As health, nutrition and clean label remain key drivers in guiding innovation within the beverage industry, consumers are looking for functional beverages that deliver benefits like immune health, vitamin support and promote overall well-being. Recognizable domestic fruits like raspberry, watermelon, mango and coconut are adding natural flavors and colors to many products, while exotic fruits like acerola and dragon fruit are emerging on the beverage scene.
Kristen Farr, marketing and innovation manager for Lawrenceville, N.J.-based iTi Tropicals, notes several trends that are encouraging the use of domestic and exotic fruits within beverages. These include the rise of better-for-you functional beverages; the popularity of fermented beverages like kombucha, drinking vinegars and other probiotic-enhanced drinks; cold-pressed juices; and high-pressure processing (HPP) technology.