The McCormick 2025 Flavor of the Year, Aji Amarillo Seasoning is a sweet, spicy blend with medium heat and tropical notes, oak smoke, garlic, and onion. Inspired by the pepper grown in Peru and native to South America, this unique blend can be used to enhance dishes from seafood to poultry to sauces. Despite its name translating to “yellow chile pepper” in English, the Aji Amarillo pepper turns orange when mature, with notes of passion fruit and mango with an approachable heat. A staple in Peruvian cuisine, it’s trending around the world, showing up as a key ingredient in appetizers, drinks, entrees, and more. As all things spicy continue to trend, this flavor leans into what’s new and next.