Natural Colours for Beverage Syrups and Concentrates
As manufacturers and quick service restaurants (QSRs) compete for limited consumer attention, differentiation through unique launches with great colour and taste is gaining popularity. Even on supermarket shelves, customers are looking for beverage concentrates that give them convenience.
Colour conveys flavour, and it also creates shareable moments for loyal fans to post, particularly in the case of limited time only beverage offerings.
35% OF YOUNG CONSUMERS AGREE THAT “COLOURFUL” DESCRIBES FOOD OR DRINKS DESIGNED FOR SHARING ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
(Mintel 2018)
A colourful syrup can indicate the flavour added while also adding visual interest that a consumer may want to share online. Naturalness is also a priority for many of these brands, as consumers push for clean labels and the removal of artificial ingredients. 34% of consumers are looking for more premium ingredients at fast-casual or quick service restaurants, including natural colours (Mintel, 2022).
Unleash Nature’s Rainbow in Syrups
While there are certain considerations to keep in mind for natural colour in syrups like cost, light stability and pH level, a bold rainbow can be developed with the right formulation! Check out these solutions for beverage and dessert syrups:
For bold reds, solutions like Sensient’s exclusive lycopene-based Watermelon-Rose offer unique stable shades. Emphasize classic strawberry profiles or seasonal flavours like red velvet using red beta-carotenes or highly concentrated, cost-effective anthocyanins.
Reds can also vary usage rates to bring bright pink to life. Pink can be more cost-effective in many cases, since its usage rate is lower. Flavours like dragonfruit and bubblegum pair well with sweet pink hues, as do standout themes like flamingo or unicorn.
Orange flavours like seasonal spices or citrus orange come to life in eye-catching shades. For bold, highly concentrated oranges in a syrup, Sensient’s proprietary Pure-S™ Paprika is a turnkey solution. The Pure-S™ technology gently purifies this colourant to remove any unwanted off-taste at high usage rates.
Bright yellows can come across as a fruity pineapple or banana, while bringing vibrancy and energy. Warmer tones can also be reminiscent of sweet and savory treats like butter popcorn. Bring those hues to life with beta-carotene emulsions and Sensient’s Advanced Emulsion Technology™ (AET).
The recent FDA approval of butterfly pea flower extract for use in syrups and other applications opens the door to bright blue hues! From trendy themes like galaxy and mermaid to more traditional blueberry or cotton candy, blue is a unique shade in the syrup space that will definitely capture attention.
The challenges of green usually stem from finding the right pH level, but a blend of butterfly pea flower extract and stable yellow solutions can be a winning combination in the right environment. From refreshing mint to tangy kiwi, green is an eye-catching hue in beverages that’s sure to stand out.
Blending butterfly pea flower extract with stable natural red solutions offers perfect purples for syrup applications. Purple hues can bring to life flavors like classic grape, sweet potato or yam.
Caramel-free natural brown syrups can be coloured with Sensient’s Sienna™ fruit juice technology. From deep chocolatey flavors to lighter honey or pastry tan shades, brown syrups can add a delicious visual to elevate a flavor profile.
Custom blends of butterfly pea flower extract and Sienna can result in unusual, eye-catching black shades for an adventurous look. Seasonal launches for Halloween or other LTOs can be elevated with a unique spooky aesthetic.
Whitening agents like titanium dioxide or Sensient’s clean-label Avalanche™ portfolio offer a cloudy appearance to beverage syrups and the final finished beverage. Cloud can impart an aesthetic emphasis on fruit or dairy content or an otherwise opaque drink.
Bring Colour to Your Next Beverage Syrup!
Sensient experts are excited to help you bring bold, delicious colours to your next beverage or dessert syrup! To get started on a project, request a sample of any of the solutions outlined above. Our team loves to talk colour and is happy to help.
