2026 AAPI & BBQ Flavor Trends Report

May brings two of the biggest flavor moments in the calendar together: AAPI Heritage Month and National BBQ Month. This exclusive Tastewise report gives your R&D and marketing teams the demand signals, white-space opportunities, and fusion flavor data to move before competitors do.

  • +112% in sweet & smoky demand
  • +78% in smoky BBQ sauce
  • +54% comfort cuisine growth

Download the report

By submitting, you accept our Privacy Policy.

Free. Sent to your inbox.

What's in the 2026 AAPI & BBQ flavor trends report?

Four data-backed sections built for R&D and marketing teams who need to move fast on Q2 opportunities.

  1. The new BBQ language

  2. Menu strategy and portability

  3. Ingredient and claim cues

  4. Occasion-led growth

Written by

Kelia Losa Reinoso

Published

More from Kelia

Don't miss the May LTO window

AAPI Heritage Month and National BBQ Month only align once a year. Get the Tastewise data your team needs to build a trend-forward product or campaign story before the season opens.

Frequently asked questions about AAPI BBQ fusion trends

Consumer demand has shifted from broad "Asian-inspired" positioning toward specific regional techniques and named ingredients. The 2026 data shows measurable growth behind that specificity. The full breakdown is in the report.

More reports