New York (CNN) — Black currant’s origins are in Europe and central Asia, but spice maker McCormick predicts the tart berry will soon be big in American dishes and drinks.

McCormick has named black currant as its 2026 “Flavor of the Year,” part of its annual report on dining trends that helps the company develop products consumers want to buy.

These kinds of annual reports can help companies stay fresh in the minds of shoppers. But this year’s spice is also notable because it underscores the way price-squeezed Americans are looking for small luxuries in a tough economy and cooking at home more to offset the high cost of dining out.

Flavor forecasting assists the brand in bolstering it portfolio, which includes Old Bay, Frank’s RedHot and French’s, according to Neil Saunders, managi

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