A strange collective nostalgia has already taken over the country. While the start of January usually brings a focus on new beginnings, this year feels like a deliberate step back in time. Social media feeds from every corner of world are suddenly filled with throwbacks to a decade ago. People are digging out old photos of vibrant plates and neon drinks, reminiscing about a time when eating was less about being functional and more about pure, unadulterated spectacle. Perhaps it is because that year felt like a turning point in how people relate to food. It was a period of unbridled vibrancy and technicolor plates that changed the Indian dining landscape forever. The culture transitioned from eating for sustenance to eating for the camera. It was the birth of a specific aesthetic that focused on pop, saturation, and playfulness. Looking back now, 2016 was the peak of the Rainbow Era, a time when global wellness culture and extreme indulgence lived side by side in photogenic harmony.
The Spectrum Of Excess: Rainbow Stuff And Freakshakes
The defining visual of 2016 was the rainbow trend. It was a technicolor rebellion against boring, everyday food. In India, this was visible everywhere from rainbow sliders to multi-coloured grilled cheese. It was as if the entire country wanted to eat a prism. Even traditional mithai shops started experimenting with neon layers to keep up with the trend.
Image credit: Adobe Stock
On the heavier side of the spectrum, the Freakshake arrived. When these reached India, they became an instant sensation. These were not just milkshakes; they were sugary skyscrapers. A Freakshake was typically a large jar overflowing with a chocolate or vanilla base, but the magic was in the toppings. Local cafes would stack entire slices of chocolate cake, brownies, swirls of whipped cream, and handfuls of gems or colourful candy on top. They were chaotic, messy, and absolutely perfect for a photo. They embodied the more is more philosophy that defined the mid-2010s.
Cosmic Cravings: The Galaxy Food Trend
Running parallel to the bright rainbows was the darker, more mysterious galaxy trend. Food began to look like deep space, with swirls of midnight purple, cosmic blue, and edible silver glitter. This aesthetic took over everything from glazed donuts to layered mocktails and even artisanal chocolates. In Indian dessert boutiques, bakers used mirror glazes to mimic the nebulae of the Milky Way, making every cake look like a celestial event. It was a trend that turned everyday snacks into otherworldly experiences, proving that in 2016, the sky was not the limit for food design.
Image credit: Adobe Stock
The Bowl Revolution: Açai And Super Bowls
While half of the internet was chasing rainbow sugar, the other half was leaning into a new version of health. This gave rise to the Super Bowl. Suddenly, flat plates were out and deep ceramic bowls were in.
• Açai Bowls: This berry became the undisputed king of breakfast. Topped with meticulously arranged rows of chia seeds, bananas, and berries, the açai bowl was the ultimate morning status symbol.
Image credit: Pexels
• Super Bowls: Also known as Buddha Bowls, these were grain-based meals that emphasised balance. Packing greens, quinoa, and roasted vegetables into a single bowl made healthy eating look intentional and trendy.
The Starbucks Halo: The Pink Drink
In the summer of 2016, a secret menu item went so viral that it changed beverage menus across the country. The Pink Drink, a combination of strawberry flavours and coconut milk, became a massive hit in the West. Its pastel hue was the perfect accessory for the era. It was light, refreshing, and looked stunning against the bright summer sun. It started a wave of pastel-coloured beverages that focused on being pretty and dairy-free, shifting consumer preference toward lighter, coconut-based refreshers.
Hot Flavours: Sriracha And Gochujang
Indian palates have always loved spice, but 2016 was the year global heat took centre stage. While sweet trends dominated the visuals, hot flavours dominated the pantry. Sriracha moved from specialty stores to being drizzled on literally everything from samosas to maggi. Simultaneously, Gochujang, the Korean fermented chilli paste, began its mainstream ascent in India. It introduced a deeper, funkier heat that paved the way for the massive love for Korean flavours seen today.
Image credit: Pexels
The Texture Of 2016: Rolled Ice Cream And Avo Toast
Technique became a performance in 2016, most notably with ice cream rolls. Watching a vendor pour liquid cream onto a freezing metal plate, chop in toppings like oreos or even paan, and then scrape the mixture into delicate rolls was the original satisfying video content. It was a sensory experience that turned getting dessert into a street performance.
Image credit: Adobe Stock
And then, there was the cultural phenomenon of Avo Toast. In 2016, the avocado became a national obsession, and we saw it everywhere from Instagram feeds to t-shirt prints. Smashed on toasted bread and sprinkled with chilli flakes or topped with a poached egg, it became the quintessential brunch order. It was premium, healthy, and very easy to photograph.
Image credit: Pexels
The Golden Wellness: Turmeric Latte
As people looked for caffeine alternatives, the Turmeric Latte took over boutique coffee shops. For those in India, this was a moment of deep familiarity. It was traditionally known as haldi doodh, the drink grandmothers made children drink for health. But once it was rebranded globally as a Golden Latte and served with almond milk and a dusting of cinnamon, it became a trend that sparked national pride. It was the wellness answer to the rainbow trend, being both vividly coloured and functional.
Image credit: Adobe Stock