Top Five Mid-Year Beverage Trends of 2022

 
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues, health conscious consumers are looking for healthier and more sustainable beverages to boost their immune system naturally.  The pandemic has inspired many individuals to think about how we should be feeding our bodies resulting in the latest beverage trends.
 
In fact, the functional beverage market is “valued at US $118.7 billion in 2021 and the market is expected to reach US $265.9 billion by 2030, recording a promising CACR of 9.38 percent from 2021 to 2030,” according to InsightAce Analytics. Allen Marketing Communications, Inc., a boutique food and beverage public relations agency based in New York City, shares the five  drink trends, from staying healthy to simply enjoying a sweet treat.
 
Bubble Tea
Bubble tea gets its name from the bubbles, also known as boba, or tapioca pearls that sit at the bottom of the drink. Created in the 1980s, bubble tea “is expected to skyrocket in popularity, and already has, expanding its market by almost $2 billion by 2027,” according to Tan Do Beverage.
 
The tea component of Bubble Tea can be made into more than 200 flavor combinations, and you can even choose different types of “bubbles” if you prefer something other than tapioca, such as jelly, aloe vera, or red bean. If you’re looking for a tasty drink that’s customizable to your exact liking, bubble tea is just for you!
 
Fermented Drinks
Gut health is one of the most important things to take care of in your body, as it dictates things like your mood and energy. With the ongoing pandemic, people have become more and more aware of the importance of taking care of their bodies and staying healthy, and doing so with fermented drinks.
 
Probiotic beverages, such as Kombucha, are expected to generate more than $77 billion in sales by 2025,”according to Tan Do Beverage. Water kefir, which has been shown to help aid digestion and boost your immune system, is another probiotic drink that doesn’t just taste good, but keeps you healthy, too.
 
Dairy-Free & Plant-Based
Dairy-free & plant-based alternatives to milk include options such as almond milk, oat milk, and rice milk which are more sustainable and allow those who can’t eat dairy to still enjoy milk.
 
“Plant-based milk is the most developed of all plant-based categories, with $2.5 billion in 2020 dollar sales. Plant-based meat is a rapidly growing category, with $1.4 billion in 2020 dollar sales, growing 45 percent since 2019.” (Source: Good Food Institute)
 
These alternatives are significantly less impactful on climate change and animal welfare.  Plant-based milk is often fortified with nutrients and vitamins to make them very similar in nutritional content. In saying this, almond milk has a much lower calorie-count, so if you’re worried about your calorie intake, almond milk or oat milk may be the healthier choice for you.
 
Juices
According to CSP Daily News, “Many consumers want more control over their wellbeing,” because of the pandemic. As a result, people are seeking beverages that provide refreshment and satisfaction while also offering nutrients.
 
Drinks such as cold-pressed fruit and vegetable juices offer these nutrients without sacrificing great taste. In addition, consumers can buy a juicer and make their own juice in the convenience of their own home – this allows them to customize the vitamins and minerals they’re getting from the different fruits and vegetables they add.
 
Meal-Replacers Beverages
With society always picking up pace and time always seeming to move faster, grab-and-go meals have increased in popularity recently. But what’s even faster than eating a grab-and-go meal is a grab-and-go drink that can function as a meal. According to Let’s Chat Snacks, “39 percent of consumers use nutritional and performance drinks as a replacement for breakfast.”
 
These drink meals are convenient, affordable, and efficient, and as Americans move away from the standard three meals per day model and snack more often, these nutritional and performance drinks are becoming more and more popular and useful. They contain high protein content, high fiber, and offer a plethora of delicious flavors, from pumpkin pie to birthday cake. Who wouldn’t want to eat a healthy meal flavored like a birthday cake?
 
Our food and beverage public relations specialists are here to help. Give us a call.
 
By Marley Merrihew at Allen Marketing Communications, Inc.
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