This week we take a fresh look at botanicals - including replacing additives with botanicals for a cleaner label and focusing on key benefits like immunity and mood.
What are botanicals?
A botanical is a plant or component of a plant (such as the leaf, root, bark, or extract) valued for its flavour, aroma or therapeutic properties. With more consumers embracing the natural and healthy image of botanicals, the popularity of botanicals in foods, beverages and supplements is growing.
How botanicals support a clean label
In foods and beverages, botanicals are often used to deliver the characterising flavour—as in a jasmine tea, lavender latte or cinnamon bun. However, some botanicals can provide broader applications due to their functional properties. In many cases, manufacturers can replace artificial additives with natural botanicals to create a clean-label product.
Pectin and locust bean gum are natural, plant-based thickeners, while rosemary and oregano extracts are effective antioxidants that delay fat oxidation and extend shelf life. Turmeric and paprika are examples of botanicals that can replace artificial colours for a more appealing ingredient label, while supporting a natural claim.
Benefits of blending botanicals with micronutrients
Many botanicals are used in wellness-focused products, such as dietary supplements and functional beverages, due to their longstanding associations with certain health benefits. Products containing elderberry or echinacea, for example, grew immensely popular during the pandemic as consumers sought ways to boost their immunity against this new threat.
Though consumers may have an understanding of which botanicals can help with different health conditions, the absence of approved health claims for many botanicals can make it challenging for brands to communicate a product’s benefits. Pairing botanicals with micronutrients that have proven health benefits (such as zinc, which supports a healthy immune system) offers a solution.
Learn how our nutrition solutions team formulate custom premixes with the health benefits your consumers are seeking.
Botanicals linked to health benefits
Brands incorporating botanicals into their products will gain the most traction by focusing on botanicals linked to the top health and wellness concerns of today. For immunity, this includes elderberry, echinacea, ginger, and ashwagandha, an adaptogen used in Ayurvedic medicine. Ashwagandha and other adaptogens like rhodiola, bacopa, ginseng and holy basil are also popular in mood food for mood support and mental wellness.
Key botanicals showing up in products to support the gut microbiome are curcumin (also associated with joint support) and dandelion root, which is rich in the prebiotic fibre inulin. Fenugreek seeds and cinnamon continue to be studied for their potential to regulate blood sugar levels, while rosemary, green tea and flaxseed (high in omega-3s) are just a few of the botanicals popular in today’s beauty-from-within products.
The strong appeal of botanicals as a natural way to support health makes this the perfect time for brands to consider incorporating botanicals into their next food, beverage, or supplement product. Glanbia's custom premix solutions offer a simple way to create a blend of botanicals, vitamins, minerals, and more—unique to your brand—that will meet the wellness needs of your consumers. Find out more here.