Caffeinated coffee and energy drinks are highly likely to gradually grow into a very lucrative market. Caffeine plays an important role in refreshing and refreshing coffee and energy drinks. Although it can help us wake up quickly, it can also bring many negative effects. The US FDA has warned that coffee can become a part of a healthy diet for most people, but excessive intake can pose a threat to the body and have some negative effects, such as nervousness, headaches, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating. Meanwhile, according to statistics, approximately 62% of people worldwide experience varying degrees of caffeine intolerance. Due to health concerns, many consumers have begun to seek healthier and safer alternatives to coffee/caffeine, which has brought certain opportunities for companies that layout healthy ingredients. So what are the caffeine substitutes currently available in the market? What are their characteristics? What is the potential for future development? 01
Caffeine as a substitute for raw materials
Caffeine substitution, in simple terms, is actually a product that can provide a similar effect to caffeine, but does not contain caffeine or contains a small amount of caffeine. Based on the products currently available in the market, caffeine substitute ingredients can be roughly divided into two categories. One category is adapted to the original ingredients, including ginseng, Rhodiola, South African eggplant, and various mushroom ingredients. The other category is various Plant Extracts, such as Madeira tea extract, Gao Liang ginger extract, mango leaf extract, etc. 02
Adapt to original raw materials
Adapting to raw materials can provide energy and cognitive health support, but it does not contain caffeine. As an important member of caffeine substitutes, it provides more choices for innovation in coffee and energy drinks. Especially in foreign markets that have had early exposure to the coffee and energy beverage markets, adapting to raw materials has already been widely used. 1. Ginseng
Among numerous raw materials that adapt to the original category, ginseng has been favored by brands as a highly recognized role, and many brands have launched products with added ginseng. But it is usually used in combination with caffeine. SmartSoda's Quantum series of energy drinks are eyeing ginseng as a raw material, and are paired with various ingredients such as L-theanine, guarana extract, Vitamin C, and caffeine.
2. South African drunken eggplant
South African drunken eggplant, as a raw material with the title of Indian ginseng, has also shown potential in caffeine replacement products. Wholesome Organizations, a health food company, has developed Clean Energy Shot, a beverage made from Madeira tea, Guarana, as well as raw ingredients such as Hericium erinaceus, Cordyceps sinensis, and South African eggplants, for consumers seeking energy supplementation and health benefits.
3. Rhodiola rosea
The traditional Chinese medicinal herb Rhodiola has also become one of the alternatives to caffeine. Classic Rasa, a blend coffee launched by coffee substitute manufacturer Rasa, does not contain caffeine and is made directly from Rhodiola, Red Ginseng, Cordyceps sinensis, and Gynostemma pentaphyllum Shatavari and Maka are made from six adaptive ingredients. Can provide sustained energy support.
4. Mushroom raw materials
In addition, mushroom ingredients such as Ganoderma lucidum, Cordyceps sinensis, Betula platyphylla, and Hericium erinaceus are also important roles in caffeine substitution. Among them, MUD \ WTR, a chain coffee brand in the United States, has launched a series of coffee substitute mixtures that combine mushrooms with ingredients that are low or no caffeine. Each mixture is composed of cocoa, vanilla, and spices, and contains one or more of the following mushroom ingredients, including Ganoderma lucidum, Cordyceps sinensis, Betula platyphylla, and Hericium erinaceus. The functional mushroom energy drink brand Odyssey has launched drinks that include monkey head mushrooms, cordyceps sinensis L-theanine, ginseng and other ingredients are claimed to minimize tension associated with traditional energy drinks and provide sustained energy support. In the current era of increasing health awareness, mushrooms, as a raw material with inherent health attributes and unique natural flavors, are an attractive choice for consumers seeking a healthier and safer alternative to caffeine. The market data also well indicates the development potential of mushroom raw materials in coffee substitution. According to market data released by Research And Markets, the global mushroom coffee market is expected to reach $4.12 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.5% from 2023 to 2030.
I believe that with the increasing awareness of consumer health, ingredients such as ginseng, South African drunken eggplant, Rhodiola, and various adaptive mushrooms, which have a healthy halo, high awareness, and can provide energy and cognitive support, will have great potential in the field of caffeine substitution.
03
Plant extracts replace caffeine
There are two ways in which plant extracts can replace caffeine: one is to replace synthetic caffeine with raw materials containing natural caffeine, and the other is to replace it with plant extracts that are completely free of caffeine but can provide a caffeine like effect. 1. Ma Dai Tea Extract
Madai tea belongs to the category of ingredients that naturally contain caffeine. Madeia tea, also known as Paraguay holly, is mainly composed of madeia and polyphenols. Madeia contains a small amount of caffeine. Adding Madeia tea to a beverage can provide other health benefits while providing a similar effect to caffeine.
The extraterrestrial electrolyte water under the Yuanqi Forest brand uses Ma Dai tea extract as a substitute for caffeine in its products; And the cola flavored water it launched also adopts the same method. At present, Madeira tea is managed as a "generally considered safe substance (GRAS)" in the United States, approved by the European Union for use as a new food ingredient, approved by Canada for use as a natural healthy food, and approved by Brazil for the use of leaves and stems of Paraguayan holly in tea making. In the domestic market, plant extracts of Ma Dai tea can be used as food additives, and Ma Dai tea can be used as new food raw materials. With the driving force of the product and the assistance of regulations, we believe that Madeicha will have great development potential in the direction of caffeine substitution. 2. Guarana extract
Similarly, there is Guarana extract, which also contains naturally sourced caffeine and can be used as a substitute for synthetic caffeine in energy drinks. Lijiman's amino acid and vitamin energy drink includes Guarana extract from natural Guarana plants, which is milder compared to traditional caffeine products. 3. Gao Liang Jiang Extract
The extract of galangal belongs to the category of completely caffeine free ingredients, and galangal is a perennial herbaceous plant of the ginger family and the mountain ginger genus. It is often used for cooking food in Southeast Asia, and in China it belongs to the same origin of medicinal and edible ingredients. EnXtra, a caffeine substitute developed by Enovate Biolife in Mumbai, India, is a proprietary extract of galangal. As a substitute for caffeine, it provides similar effects as caffeine, but does not have negative effects on heart rate or sleep. Can be applied to tablets, capsules RTD. In products such as gummies and powders. 3. Mango leaf extract
In addition to the above ingredients, mango leaf extract can also be used as a substitute for caffeine. Spanish natural ingredient supplier Nektium has launched mango leaf extract Zynamite, which is standardized to contain over 60% mangiferin. It can support mental and cognitive functions in a way similar to caffeine, but without the typical negative effects of caffeine such as tension and anxiety. It can be used as a natural caffeine substitute or mixed with caffeine. At present, Zynamite has been used in tablets, capsules, chewable tablets, effervescent agents, gummies, powders and other products. The Genius brand's sugar free coffee substitute, Genius Brilliant Brew, adds Zynamite and is paired with various ingredients such as Ganoderma lucidum, Cordyceps sinensis, and Betula platyphylla. Later on, the company upgraded this raw material and launched the Zynamite S formula, which supports transparent solutions and has a neutral taste. It can be mixed with beverages and other demanding product forms, with minimal impact on taste and appearance. At the same time, the formula also optimizes the absorption effect of mangiferin, which can achieve the same effect as Zynamite with fewer doses. Of course, in addition to the aforementioned ingredients, there are many other ingredients worth paying attention to and exploring in the field of caffeine substitution, such as chicory, maca, Schisandra, sugar beet, Dongge Ali, vitamin B, Liuxianglan extract, etc., all of which can be used as substitutes for caffeine. 04
Summary
Although there are not many caffeine replacement products available in China compared to foreign markets, and they have not become mainstream, in the current era of increasing health awareness, decaffeinated coffee and energy drinks are highly likely to gradually grow into a very promising market. Especially for people who are caffeine intolerant, those who need energy and cognitive support but do not want to be affected by increased heart rate, anxiety, and other factors, as well as sports, esports, and gaming players, caffeine substitution may become their ideal choice.
Shaanxi Huike Botanical Development Co., Ltd. a integrated enterprise which is focus on natural products, Plant extract related products and services.We mainly focus on pharmaceutical, functional food, Freeze-dried powder,Natural Pigment,Homology of medicine and food,beverages and other business services.
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2024-05-23
Shaanxi Huike Botanical Development Co., Ltd.
