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Field research helps flavorists develop new citrus flavors
TO MANY CONSUMERS, ALL LEMON FLAVORS MAY TASTE THE SAME, AND THEY have come to expect a certain flavor profile from beverages with lemon on the label. Flavorists at Givaudan, with U.S. headquarters in Cincinnati, seek to discover new notes in citrus fruits that can expand the reach of current citrus flavors and help beverage-makers differentiate in the marketplace.
To promote innovative flavor development, Givaudan conducts ongoing TasteTreks to bring its flavorists to countries all around the world to experience exotic foods, be inspired by nature, and to discover new flavors, molecules and ingredients. The company recently invited Beverage Industry and other members of the media to join it on a TasteTrek outing. TasteTrek teams explore locations by setting up mini-labs for analysis. By examining first hand the fruits and plants indigenous to a region, Givaudan scientists and flavorists identify new ingredients, flavor experiences and important clues that lead to the creation of new flavors.
"What we know our customers are looking for us to do is to provide them with fresh ideas and differentiation in the marketplace," says Dawn Streich, Givaudan's global citrus product manager. Taste- Treks are about moving from what currently exists to whatever is next, she says.
"It's easy to get a pretty narrow view of what a citrus flavor is supposed...