Drink Trends 2023… Where Does Bubble Tea Fit?

fruit bubble tea

As the world opens up and in-person socialising returns to normal, what are the soft drink trends of 2023?

With COVID-19 restrictions finally easing, many people are enjoying the freedom of sharing a beverage with friends. Experts are questioning whether the drinking habits developed during the pandemic will continue into 2023. Below are the top 5 drink trends to look out for.

Top 5 Drink Trends 2023

1 – Bubble Tea

The refreshing Taiwanese drink featuring wacky flavoured pearls has taken the world by storm in recent years. This is projected to continue in the post-pandemic era. There are a number of reasons for this, including:

  • A desire for new and interesting taste experiences.
  • The relative novelty of bubble tea.
  • The creative combinations available.

2 – Fermented Drinks

As consumers become increasingly health-conscious, the popularity of fermented drinks is expected to grow significantly. These can be in the form of fermented proteins, fruit juices, or cereal-based drinks.

3 – Boxed Wine

During the pandemic, consumers increasingly opted for boxed wine due to their increased lifetime and size as compared to bottled wine. Boxes are also more environmentally friendly, generating about half the carbon-dioxide emissions than that of a glass bottle.

4 – Canned Cocktails

For those of us that don’t have the talent (or time!) to make fancy homemade cocktails, the option of ready-to-drink cocktails in cans couldn’t sound better. The conveniently packaged alcoholic beverage has shown rapid growth in the last two years and this is only forecasted to continue.

5 – Alcohol Free Beers & Spirits

Recent studies have shown that more and more adults are proactively moderating their alcoholic intake in order to lead a healthier lifestyle. Low and non-alcoholic drinks have consequently flooded the market, leaving consumers spoilt for choice. This category has something for everyone, whether it’s wanting a beer alternative or just something with less sugar, calories, or alcohol.

What Does This Mean?

The food and drink market has changed drastically in the last few years. And there is no indication we will be going back to the tastes of yesteryear. For bubble tea, this means that the explosion of flavours and combinations that we have seen in recent years is only set to continue.