In the Asia Pacific region, ‘Chicken’ has been ranked as the top flavour in the culinary segment for the past 3 years. Consumers of all generations are looking for traditional, familiar tastes and always crave for more sensory excitement.
Expertise, passion and emotions are crucial for Silesia creations. Senior Savoury Flavourist Maggie Lui said, “In Asia, festive dinners and celebrations often feature chicken broth with herbs and vegetables. My mum, not knowing any nutrient value or components and basing her knowledge from her ancestor’s wisdom, believed that simmering chicken broth is good for health and therefore good for the family. When I became a mother I took a TCM nutrient course. Several hours of simmering chicken broth allow the bones, herbs, and vegetables to combine. The addition of Goji Berry, Astragalus Root, and Red Dates increases health benefits as well as enhances the flavour of the broth. The collagen from the bone is broken down to create gelatine as well as to release amino acids. Not only does the broth become richer in mouthfeel, but it also reduces inflammation in the body. In Korea, chicken broth is a key ingredient in Samgyetang, a traditional soup made with a whole chicken stuffed with glutinous rice and boiled with ginseng and other medicinal herbs which are known to boost energy and vitality. In other Asian countries chicken broth is also widely used as a base to make various dishes. It is often considered the backbone of their cooking as well as a standalone dish.”
Chicken gives us the umami, fatty, meaty note we want in savoury applications. Basic tastes like clear-boiled chicken, intense double-boiled chicken, crispy fried chicken, barbecued chicken, or juicy roasted chicken give us the comfort of a home-cooked meal but still allows a lot of space for unique, innovative, creative, and mouth-watering combinations.
In our “Chicken Safari Tour”, we evaluated different types of chicken and soups such as Ginseng Black Chicken Soup, Lao Huo Tang (Herbal Chicken Soup), Emperor Chicken, and Beauty Chicken Soup.
We tasted fried chicken across various Asian regions from the Spicy Lazi Chicken to the Indonesian Ayam Goreng as well as hybrid products like Prawn Paste Chicken Wings. For the slow-cooked chicken, we explored local Chicken Curries as well as global favourites like Moroccan Tagine Lemon Chicken and Coq Au Vin.
Alexander Hahn, Silesia Senior Savoury Flavourist commented, “I have always been fascinated by the versatility and richness of chicken as a recipe component. Adaptations from various cuisines around the world combined with a range of cooking techniques such as baking, grilling, barbecuing, frying, and boiling, and the addition of various spices, herbs, sauces, and ingredients bring about an infinite range of delicious dishes. Creating savoury flavours that resemble iconic dishes is both challenging and rewarding. One has to balance the intensity and complexity of the flavours while maintaining authenticity and performance in different end applications. I enjoyed these local dishes made with fresh ingredients while living and working in different European and Asian countries. This way, I can connect with customers expecting their heritage dishes to be replicated and delivered as a Silesia Flavour. By combining these experiences with my creative skills, I was able to develop aroma profiles that capture the essence of dishes showcased in our promotion such as Coq Au Vin, Tagine Chicken and Szechuan Chicken. This was a process that involved recognizing relevant character impact compounds, complementing them with base notes, and finally validating the combination as a team in a range of applications. Chicken is an amazing ingredient that can be used in so many ways to create delicious meals. I enjoy exploring new possibilities and creating new sensations with chicken flavours.”
Silesia’s focus is on creating authentic, trendy and delicious Chicken profiles evoking the right emotions and providing individual taste solutions for all.
Our Flavour of the Year Chicken Toolbox for the South East Asian Market is a 2-in-1 collection with a range of basic chicken flavours as well as a selection of chicken dishes inspired by international, traditional, and local cuisines for all our culinary customers.
Follow us on LinkedIn for more flavour innovations
For more information, click on:
Silesia Flavours South East Asia Pte Ltd
