Raspberry pink lip balms, blue raspberry toothpaste, berry lemonades, and festival desserts might seem worlds apart. While together, they signal a bigger shift. Berries are moving beyond the jam jar and becoming inspiration across food, beverage, and beauty. Their bold color, bright flavor, and nostalgic appeal make them perfect for playful, sensory products that resonate with today’s consumers. From café menus to personal care routines, berries are getting reimagined in fresh and unexpected ways. Read on to learn more!

Raspberry returns to the beverage spotlight

Raspberry continues to gain momentum in cafés and ready-to-drink beverages. In early 2025, Starbucks brought back its raspberry syrup after removing it from menus two years earlier. Strong customer demand drove the decision and quickly sparked new drink combinations across social media. Fans began experimenting with custom drinks and sharing their ideas online. In one Reddit discussion, Starbucks customers trade suggestions for raspberry-based drinks and “secret menu” combinations, from raspberry lemonades to berry-infused espresso drinks. The return also inspired drinks like Raspberry Cream Cold Brew, which pairs cold brew coffee with raspberry cold foam and vanilla syrup.

Beyond coffee shops, brands continue to expand raspberry into fruit-forward beverages and wellness drinks. Culture Pop introduced Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade probiotic soda to meet growing demand for lighter, functional drinks with recognizable fruit flavors. Together, these launches highlight raspberry’s shift from a classic dessert flavor to a bright, refreshing ingredient across beverages and wellness formats.

Flavor becomes an active ingredient in beauty

Berry inspiration now expands into beauty and personal care. Brands increasingly use flavor as a sensory tool to differentiate products and create memorable routines. Australian oral care brand Hismile demonstrates this shift. The brand transforms teeth-brushing into a flavor experience with toothpaste varieties including: Blue Raspberry, Grapple Berry, and Strawberry. Hismile extends the concept with matching lip balms that echo the same flavors, showing how flavor can reshape everyday personal care rituals.

Berry notes also influence fragrance and haircare. Fragrance brand Commodity blends strawberry, rhubarb, and raspberry pulp into its Juice perfume, highlighting the juicy complexity of red-berry accords. Meanwhile, Indian haircare brand 3TENX incorporates raspberry seed oil into its Hydrify Gloss Mist to support hydration and heat protection.

In color cosmetics, berry tones continue to shape makeup trends. Raspberry shades appear across lip products and blush palettes, often paired with playful textures. Milk Makeup’s Cooling Water Jelly Tint Lip + Cheek Blush highlights the rise of jelly formats in makeup, delivering sheer berry color with a cooling feel. Rhode takes a similar approach with Peptide Lip Tint in Raspberry Jelly, which blends glossy berry color with lip care.

Berry ingredients also drive skincare innovation. Raspberry extract contains antioxidants and vitamins that support hydration and help protect skin from environmental stress. Brands increasingly highlight these benefits in serums, creams, and lip care products.

Together, these examples show how berry color, flavor cues, and ingredient benefits help beauty brands create playful routines that resonate with younger consumers.

Heritage berries reenter the culinary conversation

Alongside raspberry, heritage berries such as boysenberry are also gaining renewed attention. The hybrid fruit, which combines elements of blackberry and raspberry, has become the centerpiece of the annual Knott’s Boysenberry Festival in California. The event celebrates the berry that helped establish Knott’s Berry Farm nearly a century ago. Each spring, chefs create dozens of new dishes built around boysenberries, from pastries and cocktails to savory sauces.

Festival menus highlight the fruit’s versatility across sweet and savory formats. Events like this help bring regional ingredients back into the culinary conversation while inspiring new flavor experimentation.

What it means for flavor innovation

For flavor innovators, the berry revival highlights the power of familiar ingredients with strong sensory identities. Raspberry offers a bright, adaptable flavor that pairs easily with citrus, botanicals, chocolate, and floral notes. Heritage berries like boysenberry add depth through regional storytelling and culinary experimentation.

For companies like Symrise, these fruits provide a versatile foundation for innovation across beverages, dairy products, bakery, confectionery, and personal care. As brands continue to explore playful textures and cross-category experiences, berries are likely to remain a key source of inspiration.

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In a year when food TikTok has taken us from butter boards to cottage cheese ice cream, one surprising dish has claimed the spotlight: sticky cherry chicken. Sweet, tangy, and glossy, this viral recipe proves once again that comfort food with a twist wins hearts and algorithms. The dish leans on pantry staples and feels elevated. A quick cherry glaze transforms everyday chicken thighs into a craveable main course, hitting that sweet-savory balance beloved in Asian-inspired cooking. TikTok creators like @charisma.renee and @haileecatalano have shown how easy one can make it at home, while food blogs like Simply Recipes are backing up the hype with tested variations.

Why now?

Consumers are craving bold flavor payoffs and short prep times. Sticky cherry chicken checks both boxes: minimal ingredients, maximum wow factor. It also reflects a larger flavor trend; fruit-forward sauces and glazes are breaking out of the dessert aisle and onto the dinner table.

It tells a familiar flavor story: hot honey went from niche condiment to mainstream menu must-have, while mango chili and pineapple salsas have surged in both retail and restaurant formats. Cherries perfectly align with this wave of fruit-first flavor innovation, delivering natural tartness that pairs beautifully with umami and spice.

The dish taps into today’s “visual dining” culture. Its lacquered, ruby-red glaze looks made for posting and saving. On Pinterest, boards highlight photogenic takes of sticky cherry chicken with glossy finishes and vibrant garnishes. The recipe also works well in casual dining, with preparation both easy enough for a weeknight dinner and striking enough to feature on a menu. High-color foods, from ube lattes to pink sauces, continue to trend because they deliver on both taste and shareability.

Recipe: sticky cherry chicken (serves 4)

Ingredients

• 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• 1 cup cherry preserves (or frozen cherries, thawed and mashed)
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
• 2 tbsp honey
• two cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Optional garnish: sliced scallions, sesame seeds

Method

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Pat chicken thighs dry, season with salt and pepper.
2. Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet (cast iron preferred, like this method). Sear chicken skin-side down until golden, about 5 minutes. Flip and cook another 3 minutes. Remove from the skillet.
3. In the same pan, add garlic and ginger, and sauté 1 minute. Stir in cherry preserves, soy sauce, vinegar, and honey. Simmer until glossy, about 3–4 minutes.
4. Return chicken to skillet, spooning glaze over pieces. Transfer pan to oven and roast 20–25 minutes, until chicken reaches 165°F internal temp.
5. Remove, rest 5 minutes, and garnish with scallions and sesame seeds.

Serve with steamed rice, roasted vegetables, or a fresh green salad.

Flavor in focus

Sticky cherry chicken may sound like viral recipe; actually, it reflects how home cooks are rethinking the role of fruit in savory dishes. By pairing cherries with soy and ginger, the dish bridges comfort and novelty, offering something approachable and new. It mirrors a broader shift toward playful experimentation in home kitchens, where TikTok creators double as flavor innovators. Expect to see cherry-inspired sauces pop up in meal kits, fast-casual menus, and even snack formats as brands take cues from what’s trending online. As with Spaghett Season’s beer cocktail moment, sticky cherry chicken shows how digital virality can accelerate flavor adoption—from TikTok swipe to grocery aisle.

Whether you’re chasing likes or just craving a sticky, satisfying dinner, this dish proves one thing: cherries are more versatile and more irresistible than you think!

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From Starbucks lattes to grocery aisles, pumpkin spice has defined fall for over a decade. Now, fatigue is setting in. Autumn 2025 ushers in global flavors, cozy classics, and bold “swicy” (sweet + spicy) twists. Nostalgia blends with novelty. Warm spices like cinnamon and chai take center stage. Classic fruits—apple, pear, cranberry—anchor the season. Indulgent notes of pecan, maple brown butter, and salted caramel add richness. Consumers lean into sweet-heat pairings, the depth of brown butter, and the comfort of candy apples. Autumnal flavors are rewriting tradition, inviting everyone on a new taste journey. Read on to learn more!

Fruit forward

As these flavor shifts unfold, fruit is stepping into the spotlight as a versatile hero of the season. According to Pepsico, moving beyond pumpkin spice, autumnal fruits bring a balance of tartness and sweetness that offers versatility in both hot and cold beverages. Apple, cranberry, and pear continue as fall icons, while pomegranate, persimmon, fig, and quince are rising in popularity. You may know cranberries as a classic Thanksgiving flavor. In beverages, they could occur more, especially as a refreshing counterpoint to warm spices. Apples are also getting a seasonal refresh, with varieties like Honeycrisp and Green Apple drawing attention. Watch candy apple for proven newness in confectionery and snacks!

Warming spices

Feeling a chill in the air? As temperatures drop, consumers tend to gravitate toward cozy, aromatic flavors that signal comfort. Cinnamon, clove, chai, ginger, and nutmeg bring depth, warmth, and complexity. In fact, according to a survey by The Food Institute, cinnamon has taken the top spot as consumers’ favorite fall flavor! Consumers’ favorite autumnal flavor can go into both sweet and savory dishes. Try these easy Brown Sugar Cinnamon Baked Apples!

Indulgent and inventive

Flavors like caramel apple, pecan, pistachio, brown butter, and cookie butter evoke a sense of nostalgia and fall decadence. Salted caramel remains a favorite, and creative spins, such as salted maple, go especially well with fall menus. Pecan appears to become a rising star, especially in the form of pecan pie or butter pecan. This nutty favorite has turned into the fastest-growing fall latte favorite as well, with orders up 28% year-over-year. Toasted pecans, featuring a rich, toasted flavor, have been trending in beverages and baked goods. Just check out these pecan recipe options from Food 52.

Complex combinations

While maple has always been a favorite, pairing the flavor with bourbon creates a rich profile that conjures cozy evenings and flannel blankets. Maple bourbon offers a sweet and smoky fireside combination that work perfect in crafting cocktails and elevated desserts (even decadent ice cream). Looking to add sophistication to your lineup? Fig and honey bring subtle fruit and floral notes. Earthy warmth grounds the blend. Try it in everything from cheese boards to Greek yogurt. Pear and ginger make another standout duo. Pear adds mellow sweetness. Ginger delivers a warming kick. Both combos tap into the rising demand for botanical and fruit-spice blends. Expect to see them in scones, muffins, and even wellness shots.

Symrise as an industry leader is innovating trending flavor profiles. For years, pumpkin spice has ruled the autumn beverage scene—the undisputed seasonal champion. This year, new contenders are emerging, stirring excitement among consumers and brands alike.

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