• Firework – A patriotic burst of cherry, lime, and blue raspberry that captures the excitement of summer festivities and is reminiscent of the United States’ red, white, and blue.  
• Prickly Pear – A vibrant cactus fruit native to the Americas, delivering berry-like sweetness with bold color across beverages, sauces, and confections.  
• Sweetcorn – A nostalgic, nutty-sweet favorite that brings carnival-style comfort to beverages and desserts. More than half of U.S. candy and dessert eaters have already tried a sweetcorn-flavored treat.  
• White Peach – A honeyed, delicate sweetness that shines in refreshing drinks, jams, and grilled desserts—perfectly ripe for summer. 46% of consumers have tried white  peach in non-alcoholic beverages.  
• Blackberry – Rich, tangy, and versatile, blackberries' deep sweetness and bold hue make them a standout addition to both sweet and savory applications.   

Savory  

• Charcoal – The essence of summer grilling, delivering a smoky, complex char that elevates meats, vegetables, and seafood. 77% of U.S. consumers like to try new flavors while grilling, while 34% research ways to enhance food quality when grilling. 
• Guajillo – A staple of Mexican cuisine, this moderately spicy chili brings sweet heat to everything from savory dishes to desserts and chocolate. Nearly half of global consumers have sought intense, bold flavors.  
• Yakitori – Classic Japanese skewered chicken grilled over charcoal with a sweet soy-based glaze, offering simple, high-quality flavor ideal for gatherings.  
• Spicy Coconut – Tropical and fiery, this creamy chili-infused flavor draws inspiration from the culinary traditions of South Asia, Brazil and Jamaica.  
• White Miso – A mild, tangy Japanese seasoning paste made from fermented rice and soybeans that adds umami depth to dressings, marinades, and grilled dishes.  

“With our nation’s 250^th anniversary and the World Cup now in North America, global cuisine and regional pride will converge on our restaurant menus, grocery store shelves, and pantries like never before,” says Mark Webster, VP of sales and marketing at T. Hasegawa USA. “As consumer preferences continue to evolve, food and beverage brands are uniquely positioned to have fun and leverage bold and nuanced flavors to capitalize on the excitement this summer brings.”  

Summer flavors are just one of several findings in the 2026 Summer Flavors Report, a free publication by California-based flavor manufacturer T. Hasegawa USA, which has developed custom flavors for the world’s top food and beverage brands for more than a century. Globally recognized for its innovation and expertise in flavor development and proprietary flavor-enhancing technologies, T. Hasegawa remains at the forefront of consumer trends and shares these developments and research findings throughout the food and beverage industry, it says.

In addition to unveiling this year’s summer flavors, T. Hasegawa’s reports predict other up-and-coming ingredients, flavor trends, and consumer patterns that will shape the world of foods and beverages, including:   

• Sixty-four percent of U.S. consumers would like their usual grocer to offer more international food and drink products.   
• Forty-four percent of U.S. and Canadian consumers say traditional and nostalgic flavors influence their food and beverage choices.   
• Twenty-nine percent of U.S. and Canadian consumers say seasonal and limited-edition flavors influence their food and beverage choices.   

These findings and more can be found in T. Hasegawa’s 2026 Summer Flavors Report, available for free download here.

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