In recent years, Innova’s annual Top 10 Trends research has identified plant-based diets as a strong direction for nutrition. Although this is largely centered on rising levels of veganism and the shift toward meat and dairy alternatives, it also reflects a more over-arching move toward all things plant-based and a focus on the natural world and all it can offer health and nutrition¹.
As consumers increasingly seek out clean label and effective ingredients, botanical extracts are becoming essential ingredients in new food & beverage recipes. Botanical extracts are recognized for their nutritional or health benefits and provide unique organoleptic properties.
45% of consumers say they have taken a greater interest in ingredients that help boost health in the last two years².
Botanical extracts and plant-based ingredients can be used to create functional food and beverage that meet consumer demand for both health benefits and a natural ingredient list.
Botanical extracts are used in a wide range of beverage and food applications. The most popular categories for botanical extracts are beverages, whether hot (tea, infusions) or cold, followed by the sports nutrition, with a multiplicity of recipes and formats (Liquid, powder, gel, etc.). Below is an example of this breakdown for a selection of five popular botanical extracts, during the first half of 2024.
For beverages in particular, manufacturers need beverage-friendly botanicals to enhance functional beverages with uniformity, solubility, neutral taste, stability, and clinically backed benefits.
For these applications, numerous health benefits are found.
According to FMCG Gurus, consumers are taking a more proactive approach to health and are focusing on prevention over cure. This is driven by the desire to stay fit and active until as late in life as possible. The tendency to want to improve health even if not suffering from symptoms is more common amongst Generation Z (who tend not to have as high a favorable opinion of their health as would perhaps be expected) and Baby Boomers (who are looking to break negative stereotypes related to ageing as they adopt a forever young ethos).[2]
Botanical extracts are the perfect ingredients for this healthy product image, offering numerous nutritional and health benefits. Here are a few examples.
Consumers believe that the best way to address cognitive health problems is to look to prevent them from occurring. As such, consumers are making day-to-day changes to their diet and lifestyle with long-term goals in mind. As an example, functional beverages that improve cognitive functions like focus, memory, attention, reactivity, clarity and creativity are gaining traction. In these functional drinks, ingredients enhancing cognitive health are referred as nootropics.
Widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for its nootropic properties, Ginseng Extract can be used for enhancement of mental capacities in case of weakness and loss of concentration.
Astragalus, traditionally valued for its immune-boosting properties, is now recognized for its potential cognitive benefits. Recent studies suggest that astragalus may help protect against biological aging and promote brain health by maintaining telomere integrity.
Incorporating these powerful botanicals into your daily routine through functional beverages offers a natural way to stay sharp, focused, and mentally resilient.
Guarana from Nexira’s productor field in Brazil
In addition to their flavor, trendy image and health benefits, consumers are more than ever conscientious about making responsible, ethical, sustainable food choices with minimal environmental impacts. Botanical extracts appeal to these evolving consumers expectations regarding the importance of naturalness.
Nexira offers a global expertise ranging from raw material sourcing and proprietary processing technologies to formulation support. With 4 manufacturing plants in France, Nexira provides an extensive extraction, purifying and spray- drying capacity with high quality and organic certifications.
Nexira’s enduring success is built upon both a history of deep commitment to sustainable values and on strong bonds with suppliers and customers alike. Our Technical Customer Assistance address your specific needs while our Scientific and Regulatory department support brings you innovation and business continuity.
We are helping our customers to create future-oriented market products. Explore our full portfolio of nutrient-rich powders ⤵️
