Flavor trends to win over consumers

Food and beverage industry experts claim that appealing flavors drive brand relevance (Just, 2023). Therefore, aligning products with the flavor trends in vogue is a decisive business decision. Get to know them here.

Current flavor trends



Players in the food industry are aware of the general trends in their sector. One example is products to contribute to healthy living, such as foods with no sugar added. Also, sustainability in food production (Klainbaum, 2023).

Within this framework, flavor trends are of vital importance, as they have a privileged position within consumer preferences. These are the variables that dominate in this field (Just, 2023):

·        Combinations of traditional flavors.

·        Authentic flavors of regional cuisines.

·        Flavors perceived as indulgent.

·        Ingredients such as herbs, spices, and flowers.

On a general level, today's consumers are looking for flavors that allow them to experience an adventure when tasting them, either because they are exotic or unexpected (Klainbaum, 2023).

There are segments where trends are more visible or pronounced, such as beverages and dairy products.

Beverage flavor panorama

In the realm of non-alcoholic beverages, flavor diversity is critical. It is one of the best ways for a brand to deliver value to its consumers. For one thing, innovative flavors motivate consumers to try the products and thus increase consumption. In addition, a wide range of flavors makes the item suitable for different occasions to enjoy.

These are the core trends in non-alcoholic beverages:

·        Soft drinks, tea, carbonated water, and coffee are the beverages where consumers are most willing to try unfamiliar flavors.

·        Floral flavors are joining herbs, spices, fruits, and vegetables to energize the tea market.

·        International, nostalgic, or time-limited flavors are popular.

It is noteworthy that fruits dominate the segment, with smaller shares of herbs and spices. Pomegranate, passion fruit, elderberry, red-orange and pitahaya captivate consumer interest.

Flavor trends in alcoholic beverages

Ingredients that create differentiated flavor profiles are on the rise in alcoholic beverages. To this effect, fruits are popular. Some prominent choices are peach, yuzu, blackberry, and plum. In particular, younger consumers favor flavor over alcohol content (T. Hasegawa, 2022).

Dairy flavors

Flavor reigns supreme in dairy. Consumers are typically open to trying new sensations in these products. It could be yogurt from an interesting combination of fruits, ice cream made with seasonal ingredients, or spreads with international spices.

Fruits, meanwhile, are central players in this segment. Some leading flavors include all kinds of berries, apples, pears, and sour cherries (T. Hasegawa, 2022).

In conclusion, this is how boldness and innovation have become critical in adapting a brand's offering to current flavor trends.

Bibliographic references

• Just, B. (2023). Adventure and novelty identified as 2023 flavor trends. Food Business News.
• Klainbaum, A. (2023). 2023 Foodservice: Food & Flavor Trends. IFT.
• T. Hasegawa. (2022). Food and Beverage Flavor Trends Report.