Comax Flavors’ 2019 Flavor Trends

Healthier lifestyles have become a focus for today’s consumer with an increased interest in plant-based and probiotic foods and beverages. With instant access to information and an affinity for travel, the younger demographics continue to drive multicultural flavor innovation. In response to the consumers’ ever-changing behavior, Comax Flavors has introduced the 2019 Flavor Trends divided into four flavor collections.

Drink to Your Health: Better-for-you beverages such as flavored water, tea, and mocktails are growing in popularity as consumers gravitate towards healthier lifestyles. Beverage choices with less sugar, lower calories, more natural ingredients, and functional benefits are trending. Comax’s better-for-you flavor collection can be used in several cold and hot beverage applications such as still and sparkling water, RTD tea, coffee, juice, and mocktails. Flavors in this group include: Avocado Daiquiri, Blackberry Lilac Tea Cooler, and Harvest Spritzer.

Meatless Meals: Consumers are conscientiously making an effort to eat less meat driven by a variety of reasons such as health and wellness, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare. Consumers still crave the characteristics of real meat such as texture, taste, flavor, and aroma and plant-based meat alternatives are flooding the market in consumer packaged goods and quick-service restaurants. Comax’s flavor collection can be used in several plant-based proteins. Flavors in this group include: Asian Stir Fry, Spicy Fried Chicken, and Street Taco.

A Passage to India: With instant access to information and an affinity for travel, the younger generation has adventurous tastes and continues to seek authentic global flavors in their backyard. “Over the past few years, we’ve seen Indian ingredients such as cardamom, coriander, curry, and garam masala emerge,” said Catherine Armstrong, Comax Flavors’ vice president of corporate communications. This multicultural collection can be used in numerous applications such as savory products, dressing, sauces, dairy, ice cream, plant-based applications, baked goods, and nutrition and performance products. Flavors in this group include: Indian Vegetable Curry, Mango Lassi, and Masala Spiced Donut.

Steeped in Culture: Fermented and pickled foods and beverages are having a revival. This renewed interest is driven by consumers gravitating towards probiotics and friendly bacteria that support digestive health coupled with consumers’ interest in bold tastes. Comax’s flavor collection can be used in numerous applications such as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, savory products, dressing, sauces, and snacks. Flavors in this group include: Five Spice Kombucha, Pickled Beet & Onion, and Pickled Peach.