The category-leading flavor company predicts sweet-meets-savory combinations will be the next big flavor trend, bringing an unexpected twist to sweetness with richer, more complex flavors.

Sweetness is entering a bold new era. Torani, the leader in flavor innovation for more than a century, announced Sweet Miso as its 2027 Flavor of the Year, introducing an entirely new dimension to the beverages consumers love. Combining the rich sweetness of maple and caramelized brown sugar with miso’s savory depth, this sophisticated new beverage syrup demonstrates how a touch of umami can elevate familiar flavors into something extraordinary.

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Torani has announced Sweet Miso as its 2027 Flavor of the Year, introducing an entirely new dimension to the beverages consumers love.

Sweet Miso reflects the emerging swavory trend, which pairs sweet and savory flavors for a more layered, indulgent experience. From morning lattes and matchas to dirty sodas and mocktails, Sweet Miso transforms familiar beverages into something entirely new. For 2027, Torani predicts a new era of indulgence defined by contrast, complexity, and unconventional combinations.

“2027 will mark a new era in flavor, where balance elevates sweetness,” said Andrea Ramirez, senior consumer & customer market insight manager at Torani. “What makes Sweet Miso so remarkable is how the flavors work together. The familiar richness of maple and caramelized brown sugar draws you in, while the subtle savory notes unlock an entirely new level of depth and nuance. There's this incredible moment of discovery in the first sip, when something familiar becomes something completely unexpected. That's the magic of Sweet Miso. It doesn't just add flavor to a beverage. It transforms the entire experience.”

Inspired by Japanese culinary tradition, Sweet Miso draws on the depth and complexity of white, yellow, and red miso to balance layers of sweetness with subtle umami that all work in harmony. The result is a multidimensional flavor that adds richness, balance and a deliciously intriguing finish, leaving you wondering, “What makes this taste so good?”

Part of Torani's Puremade collection, Sweet Miso Syrup is made without artificial flavors and with colors from natural sources. It is now available for $11.99 on Torani.com and at World Market locations.

Sweetness Enters Its Savory Era

Savory ingredients are unlocking new dimensions in sweet beverages, creating richer and more sophisticated flavor experiences.

Consumer research points to an appetite for both familiarity and experimentation. Datassential research from September 2026 shows that 68% of consumers say they love fresh takes on familiar foods and beverages, while 61% cite bold or unusual flavor combinations as a reason to try something new. Torani sees Sweet Miso as a way to satisfy both interests, introducing savory depth to the familiar sweetness of maple and caramelized brown sugar.

Interest in specific sweet-savory pairings is also appearing in consumer searches. Yelp's Trend Tracker recorded a 107% increase in search interest for “miso caramel” in December 2025 compared with December 2024. Search interest for “salted maple latte” also rose 550% in August 2026 compared with August 2025.

This appetite for flavor innovation extends beyond individual ingredients. According to Innova Market Insights' Global Flavor Trends of 2026, three in five consumers are open to traditional flavors presented with a modern twist. Sweet Miso brings this evolution to beverages, blending Japanese culinary inspiration with the comforting sweetness of maple and caramelized brown sugar to create an entirely new flavor experience. It's a combination Torani predicts will help shape beverage innovation in 2027.

The Secret Ingredient Transforming Your Favorite Beverages

From morning coffee rituals to the nationwide dirty soda craze, Sweet Miso brings a distinctive, swavory twist to the beverages consumers already love.

The booming dirty soda trend offers a particularly compelling opportunity to bring layered sweet and savory flavors to life. Named among Datassential's “New Classics” for 2027, this highly customizable beverage format has quickly gained mainstream momentum. Sweet Miso takes the combination of soda, cream, and syrup in an unexpected direction, introducing a savory depth that complements the drink’s sweetness to create a more complex, indulgent sip.

Across cafe menus, the flavor takes on a different role. Its savory notes complement the richness of a caramel latte, while maple and brown sugar notes lend warmth and rounded sweetness to matcha. The syrup also pairs well with iced coffees, teas, and mocktails, extending its appeal across occasions and drink styles. These applications give drink shops fresh opportunities for signature beverages and home enthusiasts a simple way to experiment with their everyday favorites.

Behind the Flavor: Torani's Global Search for What's Next

Torani's annual Flavor of the Year selection is more than a new product launch. It's a prediction about where flavor is headed, backed by more than a century of expertise and over a year of in-depth research, development, and taste testing. Sweet Miso builds on Torani’s track record of identifying emerging flavor trends and making them broadly accessible to consumers.

The company named Salted Egg Yolk its first Flavor of the Year in 2022, just as the flavor was beginning to show up on mainstream menus across the U.S. By February of 2025, Datassential reported salted egg yolk’s presence on U.S. restaurant menus had increased 71% over the preceding four years. Torani continued its focus on emerging tastes with Forest Pine, its 2026 Flavor of the Year. The selection highlighted growing consumer interest in foraged and botanical flavors. Sweet Miso builds on this approach to translating culinary trends into approachable beverage experiences, bringing savory depth and balance to familiar favorites.

Turning these insights into a standout flavor requires science, creativity and culinary expertise. Through Torani’s rigorous Gold Standard development process, team members conduct tastings across food and beverage categories to identify a flavor’s defining characteristics. These observations establish sensory benchmarks for an original Torani formulation. Food scientists develop and refine prototypes through repeated evaluations of flavor, aroma, color and mouthfeel. Testing in finished beverages assesses how the syrup performs alongside coffee, milk, tea and other ingredients.

For recipes and more ways to enjoy Torani’s 2027 Flavor of the Year, visit Torani.com/foty2027.

About Torani:

Torani is committed to being an amazing flavor company that is deeply connected to our purpose of “flavor for all, opportunity for all.” Established in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood in 1925, we put Italian sodas on the U.S. map in the 1920s and created the world's first flavored latte in the 1980s. From the beginning, we’ve used only the best ingredients, like natural flavors and pure cane sugar, to craft flavors that are vibrant and delicious. Enjoyed in cafés, restaurants, and home kitchens for over 100 years, Torani proudly helps shape flavor innovation globally while remaining a fiercely independent, people-first Bay Area business. In practice and life beyond the bottle, Torani is a certified B Corp that believes businesses can and should create more opportunity, and we’re dedicated to helping all the people, partners, and communities we touch thrive. Learn more at torani.com.

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Torani Sweet Miso Syrup reflects the emerging "swavory" trend, which pairs sweet and savory flavors for a more layered, indulgent experience for drinks ranging from morning lattes and matchas to dirty sodas and mocktails.