Drink more tahini! AI fails to convince when it comes to intelligence

I've always had my doubts about the intelligence of AI.

AI writing is pretty easy to spot for starters. AI research often has huge holes, and some of the AI videos I've seen have been laughably bad. 

And a press release I received this week increased my prejudices. 

The nub of the story: An AI platform has identified tahini as a top emerging ingredient for alcoholic beverages innovation in 2025.

Now I don't mind tahini, a creamy paste made from ground sesame seeds, as part of a mezze plate. It pairs pretty well with Greek and Lebanese dishes.

But, like its companion dips hummus and taramasalata, I have never thought about drinking it.

GlobalData's AI Palette innovation and consumer insights platform tells me tahini's consumer appeal lies in its alignment with the current trends of health and wellness, sensory and indulgence and authenticity and heritage.

Leveraging the world's largest consumer data lake, with points collected in real-time from social media, e-commerce, and foodservice menus, GlobalData’s AI Palette platform boasts that it delivers powerful insights into emerging flavours and ingredients, as well as category opportunities.

Alice Popple-Connelly, a consumer analyst at GlobalData, said: “Tahini, known for its high content of healthy fats, protein, calcium, and iron, is experiencing a surge in popularity among consumers worldwide."

But why would I want to drink it Poppy? 

Tahini recorded a two-year consumer engagement CAGR of 910% in the UK alcohol industry (2022-2024), as measured by the platform during the review period in March 2025. 

Right. 

So this makes tahini a prime candidate for inclusion in alcoholic beverages brands' innovation strategy in the UK market. Hopefully not in Australia, then. 

Apparently, tahini’s ability to create a creamy texture would be a perfect fit with the UK stout category. Tahini can enhance the traditional dark brown aesthetic of stout while introducing a distinctive nutty, woody undertone, helping it stand out in the market. 

“Tahini's consumer appeal is rooted in its health benefits, natural composition, culinary versatility, cultural relevance, and alignment with contemporary food trends," says Popple-Connelly. 

"These attributes render tahini a compelling ingredient for a broad spectrum of consumers in search of nutritious and flavourful choices.”

I remain unconvinced that I want to drink it. 

Analysts predict Australian wine industry surge

The Australian wine market is set to surge again, data analysis group GlobalData has predicted.

Consumers have started dining out and socialising more often, and the market is witnessing a resurgence in tourism activity, GlobalData says.

Pandemic-induced habits will, however, continue to influence the product choices of Australian wine consumers.

GlobalData predicts the Australian wine market will grow from $9.8 billion in 2021 to $12.2 billion by 2026, registering a compound annual growth rate of 4.6%.

GlobalData’s report, Australia Wine - Market Assessment and Forecasts to 2026, reveals that the market growth will be primarily driven by the fortified wine category, which is set to register the fastest value CAGR of 5.7% between 2021-2026, which comes as a major surprise.

The category will be followed by still wine with 4.6% CAGR, and sparkling wine with 3.9% CAGR over the forecast period.

Bobby Verghese, consumer analyst at GlobalData, said: “The Covid-19 outbreak accentuated health and wellness, and experimentation trends among Australian wine drinkers.

"Health-conscious millennials and Gen Z consumers are drinking less wine or less often to curb their alcohol intake.

"Wine drinkers are opting for quality over quantity, purchasing premium wines to indulge themselves on special occasions instead of buying cheap wines for everyday drinking.

Young consumers are also less loyal to popular labels and are exploring new wine varieties that focus on novelty and personalization in the recipe or packaging.

“As the pandemic is brought under control, and economic and social activities normalise, consumer spending on wine will increase. The Australian wine market landscape will evolve as wine producers adapt to the changing consumer choices in the post-pandemic years.”

Image: Dea Andrea on Scop.io

Cashed-up travellers ready to splurge post-Covid

Luxury travel is set to boom in the second half of 2022 in the wake of Covid-19 with more travellers looking at private aviation services, large villas and boutique hotels. 

A new report by GlobalData: Luxury Travel Market Trend and Analysis of Traveller Types, Key Destinations, Challenges and Opportunities, 2022 Update reveals that as luxury travellers resume travelling both domestically and abroad they may begin to seek experiences that are more immersive and more exceptional than in previous years.

“With travellers determined to make up for lost time, 2022 could see an increase in holiday budgets for luxury travellers, with an uptick in demand for ‘once in a lifetime’ adventures," says Hannah Free, Travel and Tourism Analyst at GlobalData. 

"According to a GlobalData poll, when respondents were asked if their holiday budgets had changed due to Covid-19, 16% reported that their budgets were ‘a lot higher than pre-Covid-19’, while 12% of respondents stated that their budgets were ‘slightly higher than pre-Covid-19’.”

Despite the demand for luxury travel, there is a growing demographic of socially conscious, high-net-worth consumers who are rejecting overt displays of wealth in favour of inconspicuous and responsible consumption. 

Their approach to luxury is driven by ethical living, artisanship, authenticity and sustainability.

Experiences are the new currency for these holidaymakers, who seek self-fulfillment through greener travel and eco holidays, while wanting to ‘do good’ for people and the planet. 

If luxury travel brands ignore this trend, it could put them at tremendous risk of total disconnect with an audience who are looking for sustainable options, GlobalData says.

“While Covid-19 has changed many aspects of luxury travel, there are still several defining features which sets the sector apart from mass-market tourism," Free says. 

"This includes hyper-personalisation, exclusivity, unique experiences, intuitive service and the ever important ‘human touch’ element.”

GlobalData offers data, expert analysis and innovative solutions in one platform for industries including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology and professional services sectors.