Nostalgic notes: rediscovering the taste of childhood in today’s breakfast cereals

For many consumers, breakfast cereals evoke fond memories of childhood: a steaming bowl of hot milk, crunchy cereals with a taste of chocolate, hazelnut or honey, and the simple pleasure of the first meal of the day. Today, while a plethora of these consumers are looking for a return to the flavors of yesteryear, more and more are also concerned about what they eat, so much so that the sugar-rich cereals of their childhood no longer seem compatible with their diet.

And yet, it's perfectly possible to reconcile nostalgia with nutritional requirements. Metarom supports food manufacturers in the creation of flavor signatures for cereal products that embrace these nostalgic notes, while developing flavor solutions such as Acti'Boost that reduce their sugar content without compromising pleasure.

Nostalgia, a powerful lever for food innovation

Trends in the cereal market are changing. Faced with the decline of the children's segment and the rise of adult consumers, brands need to adapt by offering products that combine taste pleasure and nutritional well-being.

One of the most effective ways to appeal to this target is to work on nostalgic flavors that recreate flavors reminiscent of childhood while developing healthier, more balanced products. Indeed, while many of today's adult consumers are looking for a comforting sensory experience that evokes memories of their childhood breakfasts, they are no longer prepared to compromise on dietary balance.

Chocolate, caramel, hazelnut and honey are all cereal flavors that appeal to the emotions and sensory memory of taste. These flavors are sure to win over adult consumers, especially when combined with less sweet but equally delicious cereals.

The iconic flavors of childhood: chocolate, hazelnut, caramel and fruit

To help manufacturers meet this challenge, Metarom offers a wide range of flavors to recreate unforgettable taste experiences.

Chocolate and cocoa flavors: the ultimate gourmet souvenir

Metarom has developed a complete range of natural chocolate flavors. These flavors enable us to develop products reminiscent of the iconic chocolate cereal and the first delights with this food item, which appeals to young and old alike.

Hazelnut and walnut: subtle flavors

With the flavor signatures of hazelnut and walnut, it's possible to play on warm, comforting notes that add an authentic, gourmet touch.

Caramel flavors: the sweetest of pleasures

Available in several variations (salted butter caramel, confectionery caramel and more), caramel flavors evoke a soft, sweet taste. Caramel flavor, always present in breakfast cereal recipes, is a true synonym of comfort and pleasure.

Fruit flavors: balanced sweet pleasure

Apple, strawberry, banana... Natural fruit flavors add a touch of freshness and acidity that balance breakfast cereals every time, while awakening many sensory taste memories.

As a manufacturer, these flavor signatures will help you differentiate your cereal products by creating unique taste profiles that evoke memories for your consumers.

Acti'Boost Sweet: reduce sugar without losing sweetness

However, while consumers are looking for the taste of their childhood, they also want products that are better adapted to their new nutritional expectations. Reducing sugar is therefore a major challenge for breakfast cereal manufacturers.

To meet this challenge, Metarom has developed Acti'Boost Sweet, a solution that amplifies sweet perception without adding sugar. Thanks to this functional flavor, manufacturers can reformulate their recipes to offer less sweet cereals, while retaining a taste experience faithful to childhood memories.

Tailor-made support to develop innovative aromatic solutions

Each brand has its own requirements for taste and formulation. That is why Metarom offers personalized support, working on flavoring solutions tailored to the specific needs of each product. Metarom’s customization service can help you achieve this through:

• Tailor-made flavor solutions
• Sensory tests and prototypes
• Nutritional optimization with Acti'Boost solutions, combining indulgence and well-being

Thanks to its expertise in flavor signatures for cereal products, Metarom helps manufacturers create breakfast cereals that awaken nostalgia while adapting to current trends. By playing on nostalgic notes like chocolate, hazelnut or caramel and integrating solutions like Acti'Boost to reduce sugar levels, it's possible to offer adult consumers cereals that remind them of their childhood, without compromising on quality and pleasure.

Would you like to develop innovative, gourmet breakfast cereals? Contact us for a flavor solution tailored to your project!