UMN Students - Explore some viral food trends set to define 2025
As the Imagine We Could Time Capsule 2035 event approaches, let’s take a look at the delicious and viral current food trends of 2024 and early 2025.
Dirty Soda
Mormon Tik Tok has taken over, and with it, the dirty soda craze. Over the course of the year, Gen Z and Millennials all over the country have embraced this viral non-alcoholic mix of flavored syrups, creamers, and fruit swirled into one’s favorite soda. This phenomenon took root shortly after the show Secret Lives of Mormon Wives premiered sparking curiosity nationwide. Fans who were unable to visit these soda shops started making their own creations, feuling the dirty soda obsession and becoming a full-blown social media sensation.
Sourdough Starters
Another viral Tik Tok trend; a community of young people are baking their own bread by growing a homemade sourdough starter. A sourdough starter is a living culture used to leaven and add flavor to the bread. But it’s not just about a fun thing to do during free time, these mason jars with flour and water are a part of the family for older gen-zers and young millennials. The sourdough starters are given names, pronouns, and even decorated homes. Sourdough starters are a time capsule in themselves and can last forever if fed water and flour, start one now and see if it is still alive in 2035!
Dubai Chocolate
Encased in creamy milk chocolate, this indulgent treat is filled with luscious pistachio cream and crunchy kataifi, delivering the perfect balance of texture and flavor. The Dubai chocolate bar went viral in summer 2024, with videos of its gooey center and satisfying crunch flooding social media.
Originally crafted by Can’t Get Knafeh of It exclusively in Dubai, these $20 bars are only available via Deliveroo from 2-5 p.m. local time. As the hype grows, businesses are creating their own versions, while DIY recipes let fans recreate the viral sensation at home. Dubai Chocolate TikTok
Hydration Hype
Over the past year, reusable water bottles have become a staple, but consumers are looking for more than just hydration, for they want additional benefits. Water is getting an upgrade with functional ingredients like electrolytes, antioxidants, and vitamins. Drinks like protein water, cactus water, and coconut water are gaining popularity as healthier alternatives to sugary sports drinks. Overall, people are prioritizing their wellness, seeking beverages that support their energy, gut health, and skin. Hydration is no longer just about quenching thirst, but about fueling the body in smarter ways.
Cucumber Salad
As people have become increasingly more in tune with their health and wellness, they have been on the search for healthy–but still delicious–meals. Logan Moffitt, a food influencer on Tik Tok, created the “it” dish of summer 2024. Moffit’s slogan is “sometimes you need to eat an entire cucumber”, and he has continually provided endless variations of cucumber based meals. Some of his most popular bowl variations include California Roll Sushi Cucumber, Shawarma Cucumber, Tunacado Cucumber, and more cucumber salad ideas. Receiving millions of views on his videos, Moffitt shares healthier ways for people to enjoy their favorite flavors.
Will these trends become staples and stick around until 2035, or will they just be a time capsule?
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