Hybrid brews – Korean ashotchu
A Korean coffee/tea hybrid is emerging as one of the latest popular drinks for this winter. Ashotchu fuses iced tea with coffee to create a sweet, fruity cold brew – where the tea’s sweetness balances the coffee’s bitterness while the coffee elevates the tea’s caffeine content.
Peach ashotchu is the OG flavour – thanks, in part, to its soft trendy hue – but lemon and mango versions of the drink are trending now too. Coffee chains and drink brands are also getting creative with floral versions – jasmine, lavender, verbena, hibiscus and mint will all easily lend their flavours to ashotchu, too.
Playful drinks – Fluffy Cokes
Fun, simple and sweet is the name of the game for this latest popular drink.
The Fluffy Coke – made by coating a glass with marshmallow fluff, filling it with ice, then pouring in Coca Cola – has swept its way across socials, as a playful yet humble creation. While it’s an offshoot of the wider ‘dirty soda’ and ‘drinkable desserts’ drink trends, its appeal is in both its simplicity and its adaptability.
Homemade versions are already being tweaked with different drink bases – including Fluffy Dr Peppers, root beers, cherry sodas, Fantas and energy drinks – or by creating ‘fluffy’ elements in other ways – using ice cream instead of ice, for example, to upgrade the retro Coke Float. And these latter creations have led to dairy-based fluffy drinks too, including fluffy iced lattes, matchas and seasonal ‘PSLs’. In the US, Fluffy Cokes are already available in stores – no doubt paving the way for servings around the world.
New product launches
Wondering ‘What is the latest popular drink?’ The latest new launches include dessert-inspired and seasonal creations, sustainable alternatives, and an assortment of fruit flavoured sodas; offering something for all tastes.
Seasonal offerings
Rich dessert flavours have inspired many of the new Christmas menus at QSRs worldwide.
Starbuck’s seasonal menu includes old favourites – like the Caramel Brulee Latte, Peppermint Mocha and Sugar Cookie Almond Milk coffee – and new creations – including a Salted Pecan Cold Brew and foams in Gingerbread and Chestnut Praline flavours. Dunkin’ also has a mix of old and new on its winter menu, including a White Hazelnut Bark Coffee and a Cookie Butter Cold Brew along with a Brown Sugar Cookie Chai Latte.
Dessert flavours have been borrowed for a variety of festive chocolate milk drinks in the US too, including Chocolate Marshmallow and Peppermint Mocha flavours.
Seasonal berries are proving popular in some of the latest launches, too. KFC uses a cranberry syrup base for its five-strong Fall range, while Sprite has released its Winter Spiced Cranberry for the holiday season. And Canada Dry has rereleased its blackberry and cranberry flavoured ginger ales.
Finally, Jim Beam has released a limited-edition Winter Reserve whiskey, promising a “rich, seasonal” flavour from notes of vanilla, cinnamon and clove.
Autumnal orange has been borrowed for the packaging of two new drinks for UK shoppers. M&S has launched a Tiramisu Latte, a cold brew coffee served in a bright orange can, while Funkin has joined forces with Irn Bru to create an Irn Bru Vodka Martini RTD sold in a vivid orange can.
New sodas and soft drinks
Fresh, international fruits all feature in new soft drinks. Schweppes has partnered with Gelato Messina for its sorbet-inspired mixers, available in Peach & Mango, Passionfruit Lemonade, and Pineapple & Lime flavours, for example. And Hot Dog on a Stick has a limited-edition Lychee Lemonade on its menu, while 7Up has rereleased its Pomegranate Flavoured Soda, and Sunkist is soon to launch a Raspberry & Blood Orange soda.
Coca Cola has also announced two upcoming products. It will launch a Coca Cola Orange Cream and a caffeine-free Sprite + Tea in the new year.
Asda has taken inspiration from candies and desserts for its new sodas, available in Raspberry Ripple, Peaches & Cream, and Rhubarb Crumble & Custard flavours.
For a health-focussed non-alcoholic drink, Amai has crafted four new organic hibiscus waters, in Rose, Strawberry, Elderflower and Orange Blossom flavours. The flower is said to offer drinkers cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory benefits.
Sustainable alternatives
Beverages cubes are the latest innovation appealing to environmentally minded shoppers. These condense liquids into solid formats, to cut back on plastic packaging and lower the weights of loads being transport to retailers. Frozen cubes retain all the flavour and nutrition of their ingredients, while functional cubes can be packed with extra nutrients.
No & Low alcohol drink trends
NoLo sales soar in the US
Sales of non-alcoholic spirits are soaring in the US. Health and wellness are believed to be the main driver behind this, with NoLo alternatives particularly popular amongst younger drinkers. Sales shot up by 29% between January to July this year, compared to the same period in 2023, while sales of alcoholic spirits dipped by 3% at the same time, according to findings from IWSR. The global non-alcoholic spirits sector is now tipped to reach $271bn within the next 10 years.
Mini Drinks
Forget ‘go big or go home’, the new age of extravagance is all about little luxuries. Meaning mini drinks are amongst the latest popular drink choices.
Fun-sized versions of consumer favourites are being showcased on socials and in bars. These small-sized cocktails or shots pack a punch – full of flavour but drinkable in just one or two sips. Mini margaritas and ‘Tiny ‘Tinis’, posted on socials, or mini beer shots – layering Liqour43 and Liquor43 Horchata – offer a fun, eye-catching aesthetic.
This current drink trend isn’t solely about aesthetic though – it ticks the boxes for abstinence and accessibility too. As the NoLo drink trend continues apace and the cost-of-living continues to squeeze budgets, mini drinks allow drinkers to keep track of their alcohol intake or try of a range of drinks without breaking the bank.
For drinks brands, mini serves are another way to introduce and trial experimental flavours too.
Want to create the latest popular drink?
At Simpson’s, we develop and manufacture bespoke flavours for drinks. Chat to our team today for ideas on how to apply the latest drink trends and favourite flavours to your product ranges.
Image source: Trendhub The Food People 2024
