A ripe flavor in the beverage category, citrus has a strong track record as a crowd favorite. Even with the ebb and flow of changing preferences, citrus has held steady. Mintel’s March 2020 report titled “Trending Flavors and Ingredients in Non-Alcoholic Beverages US” confirms that citrus is the top preferred flavor as consumers prioritize “fresher” fruit flavors above those with overt sweetness.
Mintel’s report also states that although conventional citrus flavors such as orange and lemon trended down from 2018 to 2019, citrus is still the No. 1 preferred flavor, especially for non-alcohol beverages.