Beverage innovation has exploded in recent years, with the drink menu being ground zero for new flavor and format play at many F&B concepts. Kombucha, cold-pressed juice, flavored seltzer, golden milk, boba tea, ube lattes, cold-pressed juice, espresso martinis, matcha—the list of beverage trends grows by the day, yet consumers, particularly Gen Z, can’t seem to get enough.

In order to stand out in an ocean of liquid innovation, consider these five niche beverage trends that can differentiate your menu and excite even the most jaded palates.

1

Shrubs and Switchels

Photo Credit: Forrest Mason Media

At Proper Grit Whiskey, shrubs serve as a base for a number of tart concoctions, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic.

Shrubs, switchels and other vinegar-based drinks have carved out a place for themselves on menus, giving beverage directors a more sophisticated flavor profile to work with. At Proper Grit Whiskey Library & Supper Club at The Ben hotel in West Palm Beach, Fla., mixologist Randy Castillo says housemade shrubs are a central part of the beverage program. “Utilizing shrubs as our primary tool—popular in detoxes for their vinegar base—I’ve crafted both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages for patrons to enjoy,” he says. For one variation, he adds mint and lime to a blueberry and lavender shrub for a refreshing, spirit-free take on a mojito. Meanwhile, at another hotel, Live! By Loews in St. Louis, a pineapple and tarragon shrub forms the basis for another fresh take on a nonalcoholic mojito. The Pineapple Matcha-Jito adds lime juice, honey syrup, matcha powder and a splash of club soda to the shrub for a complex and colorful creation.

2

Dirty Soda

The dirty soda trend continues to pick up steam, becoming a go-to nonalcoholic beverage category that is resonating with younger consumers, including Gen Alpha. A wide range of independent shops specializing in the trend are opening across the country in markets large and small. Encompassing food trucks, pop-ups and full brick-and-mortar establishments, this explosion showcases just how quickly the trend has grown. In Wichita, Kan., Just a Sip offers flavors like Blue Lagoon (blue raspberry syrup and lime in grapefruit soda) and Peachy Bellini (vanilla and peach syrups and Italian cream over diet cola). Drinkology, in Florence, Ky., includes options like Guava Splash with guava and strawberry syrup and vanilla cream over Mountain Dew. And Dirty Dough, a cookie chain with locations across the country, introduced its own dirty sodas this summer starting with a location in Fort Wayne, Ind. The menu includes options like Brookie Monster with dark chocolate and caramel syrup and non-dairy creamer in root beer and a Dreamsicle Delight featuring vanilla syrup and French vanilla creamer in orange soda.

3

Foraged Drinks

Photo Credit: Forrest Mason Media

Kingfisher specializes in earthy libations such as the Valley Scrub, which features a spicebush tincture, purple cabbage, mezcal and peanut butter distillate

With more herbs, floral flavors and even veggies showing up in beverages, many beverage directors are going the extra mile to stand out by featuring locally foraged ingredients on the drink menu. At Kingfisher in Durham, N.C., ingredients like magnolia blossoms are the starting point for every beverage; the concept even bills itself as a destination for “ground-to-glass cocktails.” Kingfisher’s focus on local, nonalcoholic ingredients is partly due to North Carolina being a beverage control state where spirit options are more limited. For its Valley Scrub cocktail, black pepper notes from a native allspice berry form the basis of a spicebush tincture, which is combined with purple cabbage, mezcal and peanut butter distillate and garnished with a peanut butter meringue for a libation that is less sweet and citrusy and more herbaceous and earthy.

4

Crackling Lattes

Another recent TikTok trend that has earned plenty of attention is the crackling latte. The beverage begins by coating the inside of a cup with chocolate, which then hardens when a cold coffee drink is added. Social media users love pressing on the sides of the cup to hear the chocolate crackle and break, creating a sensory experience—think of it as the “Snap, Crackle and Pop” of Gen Z. Hello Sweetness in Tampa, Fla., is always quick to leverage TikTok trends, including the crackling latte; the dessert shop/café began serving both chocolate and white chocolate matcha versions only weeks after the trend went viral. And the trend needn’t be confined to crunch; the “Fluffy Coke” with marshmallow fluff spread inside the cup is the latest iteration gaining attention. From flavored chocolates and hard shells to other sensorial additions to drinks, creative, in-cup flourishes can grab attention.

5

Shaved Ice, Popsicles and Frozen Treats

Photo Credit: Lindsay Eberly

Interactive and visually appealing, the Rising Tide at The Bamboo Room features housemade, nonalcoholic amaro plus shaved watermelon ice.

In the Instagram and TikTok era, over-the-top beverage builds are essential for maximum social media coverage. Many operators are turning to popsicles, sides of shaved ice and other frozen treats to add flavor and drama to a drink without the dilution that comes from traditional ice. Beverage director Kevin Beary of Chicago’s Bamboo Room makes a spirit-free amaro with flavors of bitter black tea and lemon, which he pairs with lime juice and pours over shaved watermelon ice for an interactive drink that stands up to any alcoholic-based tiki drink. Adding an entire popsicle in a colorful, unique shape to a drink still surprises and delights customers—and also keeps them refreshed on hot summer days. At the same time, globally inspired cool treats like kakigōri (Japanese shaved ice) can reach diners looking for something new and exciting.

Given both its depth and breadth, the beverage category is enjoying a golden age of innovation. And while craft cocktails have dominated this movement over the past decade, many of today’s many emerging trends are spirit-neutral, meaning they can be enjoyed with or without the addition of alcohol. Gen Zers and even Alphas may be driving demand via social media and their own spending habits, but these trends are nuanced enough to appeal to consumers of all ages, especially those who are seeking a departure from the imbibing norms.