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Recently, the culinary world in China and Vietnam has been shocking consumers with a series of bizarre-sounding dishes, such as onion-flavored milk tea, chili-flavored grilled sausages, hand-ground lemon tea, salted coffee, cheese coin-shaped cakes, and milk tea baked in clay, etc.
However, these bizarre combination ideas have actually been around for quite some time, and notably, they've been developed by well-known brands. The fact that major brands release these unique combined products isn't random; it all has a clear reason and purpose. These products are usually aimed at meeting diverse market needs, attracting consumer attention, and showcasing the brand's creativity and innovation.
Onion milk tea in Vietnam once caused a sensation because of its "bizarre" taste.
Little Moons, a renowned British artisanal ice cream brand, has just launched a bold new flavor: fish and chips ice cream. Inspired by this traditional British street food, the ice cream combines the creamy richness of ice cream with the salty crispness of fish and chips.
The brand says it wants to offer customers new and unique experiences. They believe the fish-flavored ice cream and french fries will appeal to those who enjoy exploring new things.
Little Moons has just launched a bold new flavor: fish and potato chip flavored ice cream.
Little Moons' bold decision has received mixed reactions from consumers. Some are curious and intrigued by the novel flavor, considering it a creative way to enjoy a familiar street food. Others find it unpleasant, repulsive, and unimaginable to combine ice cream with fish and fries.
Take Van Leeuwen, a New York-based artisanal ice cream company known for its classic flavors like vanilla and pistachio. However, they also boldly introduce "shocking" flavors, such as pizza or Hidden Valley Ranch (a sauce containing onions and garlic). These unique creations not only challenge traditional tastes but also spark curiosity and excitement among consumers, solidifying Van Leeuwen's position in the artisanal ice cream industry through its relentless innovation.
Pizza-flavored ice cream or Hidden Valley Ranch-flavored ice cream, a sauce containing onions and garlic.
In fact, combinations of flavors that few would expect, or even find somewhat bizarre, are becoming increasingly common. Consumers can easily find such products on store shelves.
For example, Hershey launched a lemon-flavored KitKat. IHOP and Lay's released Rooty Tooty Fresh n' Fruity potato chips, described as tasting like strawberry pancakes with bacon.
Rooty Tooty Fresh n' Fruity potato chips are described as tasting like strawberry pancakes with bacon.
In today's fiercely competitive market, brands are constantly seeking new ways to capture customer attention. Bizarre food and drinks can help them stand out and create a buzz on social media.
Many believe that brands creating new flavors is a way to attract attention and increase popularity. However, experts argue that this is not the sole purpose. Behind these unusual flavors lies a carefully considered strategy to meet market demands and the ever-changing tastes of consumers.
With the boom in restaurants and cafes, differentiation is crucial to attracting customers. Unique food and drinks can help brands establish their position in the market. Brands hope that quirky food and drinks will pique customers' curiosity and encourage them to try the product.
Using new, unique ingredients can help brands save on production costs compared to using traditional ingredients. Launching new flavors is a crucial strategy for food brands to meet market demands, differentiate themselves, and attract customers. However, brands need to carefully consider the benefits and risks before deciding to launch a new flavor.
Launching new flavors is a key strategy for food brands.
Playing with flavors can boost a brand in many ways. Sometimes, it's a means of introducing new customers to the brand. Or sometimes, it's a way to encourage customers to buy the original flavor. However, these combinations aren't always successful. For example, even Van Leeuwen couldn't eat a few scoops of Hidden Valley Ranch ice cream, which contains onion and garlic powder. Even ice creams with shocking, even popular, flavors like mac-and-cheese don't frequently appear on fixed menus because the likelihood of customers choosing them is low.
The trend of major brands "racing" to create bizarre food trends is receiving mixed reactions. While both involve bizarre cuisine, the dishes from these brands are carefully planned, with thorough flavor research and a clear purpose behind their release. This is the biggest difference from trends like the green onion bubble tea in Vietnam.
