Aji Amarillo pepper to enter more food and beverage items, McCormick says

Listen to the article
3 min

This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback.

Dive Brief:

• Aji Amarillo, a pepper native to South America, is appearing in more dishes as consumers add more spice to their food. The popularity of the ingredient, which Datassential estimates will grow 59% during the next four years on menus, prompted flavor giant McCormick & Co. to name Aji Amarillo as its flavor of the year for 2025.
• Aji Amarillo features fruity, tropical notes with moderate heat. McCormick noted it is appearing more frequently as a key ingredient in offerings such as appetizers, drinks and entrees.
• Spicy foods are increasing in popularity among Gen Z and other consumers who not only like the heat but want to enjoy healthier items without sacrificing flavor.

Dive Insight:

Hot and spicy foods have surged in popularity since the late 1980s, particularly among younger consumers. 

A 2022 survey of more than 6,000 consumers by Kalsec found almost three-quarters of consumers said most foods taste better with some level of heat. Among snacks specifically, 40% of people preferred heat. Last year, a survey by NC Solutions found 62% of consumers indicated they are more likely to buy a food or beverage item if it is advertised as spicy.

The love of spice has proven to be a boon for ingredients like Aji Amarillo. Grown in Peru and native to South America, Aji Amarillo is a staple ingredient in Peruvian cuisine.

McCormick said the pepper has a moderate heat level, ranging from 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville Heat Units. It also offers a unique flavor profile that is fruity and tropical, reminiscent of passion fruit and mango. The heat and flavor are not the only draw for Aji Amarillo. Consumers have shown a penchant for cuisines from around the globe, with Peruvian food among the most popular.

“Aji Amarillo is the true embodiment of flavors that pack a punch,” Hadar Cohen Aviram, executive chef and senior manager of culinary development for the U.S. consumer division at McCormick, said in a statement.

The ingredient, she said, brings versatility to a variety of dishes including seafood, poultry, sauces, and salsas. It amplifies sweet and tangy flavors and adds dimension to smoked or charred items. 

McCormick is embracing the trend by launching Aji Amarillo Seasoning. It will be sold online for a limited time beginning in early February. 

Aji Amarillo fits squarely in several of the flavor predictions and trends McCormick laid out for 2025. These include: 

• Charred and smoked
• Tropical vibes: So-called warm-weather flavors and cuisines that bring the taste of tropical fruits, seafood, and island and beach cuisines
• Deliciously Unexpected: Reimagining familiar ingredients and unexpected combinations that evoke curiosity and cravings. 

In 2024, McCormick named Tamarind, known for its sweet and tangy flavor, as the flavor of the year. The prior year, the Maryland-based company predicted that Vietnamese and Cajun flavors would dominate food trends and restaurant menus, with the consumption of spicy food driving their growth in popularity.