The expanding edibles marketplace has created some unique challenges that stretch the skills of product developers and has allowed the cannabis industry to innovate. Our Quality Control Manager, Loni Mowbray, shares with Food Logistics some of the hurdles facing food safety and quality in this space and how to navigate these.
Moms, grandmas, and other mother figures around the world deserve a round of applause and all of our love when we celebrate Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 14. Over the past two years, they have been juggling so many roles – from parent to teacher to employee to chef to counselor to cheerleader – trying to keep family spirits up while maintaining their own sanity. It’s been challenging to say the least! If you’re wondering what to give the mother figure in your life to show your appreciation for all that she does for you and your family this Mother’s Day, here are some products powered by SōRSE that we think they will enjoy.
Adapt is a beverage brand out of Los Angeles that offers the first hemp beverage to earn NSF: Certified for Sport certification. Both beverages are infused with 25mg of CBD and are full of plant-based superfoods and adaptogens like mango juice, chamomile, pomegranate and hibiscus extracts. The base is 100% pure coconut water, which is great for rehydration after a tough workout. Whatever workout your mom loves to do most, she will surely benefit from drinking an Adapt SuperWater before, during or afterwards.
Americans love their cafes and coffee beverages. Altitude’s twist on the latte puts the fun into the category of functional beverages. The base of the drink is cold brew coffee and oat milk, which is then blended with CBD, turmeric, cocoa, cinnamon, chaga, lion’s mane mushroom, cordyceps, reishi, blue agave and sea salt. Can a coffee drink actually be good for you? In the case of the Everything Latte, chock full of these healthy ingredients, the answer is yes.
These three lightly fizzy drinks – Blue Hawaiian, Paloma, and Mountain Mule — featuring 20mg of CBD in each can, are the perfect beverage for the end the day! Trust us – Mom won’t miss the rum, tequila or vodka in the alcoholic versions of these drinks, especially since she won’t have a headache the next day! Not only are these mocktails incredibly flavorful and effervescent, but they also feature functional ingredients like L-Theanine, gaba, and white tea.
Centr was one of the first brands to launch a CBD beverage four years ago and is one of the best-selling CBD beverages in the US. For moms who like a little bit of sweetness in the beverages, choose the black can, which is 40 calories and contains organic cane sugar. For moms who prefer the unsweetened version, choose the white can, which is 10 calories. Both make a great base for a homemade mocktail or lemonade. Help your mom find her Centr with these flavorful, effervescent waters!
This low-dose social tonic comes in a variety of flavors like the original three — Lemon Lavender, Blood Orange Cardamum, and Grapefruit Rosemary – and seasonal flavors like Pineapple Jalapeno and Ginger Lemongrass. A six-pack of Cann is the perfect present for the mom who’s interested in cannabis but doesn’t want to smoke. Each can is infused with 4mg CBD and 2mg THC, lightly sweetened with agave nectar, and flavored with pure fruit juice, herbs and spices. The sensory experience is just cann-tastic.
The team behind COPA have a true appreciation for nature – from snowy mountains to the rugged northwest coast. They’ve created four sparkling waters infused with 25 mg CBD and fruit juice that are meant to refresh, recharge, and relax. Their sparkling waters feature creative flavor pairings for an amazing sensory experience, like blueberry and pineapple in Blue Beary, and a blend of raspberry, blackberry, cherry, and black currant juices in Wildberry.
Crisp and Crude’s four sparkling ready-to-drink NA cocktails feature botanical terpenes and 20mg CBD per can. Swap that gin and tonic for an OG Tonic made with juniper, gentian root, angelica, cardamom, coriander, and lime, or try a Mellow Mule which melds tropical pineapple with mint, earthy botanicals, and ginger. Trust us; she won’t miss the spirits with these terpene-forward cocktails!
Based in Chicago, Illinois, Cruise has created a line of nitro-infused, sugar-free CBD drinks featuring 25mg CBD, caffeine from organic green beans, and natural fruit extracts. The flavors include Mellow Mango, Blissful Blood Orange, Loosen Up Lemon, and Peaceful Pear. What makes Cruise unique is the foamy head and rich texture the infusion of nitrogen creates, which results in an amazing sensory experience for the consumer. Your mom will thank you for helping her cruise through the day…with Cruise..
As far as beverages go, Day One is the perfect drink for Mom to have in her cooler or water bottle when she’s spending time outside away from it all. This zero-calorie sparkling water comes in three citrus flavors, made from the juice of limes, lemons, or grapefruits, contains 20mg of CBD and has no added sugar. Mom will love how refreshing and thirst-quenching Day One is after a long hike, mountain bike ride, rock-climbing session, or backpacking into a camp site!
High Tide has taken infused beverage world by storm and launched their three cannabis-infused cocktails just in time for Cinco de Mayo festivities. They’re offering three varieties of margaritas – the Classic, Spicy Diablo (pineapple based with lime and jalapeno), and Watermelon – all of which feature natural ingredients, agave, and 5mg THC per can. Once Mom enjoys a High Tide with her chips and guacamole or fish tacos, tequila will be a distant memory! Currently available in Massachusetts dispensaries and delivery services.
Many of today’s moms have a lot going on between raising kids, managing their careers, caring for the pets, and taking a little time for themselves. The perfect gift for the mom who could use a little TLC in a can are Kleer’s sugar-free sparkling waters. Each can features 25mg CBD and 100% natural flavors. Passion Orange Guava is a blast from the past (who didn’t love POG as a kid?), Cucumber Lime is crisp and refreshing, and Berry Blast is the perfect combination of tart and sweet.
For Moms Who Love to Host Gatherings and Get-Togethers, L8
L8 is a women-owned, women-operated beverage company based in Los Angeles offering the perfect beverage for everyday drinking or special occasions. Each of the four drinks available – coconut vanilla, blueberry mint, ginger peach, and strawberry lemonade — is infused with 20mg of CBD and delivers great flavor. Replenishing and rejuvenating, L8 is the beverage your mom, her friends, and your family will enjoy cracking open whenever you’re together.
Whether it’s spring, summer, fall or winter, what mom doesn’t long for sun, sand, and surf, and a beverage that makes them think of fun times at the beach or on vacation? Lei Back’s three sparkling beverage flavors – tangy and refreshing Pomelo, Guava, and Pineapple – all infused with 20mg CBD — remind us that summer is only one month away!
These drinks are the creation of three close friends – an entrepreneur, a chemist, and a craft brewer – who grew up on Leisuretown Road in California. Their three CBD-infused seltzers — Ginger Berry, Yuzu Lime and Cherry Vanilla – would be perfect for your mom to share while meeting up with a group of friends for a walk, brunch, or appetizers. Each 12-ounce can tastes delicious and offers 25mg CBD. A low-dose (2.5mg THC, 5mg CBD) cannabis-infused version of these seltzers is also available in select dispensaries in California.
Mad Tasty’s sparkling waters come in four refreshing flavors — Watermelon Kiwi, Grapefruit, Unicorn Tears, and Yuzu Citrus – and each can contains 20mg of CBD. Knowing that access to clean water is a problem that many impoverished communities face, Mad Tasty donates 12 ounces of clean drinking water for every 12 ounce can sold through their partnership with Drop4Drop. Each time your mom drinks a Mad Tasty, she’ll be making a difference too.
Small but mighty, THC-infused Major offers 100mg of THC per bottle. Major moms can choose their own adventure by picking their own dose – a few mgs for a gentle lift, a few more for a heightened occasion. Whatever the case, any one of the five flavors available — Orange Mango, Pink Lemonade, Blue Raspberry, Passion Fruit and Grape — will bring a smile with every sip. Major is available at dispensaries in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Ohio, and Arizona.
Pause, which is produced by Noon Whistle Brewing Company known for its award- winning craft beer, launched early this spring. Their slogan, “Take a break with benefits” couldn’t be more appropriate for this holiday, given how hectic life for moms can be. Pause Waters are infused with 25mg CBD per can, sugar free and calorie free, and they offer three flavors for Mom to choose from – Berry, Lemon-Lime, and Tropical. Give mom a great reason to take a break during the day, with a can of Pause!
Pink Cloud offers two island-inspired, CBD-infused sparkling beverages flavored with natural fruit juices: Pineapple, Yuzu, and Lime; and Lilikoi and Guava. Beyond transporting Mom to the tropics with each sip, Pink Cloud is committed to preserving our oceans and beaches. The company donates a portion of their proceeds to Surfrider Foundation Oʻahu, an organization with a mission to protect and enjoy the ocean, beaches, and waves, for all people.
Drinking sparkling water is a great way to stay hydrated, and it’s even better when it’s enhanced with fruit flavor and infused with CBD. Moms who love the tartness of citrus will love Zenly’s Blood Orange and Lime Mojito, while moms who like a hint of sweetness and the tastes of summer and fall will appreciate Bliss Berry and Honeycrisp Apple. Whatever the case, dehydration will never be a problem once they start drinking Zenly.
If you are a product developer who has an idea for an infused product that you’d like to see on the market for Mother’s Day 2023 – look no further than SōRSE to be your ingredient supplier and strategic partner. Our R&D team is well-versed in production of beverages, food items, and personal care products from concept to final product; they welcome the opportunity to help make your dream a reality. Schedule an exploratory call today with SōRSE to get started on your infused product journey!
For those who are not familiar with emulsions, they are defined as transformations and dispersions of minute droplets from one liquid into another that are not soluble. A great example of an emulsion is salad dressing. The oil in the dressing is lighter than the vinegar, which is why it rises to the top. To get the oil to mix with the vinegar, agitation in the form of vigorous shaking will get the two ingredients to mix – but they will eventually separate. Similarly, oil and water do not play well with each other, which is why using a cannabinoid emulsion for food and beverages is great option for companies producing infused products.
While it is common for product developers to use emulsions when working with tricky oil-based ingredients, not all emulsions are created equal. While emulsion technology has improved, there are still challenges working with cannabinoids such as negative sensory attributes, shelf life, homogeneity, scalping, and the ability to scale. Here are some tips for the evaluation process.
When you start evaluating emulsions, you should already know what desired effect and qualities you want, as well as the services you need to get your product to market.
Do you want your flavor profile to be clean or earthy? Are you looking for the Entourage Effect, where the cannabinoids and the terpenes work synergistically? In terms of dosage, will your product be micro-dosed or offer a high milligram count? What product certifications are important to you – organic, vegan, or kosher? Lastly, how and where will your product be produced, and what kind of support will you need through the process?
Throughout the evaluation process, keep your requirements front of mind so you get the right emulsion for your product.
Whether you are producing a food, beverage, or personal care product, the consumer’s sensory experience is an important consideration. With food and beverage, if the product doesn’t smell, taste, or look good, they won’t buy it. With personal care, if the product doesn’t feel or smell good, they won’t put it on their body. There are some negative sensory attributes associated with cannabinoids; how you work with those attributes depends on your target consumer and what sensory experience they are looking for.
Some consumers want their product to taste like the flavor that’s on the label without any hint of cannabinoid flavor, while others like the sensory attributes cannabinoids carry. Knowing this will help a product developer decide if they want to use an emulsion featuring an isolate which will have clean flavor profile or a broad spectrum emulsion which will feature grassy, earthy, herbaceous notes. It also important to remember that organic, all-natural, kosher or other certifications also impact flavor profile, shelf life, production timeline as well as cost.
Getting your infused product on a store shelf is the ultimate goal, but you also need to look at the quality of the emulsion, which includes ingredients, stability, homogeneity, and shelf life. These attributes are critical for providing the consumer with a consistent experience. A top quality emulsion begins with high quality raw ingredients. Ask your emulsion supplier about their active and non-active ingredients and review the Product Data Sheets, the Safety Data Sheets, and the Certificate of Analysis (COA) with them. Ask how they test inbound and outbound material, if they utilize internal and third party testing.
When working with cannabinoids, it’s essential that the emulsion you choose is stable and homogeneous, meaning that the cannabinoids do not separate from the water over time and are evenly dispersed in the emulsion. Proven stability and homogeneity are critical because it will ensure accurate label claims. Your emulsion supplier should be able to verify stability and estimate the shelf-life of their ingredient. Ask how they test for stability, and make sure they provide documentation that verifies the potency on the COA.
Packaging should be considered at the beginning stages of product development because it will play an important part in working with a co-man for production and scale up. Make sure your supplier understands how your selected packaging will interact with the cannabinoids in the emulsion.
Cans are a popular and familiar packaging solution, but any product developer knows that where there are cans, there is scalping. Scalping is when an ingredient gets absorbed into the can lining, resulting in potency loss. Scalping and other factors such as manufacturing processes that result in potency loss can be mitigated by careful planning on behalf of your supplier and production partners.
To achieve accurate dosing that matches your label, you need to factor in potency loss early on. Most producers will overdose their product and account for loss when they begin production. Guidance should be provided by your production partner.
Just like any other ingredient in your product, the emulsion should be easy to incorporate into the manufacturing process. This will allow for integration into almost any product format, a seamless transition from small batch to commercial scale production, and ease of use for co-manufacturers, which leaves less room for error. The bottom line is that an emulsion that is easy to incorporate into a production process will also be easy to scale. As you evaluate emulsions, don’t be afraid to ask what support you will need to scale as well as how future FDA rulings might impact your finished product.
Selecting the emulsion to infuse your product with will be the single-most important decision you make during formulation because it impacts the entire product development process as well as the consumer’s experience with your product. Taste, stability, product consistency, dosing and scalability are all incredibly important attributes in any emulsion. Throughout this evaluation process, remember that you are not only looking at the quality of the emulsion; you are also choosing a strategic partner that can support you from concept to commercialization.
The team at SōRSE offers liquid and powder emulsions designed for easy integration into food, beverages, and personal care products as well as guidance through every stage of product development. If you are looking for a high-quality emulsion powered by a team of experienced food scientists and product developers to get your product to market fast, come to the SōRSE.
In an interview with InsideHook, SōRSE’s Director of Research and Analytics and in-house Flavorist, Donna Wamsley, explains how and why things taste the way they taste, trends in the flavor industry, and what’s next in the world of cannabis food and beverage.
SEATTLE–SōRSE Technology, the leading water-soluble emulsion technology designed for infusing functional ingredients into consumer goods, announces the addition of 7.5% CBD liquid emulsion for personal care products to their product suite. SōRSE is designed for product developers to make oil-based functional ingredients water-soluble and more efficacious, while also providing the consumer with a consistent, safe experience.
SōRSE, which currently powers over 60 infused products on the market, developed the 7.5% CBD emulsion for the personal care category to eliminate the current market’s sticky and unstable formulations. Personal care products offer a delivery method consumers are comfortable with and purchase frequently; consumers also expect an enjoyable and consistent experience just as they do with beverages and food items. SōRSE’s 7.5% water-soluble CBD emulsion seamlessly integrates, complements other ingredients, and can be modified for multiple SKUs.
“While we are a functional ingredient supplier, our foundation is in water-soluble emulsion technology and product development,” commented CEO Howard Lee. “It’s through our technology that we’re changing how the personal care industry works with tricky functional ingredients like CBD that consumers demand. We’ve made working with our technology and ingredients simple so that we can focus on helping our partners deliver more enjoyable, more effective products.”
SōRSE Technology is hosting a webinar on Thursday, February 25th on the benefits of water-soluble emulsion technology for personal care products to educate product developers on their new 7.5% CBD emulsion solution. Those interested in attending can register here or contact SōRSE directly at events@sorsetech.com for more information.
SōRSE Technology is the leading water-soluble emulsion technology designed for infusing functional ingredients into beverages, food items, personal care products, and medical applications. SōRSE is designed for product developers to make oil-based functional ingredients water-soluble and more efficacious, while also providing the consumer with a consistent, safe, and enjoyable experience. With over 200 years’ experience in food & beverage and an R&D team of 30+ employees, SōRSE is a partner that can take a producer from concept to commercialization quickly and efficiently.
Who drives flavor trends — chefs? Food writers? Product designers? Flavorists? The answer is the consumer. If the past two years have taught us anything, it is that the consumer is ultimately the arbiter of what flavors will be successful, what trends will become mainstays, and what trends will be short-lived. The impact of consumer preference and behavior is evident in the flavor trends we saw emerge in 2020, the trends we’ve seen in 2021, and the predictions for 2022.
When looking at flavor trends, it’s important to consider how consumer habits have changed in the past two years due to the pandemic. There’s been a major shift in how much time we’ve spent cooking in our own kitchens versus dining out. It’s natural for people to gravitate towards flavors that are familiar to them – flavors from their childhood or from their favorite travel destination – and create an eating experience that evokes a sense of nostalgic comfort. That said, younger consumers have shown they’re not afraid to balance their comfort food with flavors that are new, exotic, or something they might experience in a foreign country.
In the wake of COVID 19, many consumers have sought out natural, holistic ways to improve their health through nutraceutical benefits, particularly in terms of boosting immunity, finding relief from stress and anxiety, and improving quality of sleep and gut health. Consumers are researching CBD and other cannabinoids, adaptogens, probiotics, prebiotics, and botanicals and are looking for products that not only provide benefits but also taste good. Most consumers would prefer to get their daily dose of functional ingredients in as few items as possible, as opposed to taking multiple pills a day.
Consumer demand for functional ingredients impacts a product’s flavor profile. Take, for example, products built to boost immunity – they will likely feature Vitamin C, Vitamin B, Ginger, Turmeric, or Ashwagandha. Because Vitamin C occurs naturally in citrus, it is relatively easy to pair with other flavors, whereas an ingredient like Ashwagandha has a very unique flavor profile in that it is earthy and bitter, which pairs well with the flavors of nuts, chocolate, and honey.
Today’s consumers are gravitating towards natural, healthy products that are processed without little to no additives and preservatives. A food category that emerged in 2020 and gained traction in 2021 for its floral, tart, slightly sweet, and robust flavors were naturally fermented products such as drinking vinegars, kombucha, and kimchi. Today, you can purchase products such as apple cider vinegar gummies, kombucha tea, and kimchi-flavored potato chips, and even kimchi-flavored sodas. Fermented products particularly resonate with younger consumers who have been exposed to international flavors and are not afraid of new tastes and textures.
There are some flavors that consumers can’t get enough of and that never seem to go out of style, like berry, citrus, apple, and mint. Most people have been consuming fruit products since they were young; hence, these flavors are familiar to us and we know what to expect from a product featuring that flavor. In the confectionary world, strawberry remains very popular with consumers worldwide. Today, we are also seeing more of these flavors combined with botanicals to give products an added level of complexity – for example, basil paired with strawberry, mint paired with cucumber, or lavender paired with lemon. In line with consumers seeking functionality, botanicals offer their own health benefits. Basil is a great source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as Magnesium; mint offers antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and lavender has been used to treat insomnia and nausea.
There is no shortage of products on store shelves featuring citrus and berry, but there are some varieties to pay attention to, including Marionberry, Huckleberry, Yuzu, Blood Orange, and Makrut Lime.
Marionberries are a variety of blackberry grown mostly in Oregon; they are both sweet and tart with a rich, earthy flavor – similar to eating a raspberry and blackberry in the same bite. In terms of product development, products featuring marionberries are mostly found on the west coast, because the berry itself is too delicate to ship.
Huckleberries are smaller than blueberries and have dark purple skin when ripe. They are tarter and juicier than blueberries, which means their flavor packs a punch in food products or beverages. Huckleberries are not a domesticated fruit; they are mostly picked by foragers in the northwest, which makes them somewhat harder for a product designer to access.
Hailing from China and used widely in Japan, Yuzus are about the size as a tangerine. The rind is highly aromatic and sweet with floral notes, while the juice of the fruit is extremely sour and tart. Products on the market featuring yuzu are varied, from marinades to marmalades, beers to flavored sparkling water.
A blood orange is slightly smaller than a navel orange with slightly thicker skin. What makes the blood orange unique (and subsequently products that feature its juice) is the deep red, maroon color of the interior flesh. Flavor-wise, blood orange juice is a bit sweeter and less tangy than classic orange juice.
Makrut (aka kaffir) are in the lime family and derive from Southeast Asia; they are a staple of Thai cooking. The texture of the rind is bumpy, and when ripe, it’s yellow as opposed to green. The zest of the rind is often used in curry paste, and its leaves are added to dishes for fragrance. Makrut lime juice is quite bitter and sour, so it needs to be paired with other flavors that can stand up to it and balance it out.
As summer comes to a close, as the days get shorter, and the weather starts to cool, the flavors of the season begin to shift as well. Fall flavors not only reflect what types of products are available but the season’s holidays as well.
One fall fruit flavor that never goes out of style is apple, which is incredibly versatile in terms of what it can be paired with. It’s a terrific match for another fall favorite, cranberry. An apple’s sweetness and crispness provide a nice contrast and balance to the cranberry’s tartness and tang. Apple and another fall fruit, pear, match well with a variety of spices, such as cinnamon, clove, cardamom, and ginger, all of which offer health benefits.
Caramel is a flavor consumers associate with childhood and Halloween – think caramel apples, caramel in candy bars, and caramel swirled into ice cream. A popular flavor today is salted caramel, where the savory and texture quality of the salt play against the sweet, sticky, chewy qualities of the caramel.
While Chai is popular year-round, it is the perfect flavor for fall because of the warmth the aromatic spices in it evoke. Chai is comprised of cinnamon, cardamom, and clove; these spices are added to black tea and then typically blended into milk. Beyond tea-based beverages, Chai pairs well in dishes featuring winter squash-like pumpkin.
Today’s consumers continue to feel the impact of COVID, are seeking a balance between familiarity and novelty, and learning more about ingredients that improve one’s health. Product producers can anticipate that functional ingredients including CBD will be top of mind when people look for new products to add into their daily routines that not only deliver nutrition and health benefits but also taste great.
Flavor researchers predict that in 2022, consumers will seek out spice and heat in their food and beverages (from peppers to chili to mustard), as well as notes of smoke and wood. They will also gravitate towards tropical, fruity flavors, that are paired with other functional ingredients, particularly in beverages, and seek out spirit flavors in their confections, such as a chocolate bar infused with whiskey or bourbon.
If you have an idea for a product to bring to market in 2022 featuring functional ingredients, the team at SōRSE can help you create a flavor profile that will resonate with consumers. Book a call with our team today to get the conversation started and your product to market!
For the past few years, there’s been an intense influx of CBD products coming onto the market – from pillows to makeup, from workout wear to toilet paper! It’s no surprise that this is happening, because product developers recognize that CBD is becoming more mainstream in the consumers’ eyes and its versatility. Having a diverse range of products is driven by consumer demand – and product developers are finding creative ways to meet consumer needs.
The three product categories in the CBD space that we see growing rapidly are: On-The-Go Products, Pet Products, and Health and Wellness products. As product developers know, innovating new products and differentiating yourself from the competition isn’t easy. That said, with the right idea and the right strategic partners such as SōRSE, the process of developing a new product and going to market can be exciting and rewarding. This is especially true when you meet consumer needs that another company has yet to fulfill.
Many of today’s consumers are looking for portable, convenient, and eco-friendly ways to get their CBD fix. Stick-packs, sachets and tea bags are a great delivery system for CBD because the formats are widely accepted by consumers already; plus, they are easily accessible and convenient, and they don’t take up a lot of space in a pantry. There are also benefits to creating these products for developers; first, their shelf lives are longer, which makes quality control easier to manage. Second, because on–the–go products are space-efficient, they are cheaper to ship, which is important in a time when most businesses are relying on ecommerce for their sales.
When it comes to adding CBD to an on–the-go product, particle size of the CBD matters. SõRSE recommends using agglomerated powder to our partners because it absorbs quickly and disperses evenly which means there is no clumping. All of this makes it easy for product developers to seamlessly integrate the powder into their formulations. In terms of flavor, the sensory impact of the agglomerated powder is minimal – because the bottom line is that products need to taste good for consumers to buy them and become a repeat customer.
According to a 2019-2020 survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association, a staggering 67% percent of U.S. households – about 85 million families –own a pet. A product that is becoming popular that animal lovers are buying for their companion animals – CBD. The pet CBD market alone is expected to grow by 54% from $64M in 2018 to $810M in 2024. Why are pet owners purchasing CBD products for their pets? Many are looking for a more natural alternative for their animal’s health issues, such as anxiety, pain and stiffness, seizures, and poor appetite. Most CBD pet products are oil-based and come in the following formats – tinctures, powders, and gels – but CBD is also finding its way into treats, powders that can be mixed into food and broths/liquids that can be poured over kibble.
For the product developer looking to create a product that will yield lots of wags and purrs, SõRSE is a water-soluble technology that animal enthusiasts can trust. Our emulsions offer increased bioavailability for fast–acting onset and consistent effect, ensure accurate dosing, utilize safe and all-natural ingredients, and are allergen-free. It’s also important to know that pet products utilizing water-soluble CBD or hemp are easier for pets to digest than oil-based products because of the way the digestive systems process fats. If product developers want all the animals out there to reap the benefits hemp has to offer, choosing a water-soluble emulsion is the way to go.
This year, people have become more focused on their health and well-being. This is certainly reflected in purchasing trends; since March, consumers have been investing in home workout equipment, and stocking up on vitamins and supplements. What else have consumers been purchasing? CBD. In 2019, the global CBD consumer health market size was valued at $20.3B and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.6% from 2020 to 2027. This growth is driven by consumer demand and awareness surrounding perceived health benefits of CBD as well as a desire for products with healthier, sustainable ingredients and functional ingredients. Consumers are increasingly searching out products that are plant-derived, non-GMO, all-natural, and organic, as well as ones that are convenient and enjoyable to consume.
Health and wellness products featuring CBD that are on the rise for the coming year are: Functional beverages in the form of wellness shots and performance-enhancing drinks; Cosmetics in the form of skincare and hair products; Nutraceuticals in the form of capsules, soft gels and supplements; and oral care in the form of mouthwash and toothpastes. It’s important to note for product developers that the FDA regulates CBD in cosmetics differently than it does in food and beverages items. When it comes to adding CBD to health and wellness products, the possibilities are endless; the key is predicting what product the consumer wants most.
SōRSE – Your Strategic Partner for Your Next Great Product
When it comes to developing CBD emulsions for products, SõRSE takes a clean label approach, which means that the emulsions’ attributes meet the demands of the health and wellness sector. The emulsions are made with safe, natural ingredients with no additives included such as sugar or masking agents. Consumer safety is SõRSE highest priority, which is why we put an emphasis on quality testing and quality assurance and transparency with our partners. We collaborate with product developers through each phase of the process – from ideation to formulation to go-to-market, providing operations support and connections to our network of vetted co-packers and other manufacturing partners. Come to the SõRSE with your idea, and let’s work together to move the industry forward with more infused products in 2021.
Co-hosted by SōRSE Technology and New Frontier Data
Presented by: Michael Flemmens, SōRSE’s VP of Technical Business Development & John Kagia, NFD’s CKO
Learn more on how to navigate the complexities of the cannabis infused product market.
SōRSE Technology earned position #61 in in Fast Company’s 2020 Best Workplaces for Innovators list.
In the past few years, consumers’ curiosity and interest in CBD has grown at a rapid rate, and a result of that is an influx of food items and beverages infused with the cannabinoid. From marshmallows to protein bites, from fruit-flavored gummies to popcorn, the array of sweet and savory edible CBD products on the market is ever-expanding. For consumers who are curious about incorporating CBD into their daily routine but don’t love the idea of ingesting a tincture, CBD edibles offer a great alternative.
If you have a great idea for an edible and are wondering how to turn it into a viable product that will land in the hands of the consumer, here are 5 Steps to Building an Infused CBD Edible from the producers themselves.
Mainstream vs Unique Concept
The first thing that you need to know when building a successful infused edible is that a simple, mainstream concept will be easier to execute than a unique concept that is not on the market. That said, if you are determined to create a product that no one has seen before, try to find its mainstream, CBD-free equivalent so that you can understand what it will take to execute production. The process of taking an edible from concept to commercialization typically takes nine to twelve months, so thinking through your timeline from start to finish and being realistic when setting expectations is extremely important.
Needs & Challenges
In the early stages of planning, it’s also advisable to identify your needs and potential challenges. Aside from having a great concept, you’ll need ingredients, including CBD; production equipment (like forms or molds); a production facility; packaging; and marketing materials. If you have never created an edible before, some of the challenges you might foresee could include: A key ingredient not being available; a piece of equipment being expensive to purchase; figuring out how your packaging will impact shelf life; or working with a co-manufacturer.
What’s Important?
Any product will be more successful when you are excited about the idea and believe the item will add value to a consumer’s life. Your product should reflect what is important to you — clean label, flavor profile, quality of ingredients — and what you can bring to the marketplace. Think about what your niche is, and how you are going to differentiate your product while reaching as many consumers as you can.
When developing your culinary concept, you will need to identify your audience — who is going to buy your edible, why they want to buy it, and where they will buy it. The profile you create of your target consumer should be as specific as possible. You should be able to picture what that person is like in your head, from what they do for fun to the clothes they wear.
To develop an infused edible that will bring your customer back time and again, you have to do a lot of research on consumer behavior to find out what the buyer is looking for in a company and in a product. You’ll need to consider what the consumer will find appealing about your product, what they might be doing when they are eating your edible, and who they might be with. The better you understand what your consumer wants and needs, and how the product will fit into their lives, the more successful you will be. 3.
When it comes to edibles, there are a variety of options on the market. In the “Sweet” category, we have gummies, chocolate bars, energy bars and cookies, to name a few. In the “Savory” category, you can find crackers, jerky, chips, amongst others. As you think about where your product will fit in, you need to continue circling back to these key questions – What does my consumer want? Are they looking for a discrete consumption method? How much do they care about the sensory experience? Is this something they will eat on-the-go or in the comfort of their home? How much does the consumer care about a product’s visual appeal?
When thinking about where your product will fit in in the marketplace, examine other items your consumer might purchase and what the packaging looks like. Packaging and labeling is the first level of engagement a customer has with your product, so visual appeal is key. Is your consumer drawn to natural products? Do they avoid plastic packaging because they are concerned about the environmental impact? Do they like to be able to see the product through the packaging? Your label and packaging should reflect your company’s culture and values and what makes your product unique.
The next step is to create your formula, including its flavor profile and CBD dosing. Some of the current trends in the consumer marketplace are: Global flavors like espresso, tropical fruit, and coconut; natural ingredients; earthy flavors like mushroom; sugar alternatives such as agave, maple syrup, honey, and stevia; herbs and spices; and tart and sour tastes.
When considering your product’s flavor, you also need to think about how the flavor of the CBD will work with the other ingredients, especially if your product is in a small format like a tablet or gummy. An isolate would be a good choice if you want an edible with a clean, specific flavor profile. If your consumer appreciates botanical, herbaceous products, a Broad Spectrum CBD might play well with the other flavors. Some consumers specifically seek out Broad Spectrum products because of the terpenes (aromas and flavors) that accompany the CBD.
Currently, there are a wide range of CBD dosages in the products available. Here are some of the average dosages currently on the market:
To determine dosage, consider when the consumer will be eating your product, identify the desired effect you want the consumer to have after eating the product, and also think about how many pieces they might be inclined to ingest. For example, some people can eat a whole chocolate bar in one sitting, while others might only want a portion of the bar.
When adding active cannabinoids to your product, you will also need to know what parts of the process create waste or evaporation, because both need to be factored into dosing. When you’re doing trial batches of your product, you may need to initially overdose the recipe/formula to achieve an accurate final dose.
Once you’ve tested your formula, determined dosing, and chosen packaging, it’s time to prepare for scaling up and production. The key to a successful scaling up is identifying and securing your strategic partners in this process, such as your suppliers and a manufacturer.
Consumer safety should be your #1 concern when making an infused edible, To ensure the highest quality CBD for your product, make sure the CBD supplier that you work with shares documentation like a Certificate of Analysis, Product Data Sheets and Safety Data Sheets. For more information on what to look for when choosing a CBD supplier, please reference Section 4 of our blog entry, “5 Things You Need to Know to Create an Infused CBD Beverage.”
Next, find a co-manufacturer who understands CBD as an ingredient and has experience producing other CBD edibles will know how to work with it. Being able to do batch testing is critical because it will let you adjust your formula if you need to. It’s also worth noting that the scale-up process may take a few runs over a few months’ time, as at that stage, there can be changes in the equipment that can affect the product. Ideally your producer will allow you to be on-site for the first few runs so that you can feel confident in the process of how your edible is being produced.
If you want to sell to an audience in a specific state and there is a manufacturing center in that state, you’ll save a lot of money by producing it as close as possible to your target market area. Also, if there is a facility producing a product similar to yours and it’s considered a turnkey process for them, you will be more successful commercializing your product because they already have experience making something similar.
The journey you will take bringing a CBD-infused edible to market will be an exciting one – especially if you really believe in your concept; just know that the process will require planning, patience, flexibility, out-of-the-box thinking, problem-solving and collaboration. As you try to get your product to market, you might be thrown some curveballs along the way, but if you work with a CBD supplier and co-manufacturer who has experience working with cannabinoids, they will be able to partner with you throughout the process.
At SōRSE, our R&D team of 30+ employees is well-versed in edible production from concept to final product and welcomes the opportunity to help bring your dream to life and your product to market. Schedule an exploratory call today with SōRSE to get started on your infused CBD edibles journey!
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Want to evaluate our emulsions? We’d love to learn more about your business and work to create a custom solution.
Tell us a little about yourself and we’ll be in touch shortly.
Privacy Policy. All rights reserved 2021.
Want to evaluate our emulsions? We’d love to learn more about your business and work to create a custom solution.
Tell us a little about yourself and we’ll be in touch shortly.
Privacy Policy. All rights reserved 2021.
Here is our step-by-step guide on water-soluble emulsion technology’s impact on stability.
