I.T.S’ natural flavours meet opportunity for creamy RTDs
Independent flavour house, I.T.S has launched a range of specialist natural flavours to help beverage manufacturers confidently capitalise on the current trend for creamy-flavoured and dessert-inspired cold drinks, such as cream sodas.
The new flavour range has been developed to create smoother, richer and more indulgent drinks across a wide range of beverage applications and includes:
- Ice cream vanilla flavour
- Creamy coconut flavour
- Cream soda flavour
- Clotted cream flavour
- Creamy vanilla flavour
- Strawberries and cream flavour
Inspired by coffee shop culture, social media trends, and US drinks trends, creamy flavours are ‘having their moment’, as Briony Rideout, senior beverage innovations specialist at I.T.S explains: “Creamy flavours make a drink feel smoother, playful and more indulgent, not to mention bold and colourful too. They can soften sharp notes, round out sweetness and give a product a more nostalgic finish. With 90s culture a big trend, cream sodas in particular tap right into this vibe.”
I.T.S points to the US beverage market as the origins of creamy flavoured drinks; while traditional sodas have been common for a while, and the use of creamy flavours profiles are now featuring in big brand as well as functional health and wellness drinks. Recent launches such as Pepsi playing with Cream Soda, Strawberries ‘N’ Cream and ice cream inspired cola flavours, and Red Bull’s Iced Vanilla Berry edition show how these creamy-tasting drinks are gaining big brand interest.
“The American influence is giving UK beverage brands more room to explore richer, smoother and more nostalgic flavour profiles and we are seeing several innovative UK launches in the category too. Our new range of natural creamy flavours offer beverage manufacturers an easy and cost-effective route to new product launches in this expanding category,” Briony Rideout concludes.
