IRVIN, ASSOCIATE SCIENTIST

One of the most popular beer-based cocktails in Mexico, the michelada has grown in popularity stateside due to a growing interest in Latin American food and flavors. Oh – and it’s just plain delicious! A thirst-quenching blend of beer, tart lime, and hot sauce, it goes down easy served in a tall, chilled glass with a salted rim.

With drinks from bourbon, wine, and creative cocktails showing up as flavors in food applications globally, “shaken” or “stirred” takes on a whole new meaning. We’re seeing this influence in everything from bourbon BBQ sauces and meats to tomato sauce with wine, and beer cheese. The hot and sour michelada is a perfect fit for this popular trend, especially in savory applications.

I came up with the idea for a michelada-inspired seasoning during the summer when I found nothing more refreshing and fulfilling than an ice-cold lager mixed with tomato juice, extra-savory flavor bombs, and a kick of lime and chilis. Somehow bursting with flavor yet extremely light in body and ABV, michelada is a beer cocktail that says, “I’m here for a good time AND a long time.”

Using McCormick Flavor Cap and TrueTaste®, (which offers access to niche flavors that are becoming more relevant in today’s culinary experience), I created a michelada seasoning with the following flavors:

• Flavor Cap Lime flavor
• Flavor Cap Tamarind flavor
• Flavor Cap Tomato flavor Natural
• TrueTaste® American Lager flavor

The result? You’re hit with salt and lime first, as you would with a rimmed glass, followed by the robust flavor of beer, lingering with chilis and a malty sweetness. Totally snackable, this Michelada seasoning dials up the flavor of nuts, crackers, and tortillas, and would make a flavorful add-in to mustard or BBQ sauce for an additional layer of complexity.

Feeling inspired? To deliver michelada flavor to snacks, proteins, and more, get in touch with McCormick. Contact us today.Learn more here.

Order your free flavor sample here.

You deserve more. Let’s get started.

What does true partnership look like? You deserve a flavor partner ready to turn these trends into the tangible.

Let McCormick FONA’s market insight and research experts get to work for you. Translate these trends into bold new ideas for your brand. Increase market share and get to your “what’s next.” Our technical flavor and product development experts are also at your service to help meet the labeling and flavor profile needs for your products to capitalize on this consumer trend. Let’s mesh the complexities of flavor with your brand development, technical requirements and regulatory needs to deliver a complete taste solution. From concept to manufacturing, we’re here for you — every step of the way.

Contact our sales service department at 630.578.8600 to request a flavor sample or chat us up at www.fona.com/contact-fona/