Page 30 - FoodFocusThailand No.157 April 2019

SPECIAL FOCUS
SPECIAL FOCUS

Top Flavor Trends

for Functional Beverages

Functional beverages have become a vital part of the ready-to-drink landscape as consumers shift to better-
for-you options. But providing health and wellness benefits like improved energy, sleep, immunity, or weight
loss brings unique formulation challenges. Functional beverages require special attention to flavor to cover the
bitter and off flavors often associated with functional ingredients.

Market Overview and Growth Forecast Trending Flavors in Functional Beverages
According to Market Research Future, the global functional beverages With those flavor challenges in mind, the most promising flavors for
market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 6.3% from 2018 to 2023. 1 functional beverages this year are:
Future Market Insights identifies North America as the largest market, Citrus flavors – grapefruit, orange, clementine, lemon, kaffir
followed by Asia-Pacific and Europe, with strong future growth lime, and calamansi
expected in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. 2 Peppers – cayenne, chili, jalapeno, and habanero
While the largest segments of functional beverages are energy Asian spices – ginger, cardamom, chai, and Chinese five spice
and sports drinks, functional dairy and dairy-alternative beverages, Floral flavors – elderflower, hibiscus, jasmine, and chrysanthemum
fruit and vegetable juices, teas, coffees, and waters have all become Sweet brown flavors – honey, caramel, and maple
part of the ever-expanding category of functional beverages. By adding A marked Asian influence can be seen in the inclusion of kaffir
a custom nutrient premix, any beverage can be transformed into a lime and calamansi in trending citrus flavors, the mainstreaming of
functional beverage to provide more value to consumers.
Indian and Chinese spices, and the expansion of China’s most popular
Popular Functional Ingredients floral flavors into the U.S. The use of hot peppers in beverages (often
Fortifications range from vitamins and minerals that address nutrient in conjunction with fruit flavors like lime or mango) represents a bold
shortfalls to trendy ingredients like turmeric, activated charcoal, and inventive use of traditional Latino ingredients.
collagen, and cannabinoids, whose potential health benefits are still Citrus and floral flavors work especially well for functional juice
being explored. The most popular categories of functional ingredients blends, enhanced waters, and energy drinks, while Asian spices and
include: vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, prebiotics, probiotics, sweet brown flavors complement functional teas, coffees, and coffee
omega-3 fatty acids, amino acids, herbs and herbal extracts, tea and lattes.
coffee extracts, superfruit extracts.
Any combination of these ingredients can be incorporated into a The Taste of Success
custom nutrient premix for easy addition to a beverage. Although Whether it’s a global adventure in exotic spices or sweet nostalgic
formulating with functional ingredients addresses consumers’ demand indulgence, consumers are always looking for beverages that taste
for customized health and wellness, repeat purchase is largely driven great. Functional beverage manufacturers have some unique flavor
by taste, so it’s critical to find a delicious way to deliver those health challenges but a variety of solutions as well—ranging from
benefits.
microencapsulation to bitter maskers to smart flavor selection.
How to Flavor a Functional Beverage For beverage manufacturers that want in on functional beverages,
Functional beverages have unique flavor challenges in overcoming using a custom nutrient premix makes it easy. Buying a custom
the often bitter or unpleasant tastes of functional ingredients. One nutrient premix, rather than several individual ingredients, simplifies
useful technology is microencapsulation, a process that coats the a number of business operations including production, purchasing,
ingredient particles (often with an oil or edible wax) to mask their taste warehousing, and even quality control.
and odor. Another option is the use of flavor technology, such as bitter
maskers.
A functional beverage can also be formulated with inherently bitter เอกสารอ้างอิง/References
flavors (such as coffee, chocolate, cardamom, or grapefruit) to work 1 Market Research Future. Global Functional Beverages Market Information: by
with the ingredients rather than against them. Alternatively, spicy Type, Distribution Channel, Function, and Region – Global Forecast Till 2023.
Retrieved from https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/functional-
flavors (like ginger or cayenne) or sweet, indulgent flavors (like caramel beverages-market-1863
macchiato or maple) can be used to mask the off tastes of functional 2
Future Market Insights. Functional Beverages Market: Global Industry Analysis
ingredients. and Opportunity Assessment 2014 – 2020. Retrieved from https://www.
futuremarketinsights.com/reports/global-functional-beverages-market
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