With consumers increasingly seeking beverages with functional properties, exotic fruits are seeing greater use in drink formulations. "Consumers are actively seeking new and innovative ways to maintain their and their families' health," states Kyra Appleby, innovation technologist at Lawrenceville, NJ-based iTi Tropicals. Exotic fruits are being used to enhance juice content, reduce sugar content, and potentially lower caloric load in beverages.
Appleby notes that exotic fruits can evoke a sense of nostalgia for consumers from diverse backgrounds. "Many tropical fruits are prized for their ability to evoke a sense of home for these individuals," she explains. Melissa Nasits, innovation director at Monin Beverage, Clearwater, FL, agrees, noting that social media is bringing foreign cultures and cuisines into mainstream Western consciousness.
Among the most popular exotic fruits used in beverages are passion fruit, coconut water, acerola juice, dragon fruit, and mango. "Passion fruit has the unique ability to mask off-flavors from high nutrient-value ingredients that may not taste great on their own," Appleby says.
Source: www.bevindustry.com