Beverage Formulation, Flavoring and Ingredients

A perfectly created beverage formula starts here.

The recipe for Success

Why have your beverage formulated by Big Brands? 

The main reason  to have your beverage formulated by the experts at Big Brands is that Big Brands is BOTH a beverage formulator and copacker. That means, we understand how to apply your beverage formula in a manufacturing setting.  Not only is the formulator knowledgeable about the science behind your formula, but the production manager also makes recommendations based on the packing requirements of your beverage product and are familiar with lab batching, filling and packaging.   We keep things all in the same place and that's why you should choose to have Big Brands co-pack and formulate your beverage project.

If you are starting out in the beverage development process, chances are you are using a recipe to craft your perfect home brewed beverage. To have your beverage product mass produced for commercialization,  your home recipe or beverage idea is taken to a Food Scientist who provides an industrial recipe or beverage formula for making your product in mass quantities. The beverage formula has very specific instructions on how to batch, blend and copack your beverage product. The beverage formulation process will include packing requirements, shelf life or best by standards, heating and cooling requirements, ingredients, flavors, mixing instructions, pH, brix, and finished product storage details.  A manufacturing ready beverage formula has the instructions for the beverage copacker.  Your beverage formulas from Big Brands  also includes a nutritional panel or supplement facts panel.

Also, Big Brands sources suppliers for your formula.  Most home based beverage recipes use store bought ingredients. When copacking of a commercial beverage, bulk ingredients and reliable suppliers are needed.  We have relationships with these beverage formulation suppliers and can source lists of beverage ingredients in a timely manner.

Curious about beverage ingredients? Turn over some popular beverage, search for the nutritional panel or read the ingredients. 

Want to duplicate a beverage product that's out in the marketplace?  Big Brands is able to match flavor and ingredients of most beverage products. 

Beverage Ingredients

Sourcing ingredients for your beverage formula  are similar to finding ingredients for your recipe, some you already have, while other ingredients you have to go shopping for at the regular store or specialty store. Big Brands will source your ingredients for your beverage product for you. By having our beverage experts available for your project, you can focus on building and growing your brand. 

Some common ingredients include:

• Functional - vitamins, electrolytes, and minerals
• Caffeine
• Sweeteners - sugar, sucrose, glucose, and fructose, inositol, Stevia, Chicory root, sucralos, and monk fruit 
• Stabilizers
• Blends - vitamin blends, functional drink blends, and proprietary blends
• Brewing materials - hops, yeast, malts, yeast and spices
• Juices - blends, purees and concentrates
• Botanicals and Adaptogens
• Colors
• Specialty classifications - organic , Kosher
• Coffees and teas
• Preservatives 

Ingredients can be available in liquid or powder form.

Beverage Flavors

Some popular flavor profiles to include in your beverage formula include:

• Sweet
• Floral
• Fruity
• Spicy

Beverage flavors are available as natural, natural and artificial, organic non-GMO, TTB and Kosher. 

Beverages come in all sorts of flavors. Scroll down to see a list of some popular flavors.

SAVOR THE FLAVOR

Botanical Ingredients

Some popular botanical Ingredients are:

Ashwagandha                             Ginseng

Black Tea                                     Hibiscus

Celery                                             Holy Basil

Chamomile                                  Lavender

Clove                                               Lemon Grass

Dandelion                                     Matcha

Echinacea                                     Passion Flower

Fennel                                            Rosemary

Garlic                                             Turmeric

Ginger                                            Valerian

Ginseng

For a list of more botanicals and health benefits, click here

For more on botanicals, click here

NATURAL FLAVORINGS IN BEVERAGE FORMULAS

The term natural flavor or natural flavoring means the essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional. Natural flavors include the natural essence or extractives obtained from plants.

ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS IN BEVERAGE FORMULAS

The term artificial flavor or artificial flavoring means any substance, the function of which is to impart flavor, which is not derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof.

COLOR ADDITIVES IN BEVERAGE FORMULAS

There are only 4 certified color additives approved by the FDA for use in beverages. They are: FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 5, and FD&C Yellow No. 6.

NATURAL COLORS IN BEVERAGE FORMULAS

Natural beverage colors include dyes and pigments derived from natural sources such as vegetables, minerals, or animals. Examples of certification exempt color additives include annatto extract (yellow), dehydrated beets (bluish-red to brown), caramel (yellow to tan), beta-carotene (yellow to orange), and grape skin extract (red or purple).

SPICES IN BEVERAGE FORMULAS

Spice examples include: Allspice, Anise, Basil, Bay leaves, Caraway seed, Cardamon, Celery seed, Chervil, Cinnamon, Cloves, Coriander, Cumin seed, Dill seed, Fennel seed, Fenugreek, Ginger, Horseradish, Mace, Marjoram, Mustard flour, Nutmeg, Oregano, Paprika, Parsley, Pepper, black; Pepper, white; Pepper, red; Rosemary, Saffron, Sage, Savory, Star aniseed, Tarragon, Thyme, Turmeric.

ORGANIC & NON-GMO BEVERAGE CERTIFICATION

Our formulation partners are certified by CCOF – California Certified Organic Farmers. With the addition of a variety of flavors being sold under the Non-GMO Project Verified label.

TTB (FOR ALCOHOL BEVERAGES)

We provide a library of over 600+ TTB approved flavors that is growing daily. Our team of TTB experts can assist with formula and COLA submissions and provide necessary FIDS.