Eats Meets West Global innovations in food and beverage A blog by Nagase America

What will be hot in Japan in 2016?  With a large staff of food application specialists and scientists in Japan, we asked our colleagues to give us their insights on the top food and beverage trends in Japan in 2016.  Here are our top three picks: 1.  Unique Ice Cream and Frozen Treats From 2005 …

As the year comes to an end, we focus on important things, such as spending time with family and friends, keeping warm, and reflecting on the past year and the year to come.  Unfortunately, we also spend a lot of time loosening our belts after eating too much at holiday meals.  It is no surprise …

The avocado trend is popping up in unique products worldwide.  This month, both McDonalds Japan and Burger King Japan launched avocado-containing sandwiches.  Positioned for breakfast, the avocado toast from McDonalds is avocado, ham, lettuce and a spicy sauce on an English muffin.  The avocado fish sandwich from Burger King Japan is a fried fish filet …

The Tropical Pineapple Bites we served at IFT15 this year were not just your average pineapple snacks. The bites were made from pineapple core, much to the surprise of the people who tasted them. These fruit bites not only had a juicy texture, with a sweet-tangy flavor, but also highlighted a trend popular with consumers: …

Watch our new video to discover how TREHA® trehalose can help formulators meet consumers’ desires for improved freshness, flavor and texture.  A unique ingredient found in nature, trehalose has multi-functional benefits for a wide range of applications … from beverages to bakery and more! Hungry for more information?  Follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter or subscribe to our …

It seems no one is eating just plain cake donuts these days.  First, it was the New York panic over “Cronuts,” the melt-in-your-mouth combination of a croissant and a donut.  And now the big craze in Chicago is focused on “Wonuts”, a yummy hybrid of donuts and waffles.  Wonuts are available in several Chicago bakeries …

With a nearly quarter of the population over 65, Japan boasts one of the longest life expectancies in the world (84 years) and is a world leader in healthy aging (CIA, 2014). A recent article by the AARP noted the “secrets” of Japanese longevity were a healthy diet, regular exercise, extended work years and government …

From protein to clean labels, many of us have a grasp on what’s trending in the United States in terms of food and beverages.  But how about in other areas of the world?  We asked our Japanese colleagues to weigh in on the top food and beverage trends in Japan in 2015.  Below are their picks. 1.  …