Ingredient Spotlight

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Whether it’s animal or plant based, protein usage in food and beverage products continues to climb. Research show that consumers increasingly are turning to plant-based proteins in the name of health.

Despite no legalization at the federal level, CBD ingredients in beverages are hitting the market fast. CBD sales in the United States grew 20% in 2020, but is a slowdown from 2019, states Euromonitor International.

The numbers don’t lie — botanical ingredients are gaining favor in the food and beverage market. Interest in botanicals is on the rise for various reasons, which has only been boosted by the COVID-19 pandemic, experts note.

As consumers have taken a greater interest in their immune system, beverage manufacturers are turning to staple ingredients like citrus to deliver the healthy halo that consumers desire.

The utilization of functional ingredients is prompting beverage-makers to source masking solutions so that the next generation of beverages deliver on function and taste.

Most recently, demand for plant-based, clean-label and reduced-sugar functional beverages has been high, according to experts. Hydrocolloids help address all of these needs.

Nostalgia has kept vanilla among the top flavors used in food and beverages, but its association with natural and clean-label trends is giving it an edge.

Vegan consumers might have gotten the plant-based diet movement started, but demand has perpetuated thanks primarily to growing consumer interest in health and sustainability, experts say.

As coffee consumption shifts to a predominately at-home trend, beverage-makers are seeking out specialty coffee ingredients to deliver comfort and novelty to consumers.

As the functional and flavorful capabilities of domestic and exotic fruits continue to be experimented with, a healthy mix of traditional and emerging combinations are on the horizon for beverages, experts note.