Soup is comfort food that offers a sense of warmth and community; it's almost like a culinary hug. 

Current soup trends in 2024 embrace that idea while also introducing adventurous flavors. Current flavor trends consider what consumers rely on and want from their soup — and what new culinary ideas excite them.

Emerging Soup Trends for 2024

Today's market shows consumers have a few demands for the soup they consume and what flavor profiles they are most excited to see.

Healthy Options

Today's health-conscious and nutritious soups are different from those in the past. People expect foods to be good for them but also taste amazing. They won't settle for dull or bland foods, demanding choices that deliver on flavor. 

Consumers also want more natural ingredients. They seek soups with properties to boost immunity, relieve stress, aid in weight loss, and provide energy. They also want to help keep the Earth healthy, so sustainability is another point to consider when creating new recipes.

Options that may fall into this category include:

• Organic

• High protein

• Low cholesterol

• Low or reduced sodium

• No added preservatives

• Low or reduced fat

• Gluten-free

• Vegan

Plant-based and sustainable soup options are also part of this group.

Variety

Consumers want high quality products with a variety of choices. Soup flavor options should include something different and intriguing. 

Ease of Preparation

People love an easy meal option, and soup is an ideal choice. Single-serve options have gained traction recently because they make on-the-go eating simple.

Forward-Thinking

People like to explore new flavor profiles that let them expand their worldview. They also want something unexpected. The industry can benefit from looking at other dishes with the potential to become soup. Mash-ups or fusions are an ongoing trend that's not losing steam. 

Nostalgia

Consumers love twists on classic flavors or seasonal favorites. They crave the comfort of something they know but often want it to be slightly different to keep them coming back.

Related: Modern Comfort Food Trends: Evolving Classics for Today's Palates

Top Quality Local Ingredients

People want soups made from high-quality ingredients, and today's consumers are especially excited about locally sourced ingredients. Using a local farm or producer to obtain ingredients can boost interest and lead to innovation when creating new soups.

 Taste Profiles in 2024 

Some of the taste profiles at the top of the soup trends in 2024 list include:

• Global inspirations

• Regional U.S. flavors

• Dish-inspired recipes

• Comforting classics

Global Inspirations

Globally-inspired soups are all about using flavors from cuisines all around the world:

• Europe: Classic examples from this area include borscht (a sour Ukrainian option with red beetroot, cabbage, garlic, and potatoes) and Finnish/Icelandic salmon soup (a chowder with dill, cream, carrots, and salmon).

• Africa: Soups from this continent are very stew-like and include vegetarian harira and groundnut stew.

• Middle East: Soups from this region, including red lentil soup, typically have a health-forward profile.

• Mexico: Mexican soups use traditional flavors. They may include Birria soup (a Mexican beef stew with a spicy broth), pozole with poblano, a stock-based Mexican soup featuring hominy and pork or chicken, and Mexican street corn soup.

• Asia: Most soups from this region are like a whole meal in a bowl. Common options are pho and ramen. However, there are plenty of other options, including wonton soup (a Chinese broth with meat-filled wontons), Thai chicken curry (a creamy soup with fish sauce, chicken, curry species, and coconut milk), and kimchi jjigae (a Korean soup that is spicy and savory, containing pork belly, kimchi, and anchovies broth or paste).

Regional U.S. Flavors

Regional U.S. flavors usually include taste profiles that may not be widely known in other parts of the country, such as Cajun soup, a spicy and smoky option with andouille sausage, or beer cheese soup, a thick and creamy roux-based soup from the Midwest.

Dish-Inspired Recipes

Dish-inspired soups are essentially a deconstructed recipe and can be inspired by almost anything. Some options include: 

• Jalapeño popper soup with cream cheese and pepper elements from this popular appetizer

• Chicken pot pie soup with a creamy base of carrots, potatoes, peas, and chicken,

• Lasagna soup with traditional lasagna ingredients transported into a creamy tomato-based soup

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Comforting Classics

Comforting classics are soup flavors with a special spot in consumers' hearts because they grew up eating them. They rarely fall out of favor and include: 

• Butternut squash soup  

• Potato chive soup

• Jewish lentil or matzo ball soups 

• Stews and chilis (especially popular in the fall and winter months)

While classic recipes still sell well, the current trend is toward innovation, such as soups offering new meats and spices to gently tweak the consumer experience.

Industry Positioning

For true soup success, restaurant operatros must focus on soup menu innovation. They must also understand the importance of seasonal offerings and why consumers crave convenience — and be ready to tackle new ideas, such as sustainable ingredients and plant-based products.

When it comes to industry position, soups may fall into one of four groups:

1. Innovators: These are usually chef-driven offerings with new flavors and less familiar ingredients, meaning their potential for market success still needs to be established. A flavor profile for an innovator soup may include chestnut, grape, tarragon, apple, caviar, dill, or peanut.

2. Ahead of the curve: These offerings are just a little behind the innovators and are also typically chef-driven. These soups' flavor profiles may include parmesan, gruyere, chive, lemon, red chile, chorizo, coconut, and curry.

3. Adopt the popular: These offerings are all about following trends, but only those that have proven popular with most consumers. Soups from this group may include flavors like basil, carrot, cilantro, sour cream, avocado, bacon, garlic, and jalapeño.

4. Proven favorites: This last group of soups is less trend-conscious. They have broad appeal and will continue to be something consumers want rather than just the flavor of the month. Classic flavors, including onion, cheddar, and tomato, are the choice here.

Restaurant operators who want to be innovators or ahead of the curve must stay on top of soup trends in 2024. To succeed in this market, an operator must:

• Focus on quality: Never settle for less and maintain high standards.

• Use good ingredients: Seek out local ingredients when possible and pay more for quality.

• Produce desirable flavors: Know what's trending, follow the latest news, and be ready to create something new.

• Ensure safe production: Follow health codes, use ethical practices, and partner with those who do, such as farmers using sustainable farming methods.

Tips for Top Soup Sales

Restaurants that want to become top soup sellers must do more than just offer it as a starter. They need to develop themselves as a go-to place for premium soups. 

Some ideas include:

• Avoiding putting soup only on fall and winter menus

• Making soup the star by creating dishes that are heartier main entrées

• Promoting soup's affordability

It's also helpful to target younger people. Kids, teens, and young adults may be less likely to order soup, so restaurants should market it in ways that speak to these age groups:

• Limited-time offers: The younger generations love exclusivity. Saying a soup is only available for a month or a season is a great way to grab their interest and make them want to try it before it's gone. 

• Photogenic offerings: Younger consumers love to share everything about their lives, including their food, so making soup visually appealing can encourage them to choose it. 

• Ethically sourced ingredients: Younger consumers are typically environmentally conscious. They want to limit their environmental footprint and often look for sustainably/ethically sourced foods. 

• Customizable options: Choice is big with younger people. They want options ranging from plant-based soup ingredients to innovative soup flavors. 

Keeping Up With 2024 Soup Trends

For centuries, soup has been a largely cold-weather staple that's budget-friendly, but the industry is finally waking up to soup's greater potential. 

Embracing the soup trends in 2024 will lead to enticing and delicious product offerings. And competition is sure to keep this market segment interesting as restaurant operators seek to create the most mind-blowing and innovative flavors in soup. 

To learn about Symrise, food trend insights and more, contact the team today!