Turning up the ‘sweet heat’ in 2024 beverage trends

LOUISVILLE, KY. — The beverage consultancy Flavorman sees fruity flavor profiles blended with spiciness or, “sweet heat” fusions, gaining popularity among consumers in the year ahead. Flavors in such applications as a mango habanero pressed juice or a spicy margarita are seen gaining traction.

With Christmas around the corner and winter in full swing, indulgent flavors like sugar cookies and brownies are seeing an uptick. However, consumers are still maintaining a focus on health-conscious formulations within these flavor combinations, Flavorman said. Another indulgent flavor profile includes red velvet but with a low-calorie label.Consumers also may be ditching artificial colors and additives, Flavorman predicted. In particular, the reconsideration of the ingredient “cloud,” an oil emulsion that imparts opacity or haziness to beverages, may get the boot.

“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.”

Artificial intelligence, or AI, also will have a hand in beverage development in the coming year. Companies are using AI to analyze consumer preferences and streamline production processes, Flavorman said. However, preserving the ”human touch in the craft” is still important in the manufacturing of beverages, according to Flavorman