The Ultimate Guide to Must-Have Seasonings in the Food Business

Quick Navigation

• Breading & Coating Mixes

• Herbs & Spices

• Soup Base Powders

• Sauce Series

• Flavor Sprinkle Powders

• Why KDDS is Your #1 Seasoning Partner

1. Breading & Coating Mixes

Made by blending various dry ingredients like low-gluten flour, cornmeal, or New Orleans spice mix, breading powders help lock in flavor and texture in fried foods. Different mixes and methods produce distinct results:

• Dry Coating: Marinated food is coated directly with dry powder before frying. Produces a dry, crispy finish with slight granularity.

• Wet Coating: Powder is mixed into the marinade before frying, creating a bouncier texture and rich aroma.

• Batter Coating: Powder is combined with water and oil to form a batter, then applied to food and deep-fried. Results in a crisp crust with juicy interiors.

Popular Uses:

• Kara-Crispy Chicken Powder: Ideal for wings, tenders, and fillets. Use a double-coating method to achieve that signature crunchy shell with juicy meat inside.

• Popcorn Chicken Powder: Just coat and fry—gives a perfect sweet-savory balance with intense flavor.

• Sweet Plum Fries Powder: Coat sweet potato fries in batter and fry until golden, then dust with plum powder for a sweet-sour kick.

• Tempura Batter Mix: Add to water or egg wash, coat seafood or veggies, and fry to get that classic crispy-outside, tender-inside texture.

Best For:

Fried food stalls, izakayas, Japanese, Korean, Chinese restaurants, buffets

2. Herbs & Spices

These dried plant-based ingredients—seeds, leaves, roots, and bark—deliver signature flavor accents. From pepper and paprika to thyme and turmeric, just a pinch can transport your dish across continents.

Popular Uses:

• Southeast Asian Curry Powder: Best paired with meats or seafood. Elevate with coconut milk, fish sauce, and palm sugar for deep umami.

• Oregano Leaves: Aromatic and earthy with slight heat; great with tomato-based dishes like pasta and pizza.

• Thyme: A staple in Western cuisine for soups, roasts, and marinades.

• Hungarian Paprika: Adds vibrant color and a gentle heat—perfect for chicken, sausages, veggies, or salads.

• Turmeric Powder: Use in drinks, rice, curry, or vegetables to add color and earthy depth.

Best For:

Western restaurants, gastropubs, Southeast Asian spots, Chinese, Japanese, BBQ joints, hotpot stores, brunch cafes

3. Soup Base Powders

No time to simmer soup for hours? Soup base powders are the ultimate shortcut to rich, aromatic broths. These semi-finished products allow you to quickly create depth and complexity by adding fresh ingredients and adjusting seasoning levels.

Popular Uses:

• Bonito Dashi Powder: Rich in umami from dried bonito and scallops, perfect for hotpot bases, udon, or congee.

• Thai Lemongrass Soup Base: Adds a tropical, sour-spicy flavor great for seafood hotpots or Southeast Asian dishes.

Best For:

Hotpot restaurants, snack bars, ramen shops, braised food stalls, oden stands, Chinese, Japanese, Western restaurants

4. Sauce Series

Sauces combine fresh ingredients with salt, sugar, and spices to create rich, complex flavor profiles in either liquid or paste form. With the right sauce, you often don’t need anything else to transform an ordinary dish into something extraordinary.

Popular Uses:

• Japanese Teriyaki Sauce: A sweet-savory glaze perfect for grilled or pan-fried meats. Brush it on after cooking for that glossy finish and irresistible aroma.

• Cheese Cream Powder Sauce: Mix with water and heat to create a thick, creamy sauce ideal for pairing with bread, potatoes, or fries.

Best For:

Hotpot shops, BBQ restaurants, snack bars, fast food joints, Asian fusion, Western, Southeast Asian restaurants

5. Flavor Sprinkle Powders

These dry powders—made from finely ground dried ingredients—are your final flourish to dial up flavor and aroma. They’re incredibly versatile, with bold options for everything from grilled dishes to fries and seafood.

Popular Uses:

• All-Purpose Pepper Salt: Mildly spicy and savory, great on fried or grilled items. Variants include Taiwanese-style, American-style, and universal pepper salts.

• Gourmet Sprinkle Powders: Available in seaweed, wasabi, curry, garlic, cheese, and more. Our Korean Kimchi Powder, for example, brings bold fermented spice to noodles, rice, meats, or stir-fries.

Best For:

BBQ stalls, snack shops, fast food, hotpot restaurants, izakayas, Korean, Western, Chinese, Southeast Asian cuisine, brunch cafes

Why Choose KDDS as Your Seasoning OEM Partner?

With over 30 years of seasoning manufacturing expertise, KDDS offers one of the most comprehensive ranges of seasonings on the market. We're proud of our ingredient integrity and production transparency, certified by ISO-22000 and HACCP international food safety systems.

From savory sauces to shelf-stable spice blends, our products turn your ingredients into crave-worthy, full-flavored dishes—consistently and safely.

Conclusion

The right seasonings are the key to flavor success. When used strategically, they not only cut down prep time but also maximize taste and elevate presentation. That’s why so many restaurant owners trust KDDS as their go-to OEM/ODM partner.

Whether you're launching a new restaurant or developing your own product line, we provide full customization—including proprietary flavor development, product labeling, packaging design, and total branding solutions.

📞 Have questions or custom needs? Contact KDDS today—our team is ready to help bring your flavor vision to life.