Spooky Sips for Halloween

A Clean Label Crash Course

If you’re not familiar with clean labels, it refers to food and beverages made with ingredients that are familiar, naturally derived, minimally processed, and free from artificial additives. A good tell-tale of a clean label ingredient is something that you can recognize or something with a shorter ingredient list.

Nowadays, consumers are surrounded by F&B products that are filled with artificial ingredients, while many are seeking clean-label alternatives. Thanks to social media and new technologies, they’re more informed and curious about what they buy. As an R&D professional or manufacturer, your role is to evolve alongside these consumer expectations and trends.

In this list, we champion the clean label approach by finding alternatives to synthetic food dyes by using natural extracts, sweeteners, and spices – the very kind of wholesome ingredients Tripper is well-known for sourcing. With these swaps, you won’t miss anything visually or taste-wise.

Your Spooky Sips: Four Clean Label Concepts

Concept 1: The pH-Shifting Potion with Butterfly Pea

This latte concept starts blue, transforms to purple, and is mixed with coffee to create a swirling, layered "potion" effect. Butterfly pea is a great natural colorant which can transform depending on its acidity.

• Application Focus: Color changing nature of butterfly pea powder.
• Innovation Insight: The butterfly pea powder acts as a natural indicator which can shift from blue (alkaline) to purple or red (acidic) by adding acid source. You can use innovative packaging that separates the acid and lets the consumer interact by shaking the mixture as it changes hue, creating a novel experience.
• Product Potential: Lattes with butterfly pea infused milk and a separate acid container, such as lemon juice. This also lets you capitalize on the unique coffee-lemon pairing that’s gaining popularity. It will create a mesmerizing swirl of purple, blue, and brown layers, mimicking a spooky, multi-colored potion.

Concept 2: Green Functional Cold Brew

This concept emulates the visually striking “Witches’ Brew” by incorporating functional benefits of natural green ingredients, appealing to wellness-focused consumers. You can use the ever popular matcha or the subtle sweetness of pandan.

• Application Focus: Integrating ceremonial-grade matcha or pandan powder and 100% natural vanilla extract into a cold brew concentrate.
• Innovation Insight: Matcha provides a vibrant, green color while also delivering functional benefits as a healthy energy boost (L-Theanine and caffeine). Alternatively, you can swap matcha with pandan, which gives a sweeter tone and is rich in antioxidants. Additionally, the 100% natural vanilla extract provides a rich aroma that elevates the product above competitors.
• Product Potential: A pre-packaged, ready-to-drink green cold brew complimented with vanilla and natural sweeteners (agave or honey).

Concept 3: Spiced Coffee for Warm Drinks in Colder Months

Try reinventing the seasonal spiced lattes by focusing on clean-label flavor and color depth. Get creative with your choice of spices and make unexpected mixes. Aside from the unique flavors, this drink can also be an alternative as a healthier version of the ever-favorite pumpkin spice latte.

• Application Focus: Creating an all natural spice blend, such as turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, chilli powder.
• Innovation Insight: The turmeric can be used to deepen the orange color to welcome the season, while the spice mix can complement the coffee flavor. This blend will eliminate the need for synthetic coloring and flavoring.
• Product Potential: A spiced powder blend or a natural pumpkin spice/syrup with reduced sugar content. Try unexpected combinations, such as coffee, cocoa, and turmeric, cinnamon, and chili powder for a spicy, yet comforting warmth.

Mastering Visual Presentation: Creating DIY Garnishes and Aesthetics

Creating a visual aesthetic can be a challenge, but we’re here to help you get the ball rolling. Whether you’re a barista or artisan bakery, here are some scalable, clean-label ingredient solutions for both color and texture you can use to delight consumers:

• Use these natural, clean label-approved color palette for Halloween:
  • Blue/Red/Purple: Butterfly Pea Flower
  • Blood Red: Beets, Raspberries, Dragonfruit, Pomegranate
  • Yellow/Orange: Turmeric, Carrot
  • Eerie Green: Kiwi, Spinach, Matcha, Pandan
  • Midnight Black: Activated Charcoal
  • Cloudy/Milky: Milk, Coconut Milk or Plant-Based Milk
• You can also add some texture and flexibilities into your products:
  • Custom Rims and Coatings: Prepare a coconut sugar blend by mixing it with natural colorants we suggested above for textural and visually compelling products and sugar coatings.
  • Natural Glazes and Drizzles: Formulate a clean-label fruit or vegetable concentrate (e.g. raspberry, strawberry, tomatoes) to create “blood drizzle” glazes in ready to drink beverages.
  • Formulation Flexibility: Ensure your product has the option of decaf and plant-bassed alternatives to capture the full spectrum of consumer demand on dietary inclusivity.

Final Take: Sip Innovatively With Tripper

See how easy it is? Just by swapping some ingredients, you can create better, healthier products for your Halloween celebration. Try to experiment with the natural color scheme landscape and the flavors of natural spices using your favorite clean label ingredients.

At Tripper, we strive to provide you with the best ingredients, using naturally-sourced goods. We ensure that every ingredient you use in your kitchen is ethically sourced, minimally processed, and 100% natural.

Our single-origin coffees, natural extracts, and pure powders are meticulously selected to elevate your recipes without artificial compromise for your peace of mind. Get inspired by browsing through Tripper’s product lines, then share your creation with us!

FAQs

Can I use instant coffee instead of espresso?

Yes, you can use concentrated instant coffee as your base instead of espresso. You can also adjust the strength of your coffee according to your or our guest’s liking.

What are the best non-dairy milks for frothing/steaming?

The best frothing non-dairy milk alternatives are oat, almond, and soy milk. The three have decent high temperature stability, protein content, and fat to create milk foam. Be mindful of the taste, as some can overpower your coffee.

What are the benefits of using clean label products?

Using clean label products will attract consumers as it gives them transparent information. Moreover, by steering clean of artificial ingredients, you’ll also avoid health issues associated with them and create healthier alternatives.

Can I Use Natural Coloring for Spooky Effects?

Yes, we encourage you to use natural coloring for your spooky effects, which is what the clean label principle is about. For example, you can use butterfly pea in your cream or milk froth, home-made berry syrups, or even charcoal for dark black.