Perfect Pairings & Recipes for
Saison

Unlock the perfect flavour pairings for saison according to data science. Explore unique recipes and discover the hidden mathematics of flavour.

Saison instantly conjures the evocative embrace of pear and the bracing kiss of black pepper, woven with delicate hints of coriander, wheat, and hay that give it remarkable depth. Understanding how these elements interplay is the secret to unlocking saison's pairing potential.

To map these harmonies, we analysed thousands of ingredients, breaking each one down across 150 flavour dimensions, identifying which notes complement and contrast. Our findings reveal, for instance, how bird's eye chilli's capsicum tones can infuse with saison, or how salmon's algaline notes create an unexpectedly harmonious bridge with the crisp sweetness.

An ingredient's flavour profile is determined by its core characteristics (e.g. herbal, spice, and floral) enhanced by layers of subtle aroma notes (outer bars). When pairing ingredients, aim for a mix of core traits to build balance, and select complementary aroma notes to create harmony.

Unlocking Flavour Combinations

To understand exactly which flavours harmonise, we compiled a database of over 50,000 ingredient pairings commonly used in cooking. We then analysed these pairings, identifying the specific flavour notes that frequently appear together.

The Flavours That Harmonise With Pear Notes

Our analysis shows that the flavour of pear is strongly associated with the flavour of seaweed. This suggests we should look for ingredients with a seaweedy flavour, such as salmon, when pairing with the pear-like aroma notes of saison.

The recipes below provide inspiration for pairing saison with salmon.

Harmonious Flavours Of Saison

Just as our ingredient analysis revealed that pear and seaweedy flavours tend to pair together, we can identify the full profile of flavours that harmonise with each of the flavour notes present in saison. E.g. the coriander notes of saison are often used with capsicum and hot notes.

The accents complementing the various aroma notes of saison can be seen highlighted in the pink bars below.

Matching Flavour Profiles

The flavour profile of bird's eye chilli offers many of the notes complementary to saison, including capsicum and capsaicin notes. Because the flavour profile of bird's eye chilli has many of the of the features that are complementary to saison, they are likely to pair very well together.

The chart above shows the unique profile of bird's eye chilli across 150 dimensions of flavour, while the recipes below offer inspiration for bringing these flavours together with saison.

Recipes That Pair Saison With Bird's Eye Chilli

Linked Flavour Notes

Looking at the aroma notes that are most strongly associated with the various flavours of saison, we can identify other ingredients that are likely to pair well.

The left side of the chart above highlights the aroma notes of saison, along with the complementary aromas associated with each note. While the right side shows some of the ingredients that share many of the accents complementary to saison.

Which Spices Go With Saison?

Choose spices that enrich its starchiness or enrich its dried-grass aroma. Cardamom offers vibrant, clean counterpoints, its verdant freshness lifting the palate. Fennel add a gentle, oniony brightness, while bay leaf introduces a sophisticated, anise-tinged elegance.

Alternatively, embrace spices that harmonise with saison's brightness. The addition of chipotle chilli, with its subtle capsicum notes, can complement the coriander beautifully. Cayenne pepper bridges earthiness and citrus zest, while scotch bonnet chilli lends a mild pepper aroma.

How Flavonomics Works

We've pioneered a unique, data-driven approach to decode the intricate art of flavour pairing. Our goal is to move beyond intuition and uncover the science of why certain ingredients harmonise beautifully. This rigorous methodology allows us to provide you with insightful and reliable pairing recommendations.

Our analysis begins with over 50,000 carefully selected recipes from acclaimed chefs like Galton Blackiston, Marcello Tully, and Pierre Lambinon. This premium dataset ensures our model distils genuine culinary excellence and creativity.

Each ingredient from these recipes is deconstructed across 150 distinct flavour dimensions, creating a unique numerical "flavour fingerprint." This quantification allows us to apply advanced analytical methods to identify complex patterns between flavour notes.

We identify popular ingredient combinations that frequently appear in our recipe database. Regression analysis is then performed on these pairings to statistically validate and pinpoint truly harmonious flavours.

These insights drive our predictive model, which allows us to take any ingredient (e.g., Saison), analyse its detailed flavour profile, and accurately reveal its complementary flavours and perfect ingredient partners.