Tainan Is the Happiest City, Taoyuan Loves Cilantro! foodpanda Predicts the Next Wave of Food Trends

Since 2025, social media platforms like Threads and Instagram have sparked food trends centered on pistachios, Dubai chocolate, and the controversial cilantro—collectively known as the 'Big Three' food trends. German-backed foodpanda analyzed platform data and found that social buzz not only boosts search volume but rapidly translates into order growth, creating a significant 'trend food economy.'

By 2026, the number of items related to these three trend foods increased by 20% year-on-year, with Dubai chocolate sales skyrocketing 7x annually. Cilantro has also expanded into various everyday product flavors. Regionally, Taichung outperformed other cities as the trend food benchmark, leading in sales volume, year-on-year growth, and growth speed, followed by New Taipei and Taipei.

Tainan is the 'Happiest' City! Pistachio-Based Beverages and Desserts Dominate

foodpanda data shows Tainan leads in pistachio product sales, earning it the title of Taiwan’s most 'pistachio-happy' city. Sales trends indicate pistachio products are still in a growth phase, with beverages being the most popular category—such as 'Pistachio Buckwheat Milk' and 'Pistachio Milk Cap Good Morning Red Tea.' Ice creams and desserts follow, including items like 'GODIVA Pistachio Dark Chocolate Flowing Core Ice Cream' and 'Fortune-Boosting Pistachio Wheel Cake.'

Zhang Yuan-Ying Sparks Dubai Chocolate Craze—Sales Up 7x! Breakfast Combos Drive New Momentum

After IVE member Zhang Yuan-Ying sparked online buzz, Dubai chocolate-related items saw average sales surge 7x year-on-year. The 'Dubai Chocolate Q Cake' was the most popular. Limited-edition items like 'Dubai Pistachio Chocolate Cheese Bagel' and 'Dubai Pistachio Chocolate Croissant' from Laya Burger ranked among the top three bestsellers nationwide, highlighting strong sales potential when breakfast items align with trending topics.

Taoyuan Loves 'Cilantro Overload'! Sales Stabilize and Integrate into Daily Life

Cilantro has transitioned from a divisive topic to a stable part of daily consumption. Related product listings on the platform increased 30% year-on-year, with diverse and creative offerings like 'Custard Onion Cilantro Donut,' 'Tofu Puff Cilantro Egg Crepe,' and 'Century Egg Cilantro Hot Pot.' Sales remain steady, reflecting loyal cilantro fans. Taoyuan leads in cilantro-related sales, followed by Taichung and New Taipei.

The Next 'Traffic Dark Horse' Revealed! High-Protein Products Go Mainstream—Even in Shower and Skincare

Beyond the Big Three, foodpanda analyzed millions of consumer data points to predict the next wave of trend foods: 'yuzu,' 'matcha,' and 'high-protein.' Yuzu and matcha-related items saw 30% year-on-year sales growth. Amid rising fitness and health awareness, high-protein product sales rose 20% annually, with item counts surging 40%. This 'high-protein trend' has now crossed beyond food into skincare and cleansing products, including high-protein treatments and protein-repair shampoos, showcasing strong crossover potential.