Flavor Drop: Pumpkin Pie Spice & Cream

Posted: August 22, 2023
In: Trends

The Trend: Nostalgia

The Flavor: Pumpkin Pie Spice

Brisk air and cozy fall moments are on their way! You know that nostalgic sensation that takes you back through all the autumnal days of your life — cool air on your skin, a soft sweater, the wafting aroma of steam a la pumpkin pie spice rising from your mug? Pumpkin Spice has become the quintessential flavor representing fall in America – even surpassing Apple Pie on dessert menus 57% to 43%.¹Americans spent more than $236 M on pumpkin spice flavored grocery products during the 2022 July-end fiscal year – a 24% increase over the past year.¹Its spicy warmth pairs well with other classic flavors including Apple, Pecan, and Maple.

Tasting notes from our Flavorists: sweet, slightly woody, gently nutty, spicy

Pumpkin Pie Spice-inspired market products:

Pumpkin Spice, Maple/Pumpkin, White Chocolate Pumpkin Cheescake, Pumpkin Spice, Pumpkin Spice Donut

Perfect Pairings from our Flavorists
Apple	Pecan	Maple

The Trend: Indulgence

The Flavor: Cream

Google ‘cream flavor’ and you will find a plethora of pages discussing the most popular ice cream flavors along with occasional mention of cream soda (among the 20 fastest growing flavors in water and cold beverage²), marshmallow cream, and coffee creamer. Vanilla ice cream, often thought of as plain, is the most popular ice cream in America making up 30% of Instacart’s ice cream sales from June 2022 to May 2023.³ Truth is Cream is less of a flavor and more of a sensation. The appearance, aroma, and mouthfeel appeal to the senses and imbues an experience of richness and decadence that is hard to resist. Though Cream contains the inherent flavor of milk or alt-milk, most brands enrich the flavor profile and add sweeteners to enhance their crave-worthy Cream-flavored products. Consider Cream with Coffee, Mixed Berry, or Chocolate for your next product.

Tasting notes from our Flavorists: sweet, warm, creamy

Cream-inspired Products:

Strawberries & Cream/Dr Pepper, Banana/Cream, Vanilla/Cream, Orange/Cream, Dr Pepper/Cream

Perfect Pairings from our Flavorists
Coffee	Mixed Berry	Chocolate

To request flavors, whether from this drop or any of the 20k flavors in our extensive library, simply click the button at the bottom of the page or email marketing@imbibeinc.com. And if you’re seeking further inspiration, don’t forget to explore our previous Drops for a plethora of inspiring ideas.

Nielsen IQ, 2022.
Kerry Taste Charts, 2023.
Instacart, 2023.

beverage development, beverage development company, beverage experts, beverage flavor house, beverage flavors, flavor, flavor combinations, flavor trends, flavor trends 2023, indulgent flavors, nostalgic flavors

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