LOUISVILLE, Ky. (November 24, 2025) – Flavorman, a leading custom beverage development company, has released its 2026 Beverage Trends Forecast, continuing the company’s eight-year streak of accurately predicting the flavors and innovations that will shape the industry for the upcoming year.
Drawing from extensive client project data, insights from industry partners, year-over-year consumer behavior patterns, and historical trend analysis, Flavorman’s Beverage Architects identified several key shifts expected to influence product development in the year ahead.
For the coming year, Flavorman projects that consumers will lean even more heavily into classic, enduring flavors such as mango, strawberry, lemon-lime, and vanilla. This aligns with a trend that the Beverage Architects predicted last year, where consumers have gravitated toward what is most familiar when choosing what to drink. Flavorman also notes growing interest in emerging fruits and decadent flavors, such as guava, sumac berry, churro, and huckleberry cobbler, signaling that innovation will continue to thrive alongside the classics.
“Our Flavor Laboratory has noticed that brands are beginning to capture unique variations of classic flavor profiles. For example, we’ve received an increasing number of requests for yuzu, which evokes a fusion of different citrus notes,” says Flavorman’s Chief Flavorist, Tom Gibson, “Consumers are still craving the familiar favorites; beverage brands are simply finding creative ways to deliver that.”
Reflecting on its 2025 predictions, Flavorman once again demonstrated its accuracy, particularly in predicting the surge of “sober curious” consumers and the rapid rise of Non-Alcoholic Spirits and mocktail categories. With demand continuing to accelerate, the Beverage Architects anticipate even greater innovation in 2026, including elevated mocktails with added adaptogens and more flavor profiles replicating the taste of traditional spirits.
Flavorman’s 2026 outlook also indicates that renewed consumer focus on functional ingredients centered around wellness. Flavorman’s Beverage Architects expect to see growth in clean-label, naturally energizing options, especially caffeinated alternatives to conventional energy drinks and coffee. Ingredients such as cascara, yerba mate, and other functional tea blends are positioned to break through as brands look to meet the rising demand for beverages that support both energy and well-being.
As consumers increasingly prioritize wellness and vitality, Flavorman notes that shifting regulatory dynamics are shaping the beverage industry. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration recently announced plans to phase out certified color additives – a move already reflected in industry behavior. Flavorman’s Beverage Architects have already observed this shift among clients, noting a decrease in new projects utilizing FD&C colors.
Regulatory uncertainty is also rippling through the fast-growing hemp-derived THC category, despite a growing market for such products. This comes in tandem with the recent changes to the 2018 Farm Bill that will ban hemp-derived THC products in the U.S. by late 2026. Flavorman anticipates that this shift will influence development strategies as brands navigate compliance, consumer demand, and the evolving legal landscape.
“The regulatory landscape for hemp-derived THC has always been uncertain, and we anticipated changes like these would eventually come,” says Flavorman’s Director of Quality Systems, Matthew Fuller. “Hemp companies now have a unique opportunity to rally support from their consumer base that helped grow a $28 billion industry. So, a lot can change in a year.”
On the branding side, Flavorman previously predicted a wave of customization – from flavor cartridges to variety packs – as consumers sought greater control and personalization in their beverage experiences. For 2026, the company expects this momentum to evolve into “premium products through convenience” as brands increasingly lean into bulk unit sales, expanding their presence in e-commerce channels, and prioritizing distribution strategies that ensure products are available wherever consumers choose to shop.
Flavorman, headquartered in Louisville, Ky., partners with brands of all sizes to bring innovative beverage ideas to market. From formulation and ingredient selection to production planning and quality control, Flavorman has been instrumental in developing more than 85,000 unique beverage formulations across every major category.
For more information about Flavorman and its services, visit .
