The food and beverage industries have seen a dramatic shift toward healthier dietary habits over the last several years. This change has manifested itself in a number of ways, from the emergence of new products to changes in manufacturing practices and the elimination of certain undesirable ingredients across industries. During this time, fruit juices and smoothies have enjoyed an uptick in their popularity. These beverages are seen as healthy and refreshing treats for an active lifestyle. But with this image comes a demand for high quality, healthy ingredients. Fruit juices have always lined the shelves of grocery stores, but in the old days they could have higher levels of sugar and sweeteners and less natural flavoring. The trend today is toward healthier juices that rely more on natural flavoring rather than sugary soft drinks.
An exciting challenge
For juice and smoothie manufacturers, this development presents an exciting new challenge. Using only natural flavors, these manufacturers must affordably create a great tasting fruity soft drink. Thankfully for them, many fruits taste great on their own and in combination with one another. But that does not mean that the job is as simple as liquefying a strawberry and bottling it. Creating a consistent, high-quality product using organic products has its complications. Not all fruits are always in season, and sometimes one batch of fruit is worse than another.
An effective way for juice and smoothie manufacturers to mitigate some of these problems without sacrificing the initiative to use all-natural ingredients is to make use of organic fruit flavorings. Here are several of the key benefits of using organic fruit flavors for beverages.
Consistent flavors
While few tastes are more satisfying than a fresh piece of fruit picked at just the right time, it is very difficult to use only pristine fruits when manufacturing juices and smoothies. Tastes can vary from one piece of fruit to the next. There is an abundance of conditions that can impact the quality of a fruit and its taste, and this inconsistency in taste can have an impact on fruit-flavored beverages and other fruity products.
But the use of natural fruit flavorings like fruit essences and extracts can help circumvent this problem. Fruit extracts are natural products made by extracting the natural flavors directly from the fruit in a solution of water and alcohol. This makes for a very even and consistent flavor profile in the extract, which can be used in the formulation of juices and smoothies to help balance the taste. Whether to enhance the fruity flavors of a drink or to ensure a more consistent and reliable flavor throughout the manufacturing process, natural fruit flavor is always good to have on hand.
Expiration date
Perhaps the biggest challenge when working with fruit is that it tends to have a short window of usability. The shelf life of a piece of fruit is relatively short. On top of that, most fruits are only grown during certain times of the year or in certain climates, so the supply will often struggle to match the demand. This is not the case for most natural flavors like fruit extracts. Organic fruit flavorings such as these never go out of season and can have exceptionally long shelf lives. This makes them a perfect solution for juice and smoothie manufacturers who need to keep their business going year-round, even when their products have gone out of season.
At OSF Flavors, we understand the multifaceted importance of organic fruit flavorings and we are proud to offer high-quality, all-natural flavors. Visit our sample request page today to request a fruit flavoring sample for your juice or smoothie business.