In today’s culinary landscape, trendy food and drinks aren’t just about what’s on the plate or in the cup. They tap into a shared desire for something beyond the ordinary, a collective itch for exploration, and a hunger for new flavours and experiences. 

As the world continues to globalize, so do the menus at food and drink establishments. To support that point, here are four mega-popular food and beverage trends dominating the conversation in 2024. 

Asian Desserts Are Sweeping North America

There will always be a place on North American menus for apple pie and black forest cakes. But, as places like the US and Canada have become more multicultural and diverse, the world of desserts has gotten bigger – a big win for dessert lovers everywhere. 

Case in point: Asian desserts are sweeping the continent. Now, you can find Japanese cheesecakes and souffle pancakes at your local patisserie. Fine dining restaurants are experimenting with Thai coconut sticky rice pudding and jackfruit ice cream.

Popular shops like Bake Code Canada are fusing Asian flavours with classic French bakery staples. And several dessert-specific Asian eateries have popped up to supply hungry sweet tooths with red bean cakes, mochi, HK egg tarts, Filipino leche flans, and more. 

Innovative Bubble Teas Continue to Make a Magnificent Splash

Unsurprisingly, bubble tea is dominating the food and beverage convo in 2024. It dominated it in 2023, 2022, 2021… you get the idea. 

This globally beloved beverage is starting to look less like a trend and more like a cultural institution – an evergreen source of joy that just can’t be stopped. (Who could possibly want to stop it?). 

Just look at beloved shops like Chatime Toronto, which welcomes throngs of thirsty boba lovers with its constantly innovative menu.

The brand’s prime Toronto location in the Stockyards boasts trendy seasonal items like pumpkin spice milk tea, alongside classics like roasted milk tea boba, and innovative creations like a matcha strawberry latte bubble tea. 

Globally Inspired Ice Creams Add Pizzazz to the Beloved Comfort Food

Ice cream aficionados, get ready to embark on a global flavour journey. In 2024, ice cream parlours are embracing international influences, introducing global flavours inspired by diverse cuisines – as evidenced by this research study.

From cardamom-infused Indian kulfi to tangy Thai coconut milk ice cream, and sticky Mexican dulce de leche, these globally-inspired takes on the classic comfort food are starting to pop up everywhere. 

It’s yet another example of how diversity and multiculturalism are reshaping the food and beverage conversation — for the better. 

Artisanal Mocktails Grace the Menus of Trendy Establishments 

While it doesn’t strictly fit our running theme of multicultural food and beverage trends, the shift toward artisan mocktails is too big to discount.

And besides, many of the bespoke mocktails currently gracing the menus of swanky establishments take their cue from global flavours: Indian cassia bitters, Persian verjus, Jamaican sorrel juice, Japanese yuzu, etc. These drinks appeal to people who want a frosty croupe glass of something classy without the buzz. 

In summary, it’s good to be a consumer in 2024. The world of food and drinks has never been this diverse or exciting. Go out and try one of these trendy items today, and enjoy the flavourful benefits of multiculturalism.