Ever-Evolving Botanicals

The beverage industry is continually evolving with new botanical ingredients and functional discoveries.

Key Drivers

Fast-paced viral trends drive consumer interest in unique ingredients, such as adaptogens, florals, or exotic plants, paired with innovative formats like sparkling infusions or cold brews. Highly-engaged consumers seek products offering health benefits, novelty, and differentiation, fueling experimentation and rapid adoption.

This dynamic landscape reflects the industry’s quest to stand out, where the integration of botanicals aligns with wellness trends, visual appeal, and storytelling to captivate a values-driven audience.

How This Trend is Manifesting

01.

The Next Big Ingredient

The rise of the "next big ingredient" follows a recurring cycle, moving from novel and emerging to widely established—mirroring the trajectory of now-mainstream ingredients like matcha.

02.

Botanic-led Beverages

Botanical-led beverages, such as Drink A Flower, Kin and jAGA, spanning multiple categories including soda, alcohol-alternatives, waters and functional health drinks.

03.

Sustainability-driven Innovations

Sustainability-driven innovations are focusing on finding alternatives to climate-vulnerable or resource-intensive ingredients. For example, carob is being explored as a sustainable substitute for cocoa, reflecting the industry's commitment to addressing environmental challenges while maintaining ingredient diversity.

Top Tips to Access This Trend

Experiment with botanical ingredients – integrate florals, fruit extracts and exotic plants to create unique and functional beverages

Leverage novel formats such as sparkling infusions, cold brews, or botanical blends.

Tap into viral trends. It's a good idea to monitor fast-paced trends and viral ingredients to quickly adapt and introduce new products.

What’s Next?

This trend is defined by the constant search for "what's next," with new ingredients emerging to either gain mainstream popularity or fade away. Upcoming ingredients like wolffia (duckweed), laksa leaf, and aronia are being highlighted for their functional benefits, such as promoting protein, immunity, and antioxidants, aligning with established consumer trends. The continued exploration of these ingredients reflects the industry’s pursuit of novel options that meet evolving consumer demands.

Limited Time Offers provide brands with a low-risk way to introduce new products, gather consumer feedback, and quickly decide whether to extend or discontinue them. This approach allows brands to test the market without significant long-term commitment, making it an effective strategy for innovation and consumer engagement in the retail space.