The numbers don’t lie — botanical ingredients are gaining favor in the food and beverage market. Between 2017 and 2020, beverages containing botanical extracts increased 46%, says Coralie Garcia-Perrin, global strategic marketing director of sweet and dairy taste for Kerry Taste & Nutrition, Beloit, Wis. Additionally, more than 97% of consumers who were surveyed around the world said botanical ingredients and flavors appeal to them, according to a 2021 global consumer research study titled “Botanical State of Mind: Uncovering consumers’ personal and emotional relationship with botanicals,” conducted by Kerry. The study surveyed more than 6,500 consumers across 12 countries in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific and Africa.
Interest in botanicals is on the rise for various reasons, including consumer demand for natural, healthy, functional ingredients, experts note. This demand has been boosted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading many consumers to seek out healthy foods and beverages, Garcia-Perrin suggests.