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2026’s Hottest Beverage Trends
We’re taking a deep dive into the freshest trends set to shape the beverage industry in 2026. Next year is all about creativity, indulgence, and vibrant experiences. From the continued rise of pistachio to classic beverages with creative twists, 2026 is full of exciting opportunities for beverage innovation, making it the perfect time to expand your offerings.
Flavour with Feeling
Feel-good food and drink remain key – but now, it’s all about bold colours, playful names, and visual joy. 28% of global consumers say “mood-enhancing” is the most important aspect of food and drink*. 2026 food trends show a rise in playful or nostalgic names (e.g., “Sunshine Sips,” “Pink Pick-Me-Up”) that spark emotional connections*. Consumers aren’t just craving taste – they’re craving a feeling.
SIMPLY Top Tip: For key holidays and dates, use playful names for LTO’s to drive sales and boost customer engagement.
Classic Flavours with a Twist
Consumers are increasingly drawn to unexpected flavour pairings but also familiarity. That’s where “classic flavours with a twist” comes in. These reinvented classics blend comfort with innovation, whether it’s a touch of toasted, a hint of floral or a pinch of salt.
SIMPLY Top Tip: The SIMPLY Twist range is designed to help you add a playful twist to your menu while keeping costs and SKU’s low. Just one 4ml pump of Chilli, Toasted, Cookie or Salt Twist Syrup is all it takes to transform a beverage! The SIMPLY Twist range even has its own 4ml pump to help ensure efficiency and consistency.
Boosted Beverages
The UK functional drinks market has grown by 34% year-on-year to £178m, propelled by Gen Z seeking healthier alternatives*. Simply adding supplements to a smoothie, drinking protein shakes or proffee’s have become common lifestyle changes consumers are adopting. Whether this is a charged add-on or already included, this will attract a number of people who are making daily changes to be healthier. *qualityfoodawards
SIMPLY Top Tip: Whether offered as a charged add-on or included by default, these boosted beverages appeal to consumers making daily health-conscious choices.
Check out our SIMPLY Supplements here!
Internationally Inspired:
UK consumers are embracing internationally inspired desserts that offer novelty, variety, and cultural influence.
Spanish Latte (Spain) The Spanish Latte has made its way to the UK! Driven by its popularity at major coffee chains like Costa, it has also started gaining traction in independent cafes.
Tiramisu Latte (Italy) Inspired by the classic Italian dessert and now seen on major chains and independents drinks menus, tiramisu is having its moment.
Bubble Tea (Taiwan) Bubble tea has become mainstream in the UK, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to go anywhere. Gen Z are drawn to the drink’s visually appealing aesthetics, variety of flavours, and interactive texture experience.
Vietnamese Coffee (Vietnam) Already a staple on Black Sheep Coffee’s menu, Vietnamese coffee is gaining traction in the UK and can be seen as a strong emerging opportunity.
Flavour Favourites for 2026
Flavours are becoming more adventurous, nostalgic, and globally inspired. Here’s our top beverage flavour predictions for 2026:
Swicy:
Sweet and spicy (swicy) is one of the fastest-growing flavour trends across snacks, desserts, and beverages and with 48% of global consumers say they’re interested in sweet–spicy combinations (Innova, 2024). With 74% of consumers actively seeking exotic taste experiences (Botrista, 2025), adding a swicy twist to your menu is a must-have.
SIMPLY Suggestions:
Matcha:
Matcha has exploded from niche tea shops to mainstream menus across the UK. It satisfies the demand for functional flavours and globally inspired treats.
• Global market forecast to hit $4.24 billion in 2025, growing to $6.48 billion by 2029 (source: Mordo Intelligence)
• CAGR of 11.2%, showing strong and sustained growth (source: The Business Research Company)
• Appeals to health-conscious and flavour-curious consumers
SIMPLY Suggestions:
Pistachio:
Pistachio is STILL having its moment, heavily inspired by the viral Dubai chocolate bar trend. Its luxurious appeal and rich taste make it ideal for both bakery and global-style desserts.
• 10% growth in consumer conversation in 2024 (Source: Tastewise)
• 876% YOY growth in pistachio sauce and syrup sales
• Popular in lattes, cookies, milkshakes, pastries, and more!
• Market projected to hit multi-million value by 2027 (source: Expert Market Research)
SIMPLY Top Tip: Add a delicious nuttiness to your drinks and desserts with Simply Pistachio Topping Sauce. Made with real pistachios, the eye-catching green colour and smooth nutty is a customer favourite.
SIMPLY Suggestions:
Coconut:
Largely driven by the growing popularity of dairy-free and natural alternatives, major coffee chains and independents are introducing drink options using coconut water and coconut milk. These alternatives can be seen replacing dairy milk as the default, especially in drinks like iced matcha, lattes and even juice. Coconut water has electrolytes, hydration benefits, and heart-friendly potassium which is perfect for consumers looking for ways to add extra benefits to their daily drinks. It’s just a bonus it tastes so good!
SIMPLY Suggestions:
Cherry:
Bold, nostalgic and visually striking – cherry’s vibrant red colour and playful vibe make it perfect for social media-ready drinks. There has been a +19% YoY growth in cherry flavour launches across beverages and desserts (Global, 2024–25), with black cherry and cherry-cream blends leading NPD globally, with a +21% YoY uplift in food and drink launches.
SIMPLY Suggestions:
Need help planning your 2026 menu?
If you’d like help customising your menu or have questions about our products and recipes, SIMPLY has the insights, products, and expertise to help. Contact our sales team through our live web chat, call 0800 689 5128 or email sales@ibcsimply.com
Looking for more inspiration?
Our brand-new SIMPLY Resource Page is here! Bursting with free downloadable content, including whitepapers, magazines and recipe booklets, you will never run out of inspiration! From market data and trends to menu ideas and recipes – we’ve got all your dessert and beverage inspiration in one place!
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