Trends: white tea and low-carbs for 2003

A prepared curry, presented in minimal packaging, washed down by a cup of white tea, followed by a vanilla ice cream anyone? According to the Global New Products Database​ of market analysts Mintel, these are some of the trends we could expect to see in the coming year.

Asian cuisine continues to go from strength to strength and will drive manufacturers to mass production. Easy to prepare and healthy, Asian foods will experience a surge in popularity in 2003, reports Mintel​. Frozen meals and meal kits (perhaps in the refrigerated section because of the heavy veggie component) will be the first to show development.

The ever popular 'citrus' was nominated as flavour of 2003 with the lesser known Japanese flavour wasabi arriving in second position.

Mintel predicts that the traditional scent (and flavour), vanilla, will be cropping up everywhere in 2003. Expect to see the scent in skincare, fragrances, and even teas.

According to the analysts the hottest new ingredient of 2003 will be white tea - ousting its green sister from its podium. Over the past three years the popularity of green tea has exploded - to a large part due to the health benefits believed to be held therein. Mintel predicts that 2003 will be the turn of white tea. The ingredient, chock-full of antioxidants, has already appeared in skincare products and, of course, tea. Expect to see this ingredient popping up in vitamins and healthcare products, haircare, and other food products.

Children generate billions in business and manufacturers have tuned in, writes Mintel. In 2001 we saw "mystery" ketchup colours, blue french fries, and, most recently, green pancake syrup from the Mrs. Butterworth's brand. In essence, products that were already kid-friendly became more so. In 2003, Mintel predicts that children will be the target for products previously aimed at the adult market, such as coffee. Coffee drinkers are getting younger, and with the growing appeal of RTD iced coffees and the mammoth spread of coffee bars in Europe and the US, Mintel claims that there will soon be a child-targeted coffee drink.

There has been a surge in amorphous beverage and dairy drinks of late. This trend is primed to burst "like a shaken can of soda"​ in 2003. Manufacturers are expected to play with all sorts of products with a niche appeal. Perhaps juice-flavoured milk packed with nutrients to replace a meal? A yoghurt drink with fizz?

Moving onto sauces, and the pursuit of the universal sauce. According to Mintel, with each new sauce product launched - spiked ketchup, mixed-up mayo - one wonders when the "universal sauce" will arrive. Something like a hot and spicy, but mild-mannered sauce that can serve every application and please everyone - and will require only one bottle in the fridge.

'Low carbohydrate' claims may well take over 'low fat' claims in popularity. Manufacturers will be busy reformulating everything they can to be low in carbohydrates, writes Mintel. Anheuser-Busch did it with Michelob Ultra and a new reformulation of Doc's Hard Lemonade, and now the much researched Atkins diet is receiving more attention as consumers wonder whether the low fat, low calorie regime they have been following over the last ten years is the right choice.