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

Beverage trends highlighted at N.R.A. Show

Tamarind, kumquat, caraway seeds and star anise may be featured in new beverage formulations. These are among trending food and drink ingredients cited by Ilana Orlofsky, marketing manager at Imbibe, a Chicago-based beverage development company.

Unusual flavors, textures and preparations are elevating coffee, tea and cocktail menus across the country, offering hydration with a splash of inspiration.

“Use your platform to bring fringe ingredients to the forefront,” Ms. Orlofsky said during a presentation at the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show, held May 18-21 in Chicago. “Fringe is in.”

An emerging ingredient is butterfly pea flower tea, which has a midnight-blue hue that transforms into a vibrant magenta when citrus is added. The acidity in a squeeze of lemon alters the pH, Ms. Orlofsky explained.

Read the full article on Food Business News.

Keep Reading:

What’s Driving Flavor in 2027 — And What It Means for Beverage Innovation

Explore Imbibe's 2027 Flavor Trends report and discover how formulation complexity, functional ingredients, and evolving consumer expectations are changing the role of flavor in beverage innovation.
READ MORE

Why Relaxation Beverages Require a Different Flavor Strategy

Ingredients commonly associated with calm and relaxation — including ashwagandha, magnesium, valerian root, reishi, l-theanine, and other botanicals — can introduce earthy, woody, bitter, savory, sulfurous, or lingering off-notes.
READ MORE

Masking Isn’t the Solution—It’s One Part of It

Considerations like format, processing, shelf life, and label constraints all influence how a solution performs in the final product. What works in one system may not translate directly to another.
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.