Ingredient Spotlight

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Consumers are seeking out plant-based products for a variety of reasons, but the two most popular factors being that such options are better for their health and better for the planet, experts note.

Experts note that people’s love for coffee has fueled the array of coffee extracts and concentrates appearing outside of traditional RTD coffee settings. 

As health and wellness remains top of mind, brands are turning to exotic fruits to deliver exciting, unique flavor options.

Experts note that not only do classic flavors like vanilla, chocolate and strawberry resonate with consumers, but also remain the tried-and-true go-to for beverage-makers.

Clean label and better-for-you trends have elevated tea ingredients as beverage-makers look to deliver these attributes to consumers.

More consumers are engaging in the active nutrition community, offering more opportunities for protein fortification. Suppliers are developing animal- and plant-based protein solutions to meet this growing demand. 

Although cannabis beverages still are a niche market, the interest in this space remains expansive as ingredient suppliers have advanced the quality of CBD, THC and hemp solutions.

With the functional beverage space growing dramatically, experts note that consumer interest in botanicals and adaptogens is on the rise.

Today, as people are increasingly seeking out ways that proactively support overall well-being, experts note that citrus ingredients that contain vitamin C continue to attract attention.

Current trends for health-and-wellness, plant-based, reduced-sugar and functional beverages, for example, easily can affect the taste, mouthfeel and overall beverage experience. Thus, beverage formulators engage masking ingredients to fight off any unwanted effects.