What's your flavour?
What's your flavour?
You’ve probably debated sweet v savoury (particularly in the popcorn queue). But honestly, why pick sides? We asked 1,000 UK food lovers for the flavours they’re most excited to try this year, and ‘swavoury’ (sweet and savoury combined) came out on top. Hot on Swavoury’s tasty heels are three other flavour combos the nation can’t wait to try: Swoasty (sweet and toasty), Picklish (pickle-forward) and Fricy (fruit and spice, hello spicy marg...). Ready to ignite your tastebuds? Get ready for a very tasty 2026...
Watch: Find your flavour
Waitrose cook Charmaine Katz shares some simple tricks to super-charge your favourite flavours. Bold cooking without the faff? Yes please.
Meet your new favourite flavours
Meet your new favourite flavours
Tasty flavour profiles to try in 2026
Fricy
Love a drizzle of sweet chilli sauce? Turn up the heat with these ‘Fricy’ recipes that combine sweet and spicy all day long.
Swavoury
This is sweet and salty 2.0 (step aside, salted caramel). Pairing sweet and savoury flavours together gives welcome depth to dishes and desserts.
Picklish
Branston in the cupboard? Kimchi in the fridge? Then you're already a fan of the picklish side of life - those briny, pickled, lightly fermented flavours we can't get enough of.
Swoasty
Swoasty gives desserts a toasty, caramelised edge – from brown butter to burnt-topped desserts (and toasted marshmallows, of course). Blowtorches at the ready...
Meet the store-cupboard heroes
Meet the store-cupboard heroes
Turn up the flavour and dial down the effort with these store‑cupboard saviours. Proof that not all heroes wear capes… Some sit quietly on the shelf.
Gran Luchito Hot Habanero Mango Salsa
Chillies and fruit make perfect sense together – they’re family. Add instant fiery-fragrant goodness to your everyday classics with a spoon of this salsa.
Ottolenghi Madagascan Vanilla & Miso Caramel Ice Cream
Bring instant sweet‑umami swagger to your pud with a scoop of creamy, caramel‑meets‑miso magic.
Vadasz Kimchi
Once you fall for pickles and ferments, it’s only a matter of time before you want them with EVERYTHING.
Rhythm 108 Golden Blonde Spread
Feeling snack‑ish? One slather of this swoasty superstar turns anything into a sweet, biscuity caramel delight. No effort, all reward.
Must-make recipes
Must-make recipes
Spicy prawn tacos
Ixta Belfrage’s dish celebrates fruit and spice in every bite, with curry-spiked prawn patties and a sweet-sharp, smoky rhubarb salsa.
See Spicy prawn tacos with rhubarb & Scotch bonnet salsa recipe
Malted marble cake
This marble cake from Remi Idowu hits the perfect ‘swoasty’ sweet spot. Browned butter brings a deep, nutty caramel richness, and toasted marshmallows give the cake a show‑stopper finish.
Cheese & pickle noodles
Try Justin Tsang’s ‘picklish’ twist on dan dan noodles for a seriously slurpable bowl. Spice, salt and sour all wrapped up in thick, creamy tahini noodles.
Sticky pork ribs
According to Ben Lippett, sherry vinegar reigns supreme in the world of wine vinegars. Mix it with bitter caramel for a bold ‘swavoury’ sauce, served with pork ribs.
More food inspiration
More food inspiration
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