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Stockport based EHL Ingredients has launched a new range of spice blends for food manufacturers looking to take advantage of growing consumer demand for African flavours.
Under its Lähde brand, the Stockport-based herb and spice supplier has added two seasonings from Ethiopia – Mimita and Mekelesha – Moroccan La Kama, Tabil from Tunisia and Algeria, and a Nigerian jollof rice seasoning to its range. The blends are all dry mixes, available in vegan, non-allergen, and organic formats.
Tasneem Alonzo, joint MD at Lähde explained the new additions to their range of spice blends:
“Summer gatherings and events are back on in a big way and we know informal dining, sharing foods and exotic cuisines are going to be a hit over the summer months.
“African food is a bit of a breakout star, as illustrated by the number of African-themed restaurants and operators opening up on high streets across the UK, and YouTubers and bloggers sharing recipes online. It’s a really lucrative market right now and one that we expect to grow as consumers are seeking out foods they perhaps haven’t tried before, for cooking in the home, dining out and for takeaways. Brits are recognising the region’s vibrant, wholesome, healthy dishes and we predict African food to be the next big gastronomic trend in British dining – and it’s a cuisine that offers plenty of plant-based, meat-free and gluten-free dishes.
“We also predict that fusions of African foods with other cuisines will be a big trend, for example, Afro-tacos, jollof rice with burritos, Tabil sprinkled on pizzas, and Melekesha on flatbreads. There’s real potential here and clear opportunity for development chefs and food manufacturers to really get creative.”
Established in 1996, EHL Ingredients supplies around 300 individual food ingredients and boasts a 200-strong organic range, as well as over 70 custom blends and seasonings. It is an importer, blender, and packer of food ingredients from around the world. EHL’s products are available in bulk to food manufacturers, foodservice operators, wholesalers and cash and carries, caterers and chefs, co-packers, multiple retailers, health food stores and large co-operatives.