You know it, you love it, and you probably have your favorite version of it. An American staple, BBQ graces our tables every summer and provides a messy but delicious meal for thousands of people every year.

A great part of living in America is the fusion of flavors and traditions you would otherwise never have the chance to experience. BBQ fusion has become hugely popular in the last few years as cultural practices and flavors merge with American BBQ, creating new and exciting combinations. But this trend is nothing new for BBQ, with its roots based in the fusion of cultures and spices. And today, with the help of influences like social media and world travel, BBQ continues to be a meeting point for flavor and tradition. 

But why is BBQ fusion so popular? Beyond its long history of bringing cultures together, BBQ fusion taps into the need for adventurous consumers with global palates. Young consumers seek novelty and bold flavor experiences, which they can find with foods like smoked birria and Mediterranean herb-smoked lamb. Comfort food with a global twist has been a winning combination both online and in bellies.

The roots of American BBQ can be traced back to the days of Christopher Columbus. The indigenous tribes he and his crew encountered had created an ingenious way of cooking meat, using green wood to prevent the meat from burning. This method was called ‘barbacoa’ by the Spanish – the original barbecue. As the years passed and new settlers and slaves traveled across the ever-expanding United States, they brought their traditions and flavors from Africa, the Caribbean, and the American South. From this came four distinct styles: Texas, Carolina, Memphis, and Kansas City. 

Barbeque became a cultural exchange, with German and Czech sausage traditions influencing Texas BBQ, Caribbean jerk techniques merging with Southern smoke culture, and Mexican barbacoa shaping Southwestern BBQ flavors. The introduction of new spices, marinades, and cooking methods created a culture of togetherness as people could bring their history to the open fire and create something delicious, which they then shared with those around them.

The late 20th century saw the rise of global food culture as travel became more accessible to people from all walks of life, and chefs drove innovation surrounding the flavors and techniques of their restaurants. Food trucks and pop-ups also became popular during this time, making it easier for chefs to try out new combinations of flavors outside of the confines of a full restaurant menu, and the instant feedback from customers made it easier to change what was not working and create a buzz around what did. Asian and Latin American influences were big, with foods like chimichurri-smoked brisket and Japanese yakitori techniques changing BBQ flavors and techniques.

Today, with social media influencers dedicating entire platforms to food-based content, cooking shows bringing us to far corners of the earth without ever leaving our seats, and global travel being more accessible than ever before, BBQ continues to bring people together. Whether you are cooking with pork and using a Caribbean rum glaze, putting together Korean tacos, or cooking tandoori-inspired BBQ chicken, barbecue continues to be a method of combining traditions and flavors over the dinner table. 

So what else can be done with BBQ? Surely, since its very history is rooted in fusion, there are no longer any new flavors we can combine with the classic. We at Savor Seasonings disagree. Between African spice blends entering the mainstream BBQ market, the South Asian smoke-inspired marinades, and plant-forward BBQ combined with global sauces, we believe that there are still plenty of innovative flavors left to explore!

BBQ and spice blends bridge the gap between cultures, bringing together countries and traditions that otherwise would never meet. But the fusion created is not made by magic. There still needs to be a balance of sweet, heat, smoke, and acidity that only comes from experience. At Savor Seasonings, our R&D team combines their knowledge of global spice, the science of taste, and the creativity needed to bring bold flavors to your consumers’ tables. We specialize in creating custom blends that merge global profiles with nostalgic tastes, including BBQ, and we aim to set the trends of flavor innovation. 

BBQ fusion is not a new trend – it’s at the very core of BBQ. From the first combination of cultural flavors to modern times ruled by social media trends, BBQ has always served as a catalyst between cultures, traditions, and hungry people. Our team is excited to see what we can create with you as we combine flavor with passion. Ready to explore the possibilities? Contact us to hear our ideas for BBQ fusion!