and ingredients that have shaped the food landscape in recent years.