Looking for new flavours in 2021?
The Global Taste Trends report maps out the key tastes linked to trends across the world, by nutrition company Kerry. The 2021 report shows the impact of our 2020 year on our flavour choices. Apparently we are searching for solace in our food choices:

• Nostalgia – we are drawn toward comfort food and beverages amid the pandemic, including nostalgic and classic flavors such as apple, brownie, caramel, cheddar and chocolate.
• Novel flavours - we are interested in new ways to engage with food and beverages to deliver excitement. New options could include black garlic, cardamom, cotton candy, ghost pepper, and hibiscus.
  
• Seasonality – we are thrilled by seasonal favourites to break up our daily routine. It may be Easter or Christmas flavours or exploring new spice rubs in a summer barbecue.  
• Insta-ready foods! - social media use is increasing with the hunt for high visual impact foods. Black foods have a place here with stunning black bread as a backdrop to a gorgeous meal.
• Travelling through taste - dinner plate travel through Cajun spices, South East Asian dressings, African meat rubs give us a proxy opportunity for travel.
• Acceptable Sweetness – balancing craving sweet treats and cutting down on sugar consumption is a key issue in food choices. We are looking for lower sugar, reduced sweetness and clean-label sugar alternatives (like coconut sugar, dark chocolate, dates, erythritol, fig, honey, jaggery, maple and monk fruit.).
• Adding to overall health - we are searching out foods that taste great and provide health and functional benefits (like collagen, elderflower, ginger, ginseng,  or green coffee).

These trends will play out in the new food launches we see across 2021. Read more of the Kerry report here.

The great news is Australians are strong supporters of small businesses. According to a recent Fiverr report, six of ten Australians report they would support a small business over a larger company for the same purchase. The disruption of 2020 has pushed buying local, with 97% of respondents saying they will continue this habit into 2021. It seems connections to local neighbourhoods have strengthened. We have certainly been grateful for a huge lift in online sales, our version of "buying local"!

Talking of support, we are asking for a favour - we need your VOTE!

We are thrilled to be a finalist in the Back to Business initiative with Kochie Business Builders (in partnership with Yellow Online and eBay). There are some great businesses sharing their tips for getting back to business in 2021. We hope you will vote for the Garlicious Grown tip, as the prize is a fantastic opportunity to be featured on KBB TV aired nationally on Channel 7.

Please go to https://www.kochiesbusinessbuilders.com.au/back-to-business/ You can see the Garlicious Grown back to business tip and then further down the page vote for us. Just a little tip, click the circle above the Garlicious Grown image then enter your email address to validate your vote. Thanks in advance for your support!

Fantastic to be stocked at such an outstanding store on the south coast - thanks Theresa for taking us on. It is a great opportunity for all those lovely customers to source Garlicious Grown black garlic locally. Your merchandising looks terrific and great to see stores supporting Australian made too!

Let's welcome 2021 as a fresh start - Happy New Year to everyone, our customers, retailers, chefs and suppliers. We look forward to a fantastic year together and good health for everyone.

In 2021, we look forward to rebuilding our food service trade as more hospitality venues get back into action. We feel for our old customers whose event businesses have been so badly impacted by the pandemic. Hopefully across 2021, events can swing back into action with beautiful food front and centre!

One of our 2021 plans is to explore producing some beautiful video focused on how to use black garlic. Look out for these launching across the year! Happy New Year to everyone
Cheers Jenny and Cathy Garlicious Grown

Refresh your supplies at https://www.garliciousgrown.com.au/buy-direct.html#/

Looking for innovation and great flavour in your Christmas menu? 
Here are three black garlic favourites - there may be one that just fits your meal planning. Remember black garlic does not leave black garlic breath - with its soft mellow sweet flavour and lovely garlic notes, your guests will be as lovely to know after Christmas dinner as before!
​Cucumber and smoked salmon canapes are a drinks hit - very simple to prepare - just slice cucumber, add cream cheese, smoked salmon, a slice of black garlic and lemon to finish. Good black garlic cloves are soft and easy to slice, rather than rubbery. Recipe is here.
Chicken and black garlic are a fabulous match - this 40 Clove Chicken recipe may seem excessive, but the rich umami flavour of black garlic is fabulous. A simpler option could be to add black garlic cloves to any stuffing recipe.

Our black garlic white balsamic dressing​ or black garlic aioli can dress any salad or top seafood. At the moment they are bundled together in our Triple Treat special. 
So, looking for an ecofriendly sustainable gift? Garlicious Grown Black Garlic Gift Packs are perfect for the 'difficult to buy for' friend, family member, teacher or neighbour. All Australian, from a rural small business, a black garlic gift pack can delight your loved one.
Our delicious black garlic has a WOW flavour that is versatile, healthy, Gluten Free, vegan-friendly (except aioli) and gender-neutral. It turns any meal into a gourmet wonder.
We're happy to include a personalised message for your loved one and send it directly to their home (just include in the notes to seller).
Take a look at our delicious and great value gift packs here. ❤️

I was sceptical we needed a "Black Friday" sales pitch but canvassed the hairdresser crowd yesterday and was blown away by the enthusiasm and planning they were putting into their Black Friday shopping! While I thought of Black Friday as unlucky Friday 13th they clearly saw it as an opportunity for starting (and hopefully finalising) their Christmas shopping this Friday 27th November.
Black Friday follows upon Thanksgiving in the US - in the 19th and 20th centuries apparently Thanksgiving parades were often sponsored by large department stores (like the Macy parade now) and Santa might make an appearance at the end of the parade, signalling the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. Since 2005 it is commonly the highest turnover day of the year for American retailers. Cyber Monday is the following Monday (so this year 30th November) and seems to have been coined by the National Retail Federation, recognising growing ecommerce sales on the Monday following Black Friday.
What about Australia? With greater inreach from American retailers, Black Friday sales have grown this decade. Apple led the way, with significant Black Friday discounts and expedited shipping to Australia. Now most Australian retailers offer some Black Friday promotions. While we lack the holiday marker to launch the Christmas shopping season, apparently Australians now spend about $3.9 billion in these sales!​
So the hairdresser crowd offered this Black Friday tip: go to your favourite online stores, put your choices in your wishlist and on Friday logon early and checkout your shopping! Sounds dedicated to me.

Lovely to add to our Tasmanian retailers, adding Hill Street Grocer Latrobe as stockists. The Hill Street group are steadfast supporters of small Australian businesses, bringing innovative ingredients to their customers. We look forward to a great business relationship as the summer heats up! Thanks to the team at Hill Street Grocer Latrobe.

Thanks to Susan Parsons for a terrific write up in the Canberra Times Food and Wine section sharing one of our favourite recipes. Lovely to feature there and also to read of other local delicacies.
Read all about it here