Beverage Trends

It is always interesting to keep track of trends – even if they do not affect you and your business directly. What trends tell you is how the market is thinking and for ingredient suppliers like Chemgrit Food it provides something of a heads-up as to what kind of ingredients to look out for.

So far 2022 has shown that the general trend towards healthier, ‘cleaner’, more sustainable, premium and socially responsible products are set to continue.

Thanks to the concept of mindful drinking gaining popularity, research indicates that alcohol consumption has declined with younger generations drinking less as they show greater interest in holistic wellness and health. As a result, functional and healthy beverages are on the rise.

Beyond these general trends, here are a few other drink trends:

1. CBD-infused drinks

This controversial new trend has found its way onto cocktail menus in some progressive venues.

2. The bubble tea craze goes global

Despite being invented in the 1980s, bubble tea is seeing its popularity soar to new heights. The refreshing Taiwanese tea-based drink with its tapioca or fruit jelly ‘bubbles’ is appealing to health-conscious individuals enjoying the healthier variants low in sugar, with organic soya milk, green tea or fruity mixes.

3. Fermented drinks as a health-booster

Increased awareness on the importance of fueling our body with quality and nutritious food and drink is driving a rapid growth in fermented probiotic beverages.

While kombucha was the first on the scene and has been topping the leader board for some years, there are now other products on the market such as water kefir and the fermented Mexican soda Tepache.

5. Boxed wine as a sustainable (and hygienic) choice

Did you know that during the COVID-19 pandemic, bag-in-a-box wine was the supermarket alcoholic “go-to” beverage? Beyond the product within the bag, boxed wine is easier to store, it better preserves open wine, and is proving a more hygienic and sustainable option, in particular for restaurants.

Each three-litre box generates half the carbon dioxide emissions to that of a glass bottle. Boxed wine is also cheaper to transport, stock and more environmentally-friendly.

6. Canned cocktails with premium products

This trend has seen the creation of a variety of delicious, bartender-quality, ready-to-drink cocktails in cans. This was tipped to become one of the hottest trends in 2021, and it shows no signs of slowing down in 2022. With high-quality ingredients, authentic flavours, options between low-calorie, sugar and alcohol or premium spirits, and convenient and sanitary packaging – grab-and-go cocktails are here to stay.

7. Spiked sodas and alcohol-free beers and spirits

With the market for low and no alcohol by volume (ABV) drinks gaining popularity over the last few years, more and more people are looking for a middle ground between tee-total and drinker, between functional and indulgent, between high-quality and convenience.

Consequently, low and non-alcoholic beverages are also a trend that seems to have cemented itself. This growing category ensures there’s something for every taste bud and type of drinker.

Chemgrit Food is a supplier of various ingredient to the beverage industry. For information contact Chemgrit Food.