Beverage Industry logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Beverage Industry logo
  • NEWS
    • R&D News
    • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Reader's Choice Poll
  • CATEGORIES
    • Alternative Drinks
    • Beer
    • Bottled Water
    • Cannabis Beverages
    • Carbonated Soft Drinks
    • Energy Drinks & Shots
    • Juice & Juice Drinks
    • Plant-Based Beverages
    • Sports Drinks
    • Tea and Coffee
    • Wine & Spirits
  • R&D
    • Beverage R&D Features
    • Ingredient Spotlight
  • PACKAGING
    • New Packages
    • Packaging Equipment
    • Packaging Material
  • OPERATIONS
    • Distribution
    • Plant Focus
  • TOP LISTS
    • Beer Market Report
    • Executive of the Year
    • State of the Beverage Industry
    • Top 100 Beverage Companies
    • Truck Report
    • Wholesaler of the Year
  • MEDIA
    • eBook
    • Podcast
    • Polls
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Annual Manual
    • Contract Packaging Guide
    • Take a Tour
  • MORE
    • Classifieds
    • Channel Strategies
    • eNewsletters
    • Events
      • Membrane Technology Forum
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Market Insights
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archived Issues
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
Ingredient Spotlight

Cherries bring health benefits, value to beverages

Beverage-makers take the sour with the sweet

By Stephanie Cernivec
Ocean Spray cherry drink
May 10, 2013

As consumers’ taste preferences shift away from intensely sweet and toward tarter flavor profiles, cherries have an opportunity to fill the flavor gap, according toOcean Spray cherry drink experts.

“There’s a real trend in the marketplace — foodservice as well as retail grocery — toward more of a sweet, tart taste than just intensely sweet taste,” says Jeff Manning, chief marketing officer of the Cherry Marketing Institute, Lansing, Mich.

As a result, Manning believes cherry juice is on the verge of becoming a mainstream flavor, he says.

“Tart cherries have a very distinct, very sophisticated taste, and I think that’s going to emerge as much more mainstream now than in the past,” he explains.

Tart cherries, also known as red sour pie (RSP) cherries, have become more popular in recent years due to new evidence and awareness of their health benefits, says Greg Kaiser, president of San Dimas, Calif.-based Encore Fruit Marketing Inc., which offers purees, puree concentrates, not-from-concentrate juices and juice concentrates for both tart and dark, sweet cherries. However, dark, sweet cherries have been established longer in the marketplace as a mainstream beverage flavor in both juice blends and pure juices, he says.

“Considering their histories and consumer preferences, I see the RSP-type cherry as having more upside growth potential due to its perceived health benefits,” Kaiser says.

For instance, research has shown that tart cherries have a high level of melatonin and aid in muscle recovery, says Jim Bryant, vice president of the ingredients division of Traverse City, Mich.-based Cherry Central Cooperative Inc., which offers Montmorency tart cherry concentrates and purees.

Alexander G. Schauss, senior research director of natural and medicinal products research for AIBMR Life Sciences Inc., Puyallup, Wash., points to two studies that have linked the melatonin levels found in tart cherry juice with enhanced sleep quality. He also notes that consumption of tart cherry juice might lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, age-related cognitive impairment and certain cancers, according to a study published in The Journal of Nutrition in 2009. The results of the study were attributed to the high levels of anthocyanins and other phytochemical compounds in tart cherries, he says.

“Given these properties and many others, in addition to the fruit’s high content of anthocyanins, known for their antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory bioactivity, tart cherry’s attributes make it an excellent candidate to join the growing category of superfruits currently attracting consumers,” Schauss says.

Tart cherries also are higher in antioxidants than dark, sweet cherries and act as an anti-inflammatory, which can help to reduce the symptoms of arthritis, adds Jeannie Swedberg, director of business development for Tree Top Inc., Selah, Wash. In fact, tart cherries ranked No. 14 on a list of the Top 50 foods with the highest antioxidant content per serving size, according to “The Red Report,” commissioned by the Cherry Marketing Institute.

Studies also have linked the fruit to reducing cholesterol, improving heart health and helping with weight loss, says Erin Gipe, product development manager for Northwest Naturals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tree Top.

Tree Top offers tart and dark, sweet cherry juice concentrates for juices and juice drinks as well as single-strength and concentrated fruit purees and drum-dried flake powders, which contain a high level of insoluble solids and are primarily used in nectar- or smoothie-type applications, Swedberg says. Northwest Naturals also offers tart and dark, sweet cherry juice concentrates as well as With Other Natural Flavors (WONF) varieties and essences, Gipe says. Its WONF options use a combination of 100 percent juice concentrates but are less expensive than its pure cherry concentrates and also feature more consistency in color, acidity and flavor, she adds.

The company also developed a cherry blossom blend WONF and a Rainier cherry WONF, which are popular in the Northwest and feature a flavor profile somewhere in between a sweet cherry and a tart cherry, Gipe explains.

“I do believe that consumers are becoming more and more aware of cherries being a home-grown superfruit, and consumers are associating that antioxidant value with heart health, immune system [support], cancer prevention, brain health and beauty from within,” Tree Top's Swedberg says.

Additionally, cherries add value to products, the Cherry Marketing Institute’s Manning adds. Therefore, juice blends such as apple and cherry or pear and cherry that offer a sweet and tart flavor are becoming more popular, he says.

Encore Fruit Marketing’s Kaiser adds that tart cherries blend well with juices like cranberry juice, while dark, sweet cherries work well with juices like blueberry juice.

“It is a nice option to have two different types of cherry for flavor blending and still keep cherry on the label as an ingredient,” Kaiser says.

Steve Corson, research chef with Northwest Naturals, also points out an opportunity for authentic cherry juices.

 “Oftentimes cherry, from a consumer perspective, is cough syrup cherry, so I think there’s a little bit of room to do a very tasty RSP cherry or cherry blend that actually tastes more like the actual fruit rather than candy,” he says.   

KEYWORDS: cherry heart health tart cherry drink

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Stephanie headshot new cropped

Stephanie Cernivec freelances for Beverage Industry, writing for the magazine’s print and online components. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with an emphasis in publishing and technical communications from Illinois State University.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Chocolate, Strawberry, Vanilla shakes

    Classic flavors provide reliable, consistent results for beverage-makers

    Classic flavors of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry...
    Ingredient Spotlight
    By: Chloe Alverson
  • Free Spirits Instant Bar Bundle

    Lifestyle trends drive growth for non-alcohol category

    As lifestyle trends continue to drive growth for the...
    Alternative Drinks
    By: Lauren Sabetta
  • Younger generation displays unique habits when it comes to beverage consumption

    Generation Z shakes things up in beverage

    Experts share that Gen Z is changing the standard on what...
    Beverage News
    By: Chloe Alverson
Manage My Account
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Manage My Preferences

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Beverage Industry audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Beverage Industry or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Fourpeople toasting with cocktails made with low-sugar ingredients, celebrating healthier drink options.
    Sponsored byCargill

    What’s Hot in Sugar Reduction: Beverages

  • chocolate milk
    Sponsored byCargill

    Sweetening the Future for Dairy and Dairy-Alternative Beverages

  • woman pouring a drink
    Sponsored byFFP

    Building a Beverage System: Meeting Consumer Demand for Precision Wellness

Popular Stories

Sting Energy

PepsiCo, Sting Energy unveil global partnership with Formula 1

PepsiCo + poppi

PepsiCo completes acquisition of poppi

people drinking Wynk

Mindful drinking prompts growth for THC beverages

Vote for your favorite new product

Have your say in what makes it to the top this month!
Vote for your favorite new product and help us celebrate excellence.


VOTE NOW!

Events

April 16, 2025

2025 State of the Industry Series: Alcoholic Beverages

On Demand In Beverage Industry’s annual State of the Industry: The Alcohol Beverage Market, analysts at S&D Insights LLC delve into these trends and how they’re shaping the industry.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Retail Coffee Segment

What retail coffee segments will fare well into the next year?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

Milk and Dairy Foods Nutrition, Processing and Healthy Aging

Milk and Dairy Foods Nutrition, Processing and Healthy Aging

See More Products

Related Articles

  • Innova Market Insights Top Superfruit Flavors

    Healthy flavors boom in US

    See More
  • Cheribundi

    Cheribundi juice drinks expand into Walmart

    See More
  • Imbibe Ginger Root - Beverage Industry

    Ginger provides value-added benefits to beverages

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • nonalch.jpg

    Non-alcoholic Beverages 1st Edition

  • small occ.jpg

    Occupational Health and Safety in the Food and Beverage Industry

  • nutrients.jpg

    Nutrients in Beverages 1st Edition

See More Products

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • May 8, 2025

    The Future is Functional: How to Support Focus, Attention, and Mental Energy with Non-Stimulant Beverages

    On Demand In this webinar, Cognizin® brings over 30 years of clinical research to share how its citicoline ingredient can take beverages to the next level. 
View AllSubmit An Event
×

Elevate your expertise in the beverage marketplace with unparalleled insights and connections.

Join thousands of beverage professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing