The world has changed in many ways since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic; among these, increased expectations about the nutrition and well-being we can achieve through the foods and beverages we choose to consume. This interest opens up more opportunities for functional beverage developers to design products in tune with consumer preferences and the reasons for their choices.
Less oriented toward what a brand represents, today's consumer purchasing habits focus on products that add value to their lifestyle, explains Richard Horwell, a representative of Brand Relations; he adds that there is a particular interest in health and functionality. Growth projections for the functional beverage market predict that the emphasis on taking care of our health will drive demand in the coming years.
Additionally, in the food and beverage market, we are increasingly seeing "tailor-made" offerings, as consumers seek specific solutions to their needs: energy, concentration, relaxation, digestive health, immune system strengthening, among many others.
As discussed in the previous article (http://www.sabores.com.sv/post/bebidas-hidratantes-salud-bienestar) of this series, functional foods must be viewed within the context of a healthy diet to capture their potential appeal. In a market with increased nutrition education and more active populations, functional beverages are lifestyle options or an alternative for hydration without resorting to sugary soft drinks with little nutritional value.
La adición de micronutrientes a bebidas puede presentar desafíos tecnológicos; por ejemplo, al diseñar bebidas con mezclas de vitaminas es fundamental prevenir la interacción de otros ingredientes en la fórmula y la incompatibilidad con otras vitaminas. Es además importante considerar que algunas vitaminas y minerales aportan resabios a las bebidas. Balancear el sabor para que notas “extrañas” no sean percibidas es aún más difícil en bebidas con azúcares reducidos o sin azúcar. A pesar de contar con una amplia variedad de edulcorantes no calóricos, los desarrolladores saben que obtener una bebida final sin sabores extraños, de dulzura agradable y con pocas calorías requiere un proceso de diseño minucioso. Sabores Cosco de Centroamérica, ofrece soluciones para propuestas vitaminadas en una gran variedad de bebidas saludables y deliciosas que promueven diferentes conceptos, por ejemplo:
- Antioxidants: drinks with juice and mineral salt blends, vitamins A, E, and C; accentuated with flavorings using traditional flavors like orange and carrot, tropical flavors like passion fruit, or an exotic blend of Polynesian fruits. All offerings are balanced for sugar-free beverages.
- Detox: base with fruit juice and green tea, added with Vitamin C, a touch of caffeine and sweetened with stevia (http://www.sabores.com.sv/bebidas). Our lemon-flavored offering with relaxing notes, green juice, or something similar, is perfect for any time of day. This base can also be flavored with an invigorating blend of natural matcha, green apple, and celery flavors, perfect for starting the day.
- Powdered Vitamin Blends: Our offering includes applications for powdered products including: Vitamin A, B-Complex Vitamins, Folic Acid, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Iron, Iodine, and Zinc.
It's natural to want to nourish ourselves properly and give our children the best possible nutrition. As we learn more about the relationship between health and diet, we examine our habits and evaluate the benefits of the foods we eat. Vitamin drinks respond to this search for functionality, as a rapidly growing category with excellent opportunities for innovation that elevates the concept of hydration.
About us…
Sabores Cosco de Centroamérica offers innovative alternatives in flavors and ingredients. Our portfolio of beverage and food applications is continuously growing to provide timely responses to market demands. We have the technical tools to address the particular needs of beverage and food flavor system applications, designing tailor-made proposals. Our technical advisory team provides support throughout the development process. We are sure that in Sabores Cosco de Centroamérica you will find an integral solution partner for your products.
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