By Cath Isabedra 

In beverage innovation, a seismic shift is underway, transcending the conventional boundaries of taste to delve into the nuanced world of texture. It’s a shift that Cara Zhuang, Senior Manager of Asia Pacific Marketing at CP Kelco, articulates with compelling clarity and insight.  

Through her lens, we gain an unparalleled view into the art and science of crafting beverage textures that complement and elevate the taste to create genuinely immersive sensory experiences. 

Transformative Textures: Beyond the Ordinary 

The journey to redefining beverage textures involves meticulous innovation and creative exploration. Zhuang masterfully underscores the essence of this journey, stating:  

“CP Kelco provides the potential for next generation innovation in beverage textures, ranging from thin to thick viscosity with the ability to suspend fun inclusions for a differentiated sensory experience.”  

This statement captures the essence of CP Kelco’s mission to challenge and transcend traditional expectations. This ethos enables them to craft beverages that are consumed and experienced.  

By manipulating viscosity and suspension capabilities, CP Kelco is able to reimagine the very nature of how beverages are perceived and enjoyed. 

It’s a given that consumer preferences will change. More recently, there’s a growing demand for beverages with nutrinition benefits. There’s a caveat, though. Consumers will only buy these if it also satisfy their taste buds.  

For some manufacturers, it’s a challenge to meet the expectations.  

Zhuang shares that CP Kelco addresses this complex challenge with a solution that is as elegant as it is effective: “CP Kelco can help by making the enhancement ‘invisible’ to consumers.” This innovative approach ensures that beverages enhanced with vitamins and proteins or reduced in undesirable components do not compromise sensory delight.  

This way,  CP Kelco seamlessly integrates nutritional enhancements into the beverage matrix, offering consumers the best of both worlds without compromise. 

Sustainability: A Commitment Woven into Every Sip 

On top of taste and nutritional benefits, the world grows increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of consumer choices, and sustainability emerges as a non-negotiable aspect of beverage production.  

Zhuang brings to light CP Kelco’s dedication to ecological stewardship, proudly stating, “Our NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber is the first citrus fiber ingredient on the market to be certified as upcycled by the (American-based) Upcycled Food Association.”  

This commitment extends beyond a simple pledge, permeating every facet of their ingredient sourcing and production processes. 

Through innovative practices such as upcycling and biomass boilers, CP Kelco minimizes the ecological footprint of its ingredients and sets a benchmark for sustainability in the industry. 

Replicating the Complexity of Alcohol: A Non-Alcoholic Odyssey 

The burgeoning interest in non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beverages presents a unique challenge: replicating the intricate textures and mouthfeel of alcoholic drinks. Zhuang addresses this with confidence, revealing: 

“Recipes are becoming more complex, but our texture solutions are simple.”  

This simplicity belies the sophistication of CP Kelco’s ingredient solutions, which empower brands to capture the essence of alcoholic beverages in non-alcoholic form, delivering a sensory experience that defies expectations. 

Plant-Based Perfection: Creaminess Redefined 

As the tide shifts towards plant-based diets, the quest for dairy-alternative beverages that do not sacrifice creaminess or taste intensifies.  

Zhuang illuminates CP Kelco’s role, stating, “CP Kelco offers KELCOGEL® Gellan Gum, which can help with both uniform suspension of protein and added nutrients as well as a pleasant mouthfeel.”  

A Glimpse into the Future: Textural Innovations on the Horizon 

As we approach a new era in beverage innovation, Zhuang offers a glimpse into the future, where CP Kelco continues to break new ground in sensory experiences.  

“We continue to explore new sensory experiences to help customers target textures to meet consumption occasions, generational differences, and health and wellness needs,” Zhuang reflects.  

This forward-looking perspective ensures that CP Kelco remains at the forefront of the industry, responding to current trends and shaping the future of how beverages are crafted and experienced. 

With CP Kelco’s pioneering solutions and visionary approach, the beverage industry is poised to enter an era where every sip is an adventure, a discovery of new realms of sensory delight. The promise of this future is not just exciting—it’s transformative, heralding a new chapter in the art and science of beverage creation. 

This story first came out in our “Innovation and the Art of Mouthfeel” issue.