High-Performing Natural Food Colours For Beverage Syrups and Concentrates
Syrups for Carbonated Soft Drinks
As elevated enjoyment is a key consumer theme, soft drink innovations around sensory experiences are a means to compete for consumer attention. 63% of French, Italian, and Polish shoppers like to experiment with different flavours or brands of carbonated soft drinks; 44% of Spanish shoppers would even be interested to try drinks with different textures, such as being particularly silky or foamy, as per Mintel in 2022. Drink differentiation through colourful, unique launches is becoming more and more popular. Colour conveys flavour, and it also creates excitement and heightened interest, particularly in the case of limited time only beverage offerings.
Consumers eat – or drink – with the eyes first. So what better way to tempt than with colourful drink innovation?
For beverages like refreshers and coffee-based drinks, a colourful syrup can indicate the flavour added while also adding visual interest that a consumer may want to remember or talk about. Equally, the use of colourful syrups can serve as a means of differentiation and sophistication in soft drinks for manufacturers to deliver unique and memorable consumer experiences. Both limited time offerings and permanent menu items benefit from the use of colour, as seen in launches from Caffè Nero®, Costa Coffee®, DutchBros, Starbucks®, Dunkin’®, and other brands across the globe.
Image credits: Caffè Nero®, Costa Coffee®, DutchBros®, Starbucks®, and Dunkin®
If we shift our focus back to Europe, we will see that naturalness is a priority for European consumers who push manufacturers for clean labels and the removal of artificial ingredients. 53% of British shoppers claim that they would be interested in buying a cordial/squash with all natural ingredients (Mintel, 2021). Nature offers developers a wide rainbow of bright colours to excite consumers, and insights from colour experts can help accelerate and simplify formulation. Let’s talk about a few recommendations.
Using Stable Natural Colours in Syrups
Developers working to incorporate natural colour into syrups for beverages need to contend with the intricacies of those natural colours. For example, the acidity of both the syrup and the final beverage are key considerations. If the pH changes when the syrup is mixed into a beverage, the shade of certain natural colours may shift. Anthocyanins, for example, thrive in low pH environments, but may colour shift when that pH changes. Colour experts can help formulators ensure that the colour solution recommended will maintain the shade at different acidity levels in application.
Formulating for syrups shows significant regional differences as well that need to be considered. For Europe, it is possible to create beautiful shades of green with a natural colouring, whilst in the US, achieving bright green shades for a pH under 3.0 is a challenge with what is currently permitted and available on the market in North America. In that case, adjustments to the pH of the syrup or the final beverage may be necessary to achieve the desired hue. Regulatory compliance and guidance is an important element in the decision-making matrix for syrup manufacturers producing internationally.
Stability under light exposure is also a common concern, as many syrups are held in transparent packaging for extended periods of time. If your final packaging is known, colour experts can recommend appropriately stable solutions based on your needs and the destination of that product.
Cost awareness is another key consideration in the development process. Highly concentrated, optimized colour solutions can reduce cost-in-use while imparting the same bright shade desired in the end product. If you have specific dosage requirements or cost targets in mind for a project, Sensient experts can work within that range to offer solutions that will fit your needs.
Unleash Nature’s Rainbow in Syrups
While there are certain considerations to keep in mind for natural colour in syrups, a bold rainbow is available for developers! Check out these solutions for beverage and dessert syrups:
For bold reds, solutions like Sensient’s exclusive colouring foods and natural colours based on anthocyanins offer unique stable shades. Emphasize classic cherry and strawberry profiles or seasonal flavours like red velvet and cinnamon with highly concentrated, cost-effective natural colouring solutions.
Anthocyanins, red carotenes or dedicated blends used at different usage rates can bring bright pink to life. Flavours like dragon fruit and hibiscus pair well with sweet pink hues, as do standout themes like flamingo or unicorn.
Orange flavours like seasonal spices, summery citrus, or floral orange blossom come to life in eyecatching shades. In order to attain bold, highly concentrated oranges that meet the needs of a syrup, Sensient’s proprietary Pure-S™ Paprika is a turnkey solution. The Pure-S™ technology gently purifies this colourant to remove any unwanted flavour influances at high usage rates.
Bright yellows pair well with flavours from spring pastels to fruity pineapple or banana, but can also offer an electrifying visual to pair with an energetic beverage. Warmer yellow tones can also be reminiscent of sweet and savoury treats like buttered popcorn. Bring those hues to life with betacarotene emulsions and Sensient’s Advanced Emulsion Technology™ (AET) in syrup applications.
The challenges of green in terms of global compliance we have been outlined above. For Europe, a blend of green solutions based on Cu-Chlorophyllin and stable yellow shades can be the perfect solution in the right environment. From refreshing mint to tangy kiwi, green is an eye-catching hue in beverages that’s sure to create a visual highlight.
Blending different anthocyanins and stable natural red solutions offers perfect purples for syrup applications. Purple hues can bring to life whimsical profiles like unicorn, mermaid, and galaxy, but they can also pair with flavours like classic grape or exotic ube.
Caramel-free natural brown syrups can be coloured with Sensient’s range of brown shades Natural Brown. From deep chocolatey flavours to lighter honey or pastry tan shades, brown syrups can add a delicious visual to elevate a flavour profile.
Custom blends of natural colours 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 enable a cloudy appearance to beverage syrups and the final finished beverage. Solutions from Sensient’s Avalanche™ portfolio can impart an aesthetic emphasis on fruit or dairy content or an otherwise opaque drink without using titanium dioxide.
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. If you still have questions, our team loves to talk colour and is happy to help.
