Kerry debuts line of botanical extracts for low- and no-alcohol beverages

30 Jun 2020 --- Kerry has officially released its Botanicals Collection Zero, a range of clean label, “premium” botanical extracts – containing 0 percent ethanol – designed specifically for the low- and no-alcohol beverage markets. The portfolio includes 15 standard products and 35 others, including juniper, rosebud, elderflower, cocoa, turmeric and cinnamon, which address consumer demands for moderation without compromising on taste, the taste and nutrition company states.

Botanicals are blossoming in alcohol NPD. Innova Market Insights has tracked a 21 percent CAGR growth in alcoholic beverages launches with botanical flavors (Global, 2015-2019). The market researcher has also found that 18 percent of launches with botanical flavors were tracked with a no additives/preservatives health claim, crowning it as the most widely used claim paired with botanicals (Global, 2019). Gluten-Free (17 percent) and organic (14 percent) claims took a close second and third place in the flower and herb space.

“We are pleased to launch the Botanicals Collection Zero range of high-quality authentic botanical distillates to beverage producers interested in producing more refined and better-tasting low- or no-alcohol drinks,” says Michel Aubanel, Flavor Ingredients Global Development Manager for Kerry. 

Consumer expectations are currently not being met by mocktails and other no-alcohol options due to the fact that products often resemble juices rather than alcohol, he notes. “Increasingly, consumers want the upscale experience of the glass, ice and taste, but without the alcohol content. The Kerry Botanicals Collection Zero portfolio can deliver a premium drink that tastes great,” Aubanel asserts. 

Kerry has released its Botanicals Collection Zero, a range of clean label, “premium” botanical extracts, designed for the low- and no-alcohol beverage markets. “A premium drinking experience”
With Kerry’s Botanicals Collection Zero, beverage producers can now create sophisticated low-alcohol spirits and no-alcohol options with the taste of gin, rum, cocoa, ginger and so on, all while meeting emerging clean label and quality requirements. The result, according to Kerry, is “a premium drinking experience for those seeking to moderate their alcohol consumption.” 

Amid a growing global trend to moderate and control alcohol intake that looks set to continue for the foreseeable future, consumers are seeking authentic-tasting drink taste options beyond simply soft drinks. This makes low-alcohol spirits or no-alcohol beverages a growth market, with trade sales in the area expected to record a 41 percent increase over the period 2015-2021, according to the company. With botanical extracts in alcohol beverages already a US$500 million business and growing by 9 percent per annum, producers that can offer tasty and healthier upscale beverage choices will see a significant and growing market opportunity in the years to come. 

The Kerry Botanicals Collection Zero range offers many advantages: It’s fully traceable, clean label, halal-certified, kosher-suitable and, most importantly, ethanol-free and also free of any alternative solvent. The portfolio allows manufacturers to maintain a low, or zero, alcohol content and permits a “0.0 percent” claim. In comparison to other ethanol-free technologies, the Collection Zero range is more stable, with no haze, no sedimentation and a fresher botanical taste and mouthfeel. 

Moreover, Kerry’s expertise and experience in natural extraction fosters innovative “fusion distillates” that are based on a proprietary capability to blend natural botanicals, such as leaves, flowers and seeds and then magnify taste by running a distillate following a period of slow maturation. This allows for tailored extracts or blends that can be made to order which suit specific local and regional tastes and requirements. 

The Collection Zero range contains more than 45 single distillate profiles and five fusions distillates that can be blended and tailored to suit specific markets. Some of the available botanical taste sources include juniper, ginger, rose bud, chamomile, lemon, mint, orange, dandelion, cola nut, rhubarb, burdock, elderflower, black tea, cocoa, cumin, fennel, turmeric and cinnamon, among others. 

Kerry is moving forward with further investigations to add more appealing tastes both producers and consumers will love.

Earlier this month, UK-headquartered flavor ingredients provider Treatt, noted the so-called “sober curious” movement is gathering pace in the beverage arena as more individuals opt to lower their alcohol intake or remove it altogether. As more Millennials and Gen Z consumers look to explore a lifestyle less influenced by alcohol, beverage companies are met with new challenges to cater to a new target audience with appealing and innovative flavors.

By Elizabeth Green