Fresh, wholesome, healthy, rich, aromatic – its no wonder that the past decade has seen Middle Eastern cuisines global profile skyrocketing. With todays consumers being more adventurous than ever, there are certain pockets of the world that have sparked interest particularly when it comes to food and flavors. Bell Flavors & Fragrances has constructed a variety of diversified flavors from the Middle East to keep up with these consumer trends. 

From the tip of Northern Africa, across the Arabian Desert, and to the banks of the Mediterranean Sea, the geographical diversity of the Middle East creates a variety of flavor possibilities and application opportunities that Bell has been excited to explore.

The Middle East is well known for kebabs, koftas, tabbouleh and fatoush, however, there are certain spice blends that are only associated with Middle Eastern cuisines. Spices and herbs are the stars of the show when it comes to the Middle East regions. 

As Middle Eastern citizens are continuing to migrate across the world, the spices and surprisingly compatible flavors are also finding their new homes in old dishes. From a sweet bastani – ice cream made from eggs, sugar, rose water, pistachios, vanilla, saffron, and milk – to a savory Za’atar manakeesh – a stone-roasted flatbread brushed with a mixture of olive oil and Za’atar, a blend of thyme, sumac, and toasted sesame seeds, served with labneh – Bell is inspired to provide the solution to weave together Middle Eastern flair with finished flavored products.

Each year, Bell inspires the imagination of its customers through its Spark Trend program. Spark is Bell’s insider resource for up-and-coming trends and inspirations to ignite creativity for new product concepts. This year, “The Arab World” trend has showcased a unique lineup of unexpected flavor balances that have attracted interest and success. This has helped lay the foundation for enduring Middle Eastern flavor trends offered at Bell.