Between Drinks
Tropical flavors, tangy tastes to lead beverage development, Flavorman predicts
Clean ingredients, sustainable packages to remain a primary focus
Image courtesy of Flavorman
With multiple ethnic influences, including African, German and Native American, the Appalachian culture consists of art and crafts, food, myths, folklore and more. With such a long, rich history, the many traditions found across Appalachia remain today. For instance, to this day, you still can find the people of Appalachian mountain culture looking to the Farmers’ Almanac for yearly advice on gardening, cooking, fishing and conservation, along with the periodical’s blend of humor, fun facts and its long-range weather predictions.
Similarly, among those seeking to better understand American beverage culture, many turn to industry experts for advice ranging from beverage ingredients to product packaging to trends influencing the market, as well as yearly beverage trend predictions.
As part of this year’s beverage trend predictions, Louisville, Ky.-based Flavorman revealed some of what its experts expect to see in 2023.
With 30 years in the beverage industry and more than 80,000 drink formulations, Flavorman compiles its annual trends summary by examining beverage projects that have passed through its laboratory during the past 12 months, it notes.
After successfully predicting the 2022 beverage market trends, Flavorman experts expect more beverages in 2023 that include pineapple, mango and grapefruit, with floral elderflower and soothing lavender providing a sophisticated essence and a balanced blend of flavors, it says.
Moreover, the expected 2023 beverage shift to tropical and tangy coincides with the general market leaning toward “better-for-you” alternatives, with consumers expected to gravitate toward “less is more” regarding color, packaging and design, the company notes.
“Much like patterns in other markets, we’re predicting a transition toward functionality, simplicity and natural alternatives in the beverage space,” said David Dafoe, founder and CEO of Flavorman, in a statement. “We’re thrilled to bring back another year of predictions and hope they’re as enjoyable for everyone else as it is for us to have these conversations. The industry can expect energetic and effervescent flavors, and there will be a big emphasis on simplicity in terms of product appearance. Overall, another big year for changes in trend popularity.”
Further, environmentally friendly materials and sustainable packages are expected to remain a primary focus as the general public seeks recyclable alternatives, the company says. Additionally, the market is expected to see an emphasis on clean ingredient statements, it notes.
Flavorman experts anticipate that functional ingredients from natural sources will continue trending upward with nods toward subtle sweetness and the inclusion of elements with reputable health benefits, it says.
“2023 is shaping up to be another year of returning to simplicity when it comes to beverages,” said Tom Gibson, chief flavorist at Flavorman, in a statement. “The ongoing clean and natural trend in the beverage space shows us how the quality of ingredients is shaping how consumers value what they’re drinking, and there is now a constant emphasis on what we’re fueling our bodies with along with the added health benefits.”
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