MEDITERRANEAN UMAMI FLAVOR ENHANCER

Mediterranean Umami from A&B Ingredients is a natural, clean-label flavor enhancer designed to reduce sodium while maintaining a balanced flavor profile and increasing craveability. Ideal for use in savory and flavored cream cheese, dips and spreads, Umami helps build back a balanced flavor profile while reducing sodium by up to 45%, the company says. Mediterranean Umami is a natural vegetable extract combined with sea salt. It is highly soluble, contains no MSG and is labeled “natural flavor.” The Umami blend is a tasty way to reduce sodium, enhance the flavor profile, and design clean-label, better-for-you foods, it adds.

973-227-1390; www.abingredients.com/

SUSTAINABLE SOURCED VANILLA EXTRACT 

ADM’s Fair Trade and organic certified vanilla extract from Madagascar delivers on highly sought-after sustainability attributes and brings a rich yet delicate flavor to frozen treats, yogurts, milks, dairy alternatives, and more. The company points out that the consistently exceptional bourbon vanilla extract is created with cured vanilla beans. The vanilla beans are transparently and traceably sourced through SAVAN, ADM’s joint venture with a farmer cooperative in Madagascar, which also supports the local farming communities. ADM’s varied vanilla portfolio helps dairy brands create delicious innovations, sustainably, it says.

312-634-8100; www.adm.com/

SUCCULENT STRAWBERRIES ABOUND

Strawberries have become one of the most widely consumed fruits in the United States. Flavor Dynamics offers its natural strawberry flavor WONF (with other natural flavors) for customers looking for a ripe, vegan flavor for their plant-based applications. The company’s latest natural strawberry flavor offers a fresh, authentic, jammy profile that is ideal for ice cream, yogurts, protein mixes, and dairy creamers, it says.

908-822-8855; www.FlavorDynamics.com

MATCHA ALMOND FLAVOR ENHANCES TASTE

The Matcha Almond Latte flavor from FlavorSum combines the mellow taste of matcha tea with a toasted almond flavor that compliments matcha’s natural sweet nuttiness. The flavor pairs with the creaminess in ice cream or dairy-based beverages like creamers or enhances the taste of a plant-based drink or frozen dessert, the company says.

800-525-2431; www.flavorsum.com

REPLACING RAW MATERIALS WITH HYDROCOLLOIDS

Hydrosol focuses on replacing raw materials and developing economical recipes. Through the combination of various hydrocolloids, expensive raw materials can be reduced or even entirely replaced, it says. One such product is Stabisol JOC 2 which is used for making fermented whey desserts. The combination of ingredients gives the final product the same creamy texture as yogurt. Yet, due to the flexible system, the amount and type of whey can be varied, since both sweet and acid whey can be used. Both are by-products of cheese and quark manufacture. The Hydrobest Drink range of all-in compounds simplifies the production of mixed milk beverages. There are also economical formulations for quark, cream cheese and processed cheese preparations, cooking cream, and vegetable-based whipping creams in various flavors.

+49 (0) 41 02 202 003; www.hydrosol.de

EGGNOG AND BEYOND

IFPC custom builds blends that cater to regional customer preferences and points out that the perception of a flavor can have various profiles. For example, strawberry flavor can be candy-like, green, jammy, floral, cooked or fresh. The same is true for eggnog, and while it may seem early to be thinking of eggnog in the summer months, dairy processors begin working now on the eggnog profile they will be selling for the holiday season. Orders are placed in the fall so product can be made in time to be offered by the peak season, which runs from October to early January.

800-227-8427; www.ifpc.com

SHELF-STABLE FRUITS FOR DAIRY 

MicroDried offers a line of fruits such as strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry along with citrus including orange, lemon and lime that is available in whole, fragments or powder. All products are shelf-stable and provide a bright and flavorful inclusion that has low micros, low water activity and are ready-to-eat. MicroDried fruit products are ideal for dairy applications such as yogurts, cheese, smoothies, ice cream, novelties and more. 

208-461-5100; www.microdried.com

THE NATURALNESS OF MONK FRUIT

Monk Fruit Corp. has witnessed the monk fruit ingredient market growing at a double-digit pace over the past few years as global consumers demand great-tasting, better-for-you products with full flavor, reduced sugar, and fewer calories. Monk fruit extract and monk fruit juice concentrate have been essential tools for product developers to transition consumers into lower-calorie, reduced sugar products without compromising taste. Monk fruit plays an important role in modulating flavor, allowing formulators to achieve both sweetness and improved flavor profile in food and beverage products.

847-226-3467; www.monkfruitcorp.com 

NON-GMO, ORGANIC FLAVORS FULFILL NEED

Osage Flavors works with product developers to formulate one-of-a-kind flavor profiles, offering a variety of natural, non-GMO and organic flavors for all product development needs. The company’s high-quality flavor solutions will help enhance products’ great taste while masking nutritional ingredients and off-notes. It offers samples of its flavor options and also offers custom development services.

636-390-9477; www.osageflavors.com

VANILLA PRODUCTS

From pollination, to process, to product, Tastepoint’s vanilla roots run deep. With more than 100 years of experience, Tastepoint is an established pioneer among vanilla producers. The company values how much vanilla has been, and continues to be, at the core of so much of what we do. When it comes to procuring vanilla, we employ a balanced approach; buying opportunistically and contracting with reliable vendors. Throughout its history, the company has cultivated relationships from a variety of regional markets and an array of channels. Its well-established relationships allow the company to gain access to the best price and quality, it says.

215-365-7800; www.tastepoint.com/

WELLNESS FLAVORS DOMINATE DAIRY

An increased focus on health and nutrition has opened new flavor possibilities for formulators. Flavor profiles inspired by natural ingredients with inherent therapeutic properties or association from aromatic taste cues are gaining in popularity because of the health benefits associated with them. As physical and mental health take priority, Virginia Dare has created a line of wellness flavors to become a dominant drivers behind new dairy products, it says. From "Moodfluencing” flavors for emotional well-being products to “Beautifying” flavors that enhance well-being and graceful aging products, the company says it helps innovate functionally-inspired taste profiles for modern wellness brands. 

718-788-1776; www.virginiadare.com/