Demand for protein-enriched beverages are on the rise. Although whey proteins have dominated the market, plant-based applications of protein are gaining popularity.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is helping consumers “mellow out” with an all-natural, functional ingredient designed to help alleviate pain, stress and anxiety. Twenty-eight percent of consumers are interested in trying CBD beverages, according to Mintel.
Consumers seeking better-for-you beverages, along with those with interesting taste profiles are drinking up botanicals. Adding flavor and function, botanicals are experiencing wide adoption and success in the beverage market.
As a long-running leader in alcohol and non-alcohol beverage applications, citrus continues to remain at the top of consumer preference thanks to its perceived better-for-you traits and complementary taste profile.
Despite regulatory challenges, the use of THC in beverages is seeing a slight uptick. Nielsen suggests that consumers often turn to marijuana products because it doesn’t cause a hangover and is low- or zero-calorie.
A surge in ketogenic diets and sugar reduction due to consumers’ increased health-consciousness is impacting demand for hydrocolloids often used to enhance the quality and functionality of beverages.
Whether its dairy milks, ready-to-drink (RTD) hot and iced coffees, meal replacement drinks or protein powders, vanilla is one of the most universally accepted flavor profiles around the world. In fact, vanilla is so well-known that its very name means “common.”
The plant-based trend has evolved from niche to mainstream as plant-based ingredients from soy and almonds to newer options like pea, chickpea, oat and rice are being used in a multitude of products.
Approximately 63 percent of Americans drink coffee, according to the 2019 National Coffee Data Trends. Although coffee exports are decreasing globally, coffee as a distinctive, aromatic ingredient in food and beverages is expanding. Beyond flavor and aroma, attributes like coffee’s purported anti-inflammatory polyphenols are helping to drive product innovations across multiple categories, experts note.