Check out five beverage trends to watch this year.
Pumpkin spice lattes, the explosion of hard seltzers and over-the-top, Instagrammable shakes – these are just a few of the beverage trends we’ve seen over the past few years. But what are people looking forward to most in 2022? We’ve gathered up five drink trends to watch in the new year.
1. Drinks Flavored After Sweet Treats
Often you’ll see coffee paired with a sweet treat. In 2022, you’ll see more beverages taking on those dessert-inspired flavors. Seasonality plays a role, such as s’mores for summer, pumpkin pie drinks for fall and sugar cookie for a holiday time drink. But you’ll also see fun flavors that call for a celebration any time of the year, like birthday cake or cotton candy.
2. Alcohol & Cocktail Inspired Drinks
Drinks inspired by…drinks? That's another drink trend to watch this year. The complexities of cocktail flavors lend themselves to mocktails, aguas frescas and other types of refreshing beverages.
For example, DaVinci Gourmet Old Fashioned Syrup can add the balanced flavor of cherries, oranges, bourbon, vanilla and aromatic bitters to any mocktail without the alcohol. Or you can utilize Island Oasis Moscow Mule Mix to add the taste of ginger, mint and lime to lemonades or mocktails. These options are great for those sober curious guests.
3. Drinks with Nutritional Call-outs
Whether it's reduced sugar or immunity support, consumers want easier ways to support their health. Offering menu options with those types of benefits can be a huge draw.
Island Oasis® Plus+™ and DaVinci Gourmet Beverage Boost both contain Wellmune®, a natural food, beverage and supplement ingredient clinically proven to help strengthen the immune system. Both can provide the benefits guests want while allowing them to enjoy their favorite everyday beverages.
4. Unexpected Savory Flavors
Savory twists on drinks will continue to show up on menus in 2022. Spicy margaritas have become more mainstream and consumers are looking for specific pepper call-outs on the menu, like habanero and jalapeno.
Herbal flavors and garnishes like thyme, basil and rosemary are popping up on café and cocktail menus as guests explore different flavor notes and see what herbs can bring out in sweet or tart beverages.
5. Seasonal and Familiar Favorites
Of course, seasonal beverage trends are here to stay. While most people’s minds go directly to the beloved pumpkin spice latte, there are plenty of other opportunities to play with seasonal flavors. Citrus flavors like grapefruit and pomelo bring the brightness of summer, while light fruit flavors such as lychee, pear, guava, honeydew and huckleberry could be used across spring and summer.
In the fall and winter, holiday-inspired flavors reign supreme – like gingerbread, eggnog and pumpkin. But flavors like brown sugar and Irish cream are also popping up on holiday menus for some different flavor profiles.
Interested in more flavor trends? Download the 2022 Kerry Taste Charts to see what’s trending around the world in sweet, savory, salty snacks and beverages.
