Imbibe will be closed on October 3, 4, 17, 18, 25, and 26. Please expect delays in responses during this time.

Flavor Trends in Beverage Development and Beyond: Part 2

ICYM the first part of this article, it included an overview of some of the most pervasive flavor trends currently on the market (you can read up on true to fruit, botanicals and fantasy flavors here). Our book of business still includes a reasonable amount of work in the category where we got our start, CSDs, but now is padded with a significant amount of our time being devoted to hot categories like coffees, plant-based milk alternatives and protein drinks. Across these categories, the most prominent flavors we see can be classified as indulgent, nostalgic and/or classic and global inspired flavors. These buckets of course extend beyond beverage, so we wanted to share some newer products on the market that fall within these categories for you to keep in mind as you think about your next beverage project:

Interested in sampling flavors in these or other categories? Email us at thedrinktank@imbibeinc.com to inquire about our flavor libraries or to learn about the beverage experts who may be able to catapult your concept to the shelf at an unparalleled speed.

Indulgent
High Brew Smoked Butterscotch Latte
Prairie Farms Salted Caramel Milk
Aloha Plant-Based RTD Chocolate Sea Salt
Dunkin Donuts Pistachio Almond Fudge Coffee
Hazelnut Spread M&Ms
Nostalgic/Classic
Sister Schubert’s Pumpkin Spice Rolls
Peeps Pancakes & Syrup
Elmhurst 1925 Hazelnut Hemp Creamer
ChocXO PB & Ruby Chocolate Peanut Butter Filled Cups
Global
Burroughs Family Farms Chai Spiced Milk
Elmhurst 1925 Golden Milk Hemp Creamer
Steve’s Ice Cream (Dean Foods) Chocolate Cherry Blossom (also called sakura, the latter part of this flavor profile is inspired by Japanese cuisine, and underrepresented in the U.S.) and Moroccan Mash Up
Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Horchata
Blume Slow Brew Ceylon Cinnamon Turmeric Mango

Interested in sampling flavors in these or other categories? Email us at thedrinktank@imbibeinc.com to inquire about our flavor libraries or to learn about the beverage experts who may be able to catapult your concept to the shelf at an unparalleled speed.

Keep Reading:

Are You Ready for the Shift to Natural Food Colors?

For many, readiness depends less on regulatory intent and more on practical realities like formulation stability, flavor impact, cost targets, or supply chain constraints. How ready is your team? Take a two-minute assessment to find out!
READ MORE

FDA Takes a New Approach to “No Artificial Colors”: What Food & Beverage Teams Need to Know in 2026

The headline is clear: the FDA is actively facilitating the transition away from petroleum-based synthetic dyes. What’s less clear is what this means in practice—and how ready most teams actually are to act on it.
READ MORE

Beyond Protein: Why Fiber Is the Next Formulation Opportunity for Food & Beverage Brands

The market is moving beyond protein. Fiber is the next major formulation opportunity for food and beverage brands aiming to lead the gut health revolution and capture the next wave of consumer wellness.
READ MORE

Notice: Holiday Closure

Imbibe will be closed April 2, 3, 8, and 9. Please expect some delays in our response during these dates.

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.