MEDITERRANEAN UMAMI

A&B Ingredients offers Mediterranean Umami, an all-natural, clean-label ingredient that can help enhance the flavors and reduce sodium content in savory applications, like dairy and non-dairy dips, spreads, and cream cheeses. Mediterranean Umami is a natural blend of seaweed, tomato, and mushroom extracts. It is highly soluble and free from MSG, which aligns with health-conscious, clean-eating trends. It is conveniently labeled as a "natural flavor," making it an ideal choice for brands looking to create delicious, yet healthier food options. This natural flavor enhancer allows for up to 45% reduction in sodium without compromising on taste.

973-227-1390; www.abingredients.com

SWEETENING SYSTEM WITH FLAVOR-MODIFYING PROPERTIES

Cargill’s EverSweet stevia sweetener and ClearFlo natural flavor offer both sweetness and flavor-modifying properties for reduced-sugar dairy applications. Benefits include helping reduce sweetness linger, providing more upfront sweetness, masking negative taste attributes from other ingredients, and enhancing characterizing flavors. As a result, EverSweet + ClearFlo can reduce the off-notes associated with plant proteins without muting the system’s characterizing flavors. Representing a significant leap forward in stevia technology, the sweetener system also offers other functionalities around improved solubility, greater stability in formulations, faster dissolution, and enhanced mouthfeel.

800-932-0544; www.cargill.com/eversweetclearflo

PLANT-BASED ENZYME

Ficin is a plant-based enzyme from the latex of the fig tree that has been used in various applications over the years. Enzyme Development Corp. reintroduced the enzyme in 2021 and discovered that it offers promising results for both cheese-making and the production of EMCs (enzyme-modified cheeses). A recent study compared ficin to another plant-based protease in a Fromage Blanc cheese recipe. The results showed that ficin produced a smoother cheese with a cleaner flavor profile. Ficin is a promising new ingredient for cheesemakers looking for a plant-based alternative to animal-derived rennet.

212-736-1580; www.enzymedevelopment.com

CHOCOLATE VARIETAL FLAVORS

With chocolate leading the food and beverage industry as the top flavor found in global launches, Flavorchem developed “Chocolate Remix” to provide innovative solutions to customers. The collection of chocolate varietals for dry mix applications features signature flavors that can be optimized for a variety of dairy and non-dairy applications including ice cream, yogurt, protein, milk and plant-based beverages, creamers, pudding, and more. Collection flavors include Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana, Chocolate Stout, Dark Chocolate Mint, Mezcal Hot Cocoa, White Chocolate Matcha, and White Chocolate Toasted Coconut. All flavors are kosher, Non-GMO, allergen-free, vegan, prop 65-free, and can be labeled as “natural” on an ingredient statement.

800-435-2867; www.flavorchem.com

NATURAL HONEY GINGER FLAVOR

Natural honey ginger flavor from FlavorSum brings a mild, sweet warmth to dairy. The mellowness of honey combined with the spiciness of ginger offers a balanced taste and a healthy halo that connects with the need for wholesome nutrition. The profile is familiar in Greek-style yogurt, but the botanical blend is still buzzing with dairy shoppers. Social listening platform Tastewise reports conversations about the flavor bumped +11% for creamers last year, +14% for yogurts, and +35% for ice cream. 

800-525-2431; www.flavorsum.com

VIBRANT ORGANIC TURMERIC JUICE

Organic Turmeric Juice from Global Organics is made from fresh, mature organic turmeric that is sustainably grown. It is available aseptically or unpasteurized, made via a cold-press process and immediately frozen after extraction. This preserves the vitamins, minerals, and enzymes inherent in the original whole ingredient, resulting in a high standard of quality, vibrant flavor, and color for more efficient use. Turmeric is on trend with health-seeking consumers for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, digestive benefits, and more. Organic Turmeric Juice is a potent botanical for a variety of dairy applications including “golden latte” beverages. 

781-648-8844; www.global-organics.com

PLANT-BASED COLOR

GNT has launched Shade Vivid Orange – OS, a 100% oil-soluble plant-based color made from non-GMO paprika in the Exberry portfolio. The product is a versatile and vibrant orange shade that can replace paprika oleoresin and artificial colors in a wide range of applications including fat-based sweet and savory products, among others. It is made with an extraction process that is free from organic solvents while delivering exceptionally high color intensity. With cost-effective low usage levels and high stability performance, this kosher, vegan, and halal-certified shade can be used in cheeses, dips, dressings, and cheese sauces, as well as a variety of non-dairy applications.

704-469-5555; www.exberry.com/usa/exberry-usa/

MASKING AGENTS AND FLAVOR-MODIFYING PRODUCTS

IFPC enhances the palatability of plant-based protein options by using masking agents and flavor-modifying products (FMPs). These components are instrumental in mitigating the inherent legume notes often associated with plant-based proteins. Through precise formulation and application, IFPC can also reduce bitterness, bringing plant-based options more in line with the sensory profile of traditional dairy products. This process ensures that consumers can enjoy the nutritional benefits of plant-based proteins without compromising on taste, making these alternatives a compelling and comparable choice to conventional dairy offerings.

800-227-8427; www.ifpc.com

SMOKE FLAVORS

Kerry Red Arrow, available from dairy processing supplier Nelson-Jameson, offers a diverse range of smoke flavors tailored to the cheese manufacturing industry. These carefully crafted flavors impart a unique and authentic smokiness to cheeses, enhancing their taste with rich and nuanced flavors. They are designed to meet the specific needs of cheese production, ensuring consistent quality. These versatile flavors can be used with various cheese types and styles, adding subtle smokiness to mild cheeses or intensifying the character of aged varieties.

800-826-8302; www.nelsonjameson.com/products/ingredients/flavors-spices

FLAVOR-MASKING SOLUTIONS

As consumers continue to prioritize healthier options, functional ingredients are becoming more common in food and beverage products. But many of these ingredients come with off-flavors that negatively impact the taste and mouthfeel. Osage Flavors offers flavor-masking solutions that help product developers create tasty flavor profiles and improve texture while masking off-flavors to help deliver the products consumers will love. The company offers a variety of natural, non-GMO, and organic flavors for all application needs.

636-390-9477; www.osagefood.com

FLAVOR VARIETIES

Ripples, bases, sauces, ribbonettes, variegates, swirls and toppings. Pecan Deluxe produces a wide array of flavors and textures to add to yogurt, ice cream, shakes, or frozen desserts. Whether customers are looking for classic fruit preps and sauces or creative textured variegates like the company’s chocolate chip cookie dough option that delivers a sauce and inclusion in one, Pecan Deluxe can provide the secret ingredient. With a variety of flavors and custom options available, these sauces are sure to make any treat a masterpiece, according to the company.

214-631-3669; www.pecandeluxe.com/