Spicy, Indulgent Flavors Seen As Top Beverage Trends In 2024
The beverage sector could see an influx of sweet heat along with new items offering indulgent flavors inspired by popular sugary treats, according to a forecast from Flavorman, which recently revealed its 2024 Top Beverage Trends.
The sweet heat trend identified by Flavorman brings together fruity profiles blended with spicy twists. This is expected to captivate consumer taste buds throughout 2024.. Whether it’s a mango habanero, pressed juice, or zesty spicy margarita, consumers can expect more “sweet heat” fusions in the New Year.
Additionally, there’s increasing demand for indulgent flavors such as sugar cookies and brownies, all while maintaining a focus on health-conscious formulations. Flavorman predicts a growing craving in 2024 for indulgent flavor profiles, like sugar cookies, brownies, pastries, and red velvet, all juxtaposed with a low-cal label.
From formulating enticing functional beverages that cater to your sweet cravings with a guilt-free allure to concocting Ready-to-Drink cocktails that won't disrupt your caloric balance, 2024 promises to be the year for indulging in self-care with a health-conscious approach, Flavorman said.
In 2024, Flavorman’s Beverage Architects also anticipate a departure from artificial colors and additives. Specifically, they highlight the reconsideration of the ingredient “cloud,” an oil emulsion that imparts opacity or haziness to drinks.
“From a formula standpoint, removing color and cloud is only a positive – they’re not doing anything to stabilize the beverage,” said Kristen Wemer, chief technical officer at Flavorman. “Also, since everything these days is going into a can, the way the liquid looks is much less important. Less ingredients – and less cost – is better for everyone involved.”
The 2024 trend toward simplicity aligns with the broader shift in the technology sector toward environmental conscientiousness. Flavorman acknowledges major players in the beverage manufacturing sector striving for net-zero emissions and predicts that others will follow suit. The company also notes the burgeoning role of artificial intelligence (AI) in beverage development, recognizing startups that are leveraging AI to analyze consumer preferences and streamline production processes. While anticipating the normalization of AI and robotics in the industry, Flavorman emphasizes the importance of preserving the “human touch in the craft.”
In the realm of branding in 2024, Flavorman envisions a landscape where beverage brands venture into new territories through collaborations and product diversification. Whether it's a non-alcoholic brand forging alliances with an alcohol counterpart or vice versa, or even confectionery companies venturing into the beverage market through strategic collaborations, Flavorman anticipates a surge in brand partnerships and market expansions in 2024. This trend underscores a commitment to innovative strategies aimed at establishing effective market positions.
At the forefront of this collaborative branding movement are local craft breweries and coffee shops. Timeless classics like beer and coffee are transcending conventional limits, with craft brewers unleashing a cascade of inventive flavored IPAs, ciders, bourbon-barrel ales, stouts, and sours. In this dynamic landscape, coffee shops are seamlessly matching the surge of innovation sip for sip, ushering in a new era of boundary-defying creativity.
“Coffee will also continue to expand flavorings and follow-suit of its symbiotic pollinating friends, via botanical and herbal roots,” says Brad Nichols, Flavorman’s director of Business Development. “Unconventional flavors like rose, pistachio, lavender, and rosemary have made their way into latte and syrup.”