From the idea to the final drink: Beverage development at Austria Juice

The beverage base concepts are available both as existing formulation ideas, derived by our experts from various trends, and as individual, bespoke creations. Thanks to our in-house expertise in fruit juice concentrates, flavourings and beverage bases, different components can be coordinated with one another at an early stage in the development process.

Thanks to its in-house production of fruit juice concentrates and flavourings – the main components of beverage base ingredients – AUSTRIA JUICE has direct and ideal access to the finest raw materials and provides its customers with a high-calibre team of experts possessing in-depth experience to address all queries relating to the products and their development.

From idea to product

Together with the customer, the sales and product development team draws up a briefing that is as detailed as possible in order to best reflect the customer’s requirements throughout the development process. In doing so, the experts examine both the technological and regulatory possibilities and feasibility with regard to the product composition.

Following consultation with the client, the expectations for the product are therefore jointly defined. Based on these specifications, the development process presents a wide variety of technological challenges for beverage development that must be taken into account. Current beverage concepts, in particular, often combine several requirements: less sugar and full flavour, stability or functional ingredients, and a pleasant sensory profile. The task of product development is to bring these requirements together in a harmonious formulation.
Step by step, a product is then created in line with the desired requirements profile.

Balancing sweetness, acidity and mouthfeel

A balanced ratio of sweetness and acidity forms an important sensory foundation for many beverage concepts. The desired sweetness can, for example, come from the fruit juices used, different types of sugar or suitable sweetening solutions. To achieve a balanced acidity profile, depending on the product, citric, malic or lactic acid, as well as fruit juices with the appropriate acidity, can be used, amongst other things.

Reducing sugar content is playing an increasingly important role in this context. Recent industry observations show that, in many cases, reduced sugar content is already regarded as a fundamental requirement for new beverage concepts. At the same time, flavour, texture and mouthfeel must be preserved.
Source: https://www.foodingredientsfirst.com/news/functional-beverages-vitafoods-europe-2026-trends.html

For reduced-calorie drinks, sweeteners such as sucralose, acesulfame K or steviol glycosides derived from the stevia plant are an ideal source. In the case of sugar- or calorie-reduced drinks, the sweetening source cannot be considered in isolation. A change in sugar content can also have an impact on the body, taste and overall sensory perception.

The individual components are therefore balanced to create a harmonious overall profile.

Colour and flavour define the product

Let’s test:  the tasting phase

Once the first laboratory formulation of the desired product has been produced, taking into account all the ingredients and parameters mentioned above, the project moves into the tasting phase. During this phase, the customer tastes the product under development and, in close consultation, adjustments are made to its appearance and sensory properties until the desired quality is achieved. The entire development process, as well as the final fine-tuning, consistently holds technological surprises and leads to new insights. Drawing on these insights, our experts have been continuously expanding their extensive, detailed expertise for many years.

From the laboratory to production

Once the customer’s product has been finalised, the beverage base developed in the laboratory is produced on larger production lines for dispatch. At AUSTRIA JUICE, state-of-the-art facilities are available for mixing, homogenising, pasteurising and bottling the bases in accordance with the strictest food safety standards. Through our in-house testing laboratory, which is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, compliance with legal requirements and our customers’ specifications is continuously and meticulously monitored. The final aseptic containers used for the delivery of our beverage bases range from bag-in-box and kegs to Arca/Niro tanks and entire tanker lorries.

Conclusion:

AUSTRIA JUICE offers beverage compounds for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, based on individual and bespoke product developments as well as existing recipe concepts devised by the company’s in-house creative experts.
From the initial idea through to the finished product, customers receive expert advice on the selection and composition of the chosen beverage ingredients, as well as on flavour, texture, colour, stabilisation and shelf life, the technological processes involved, and the legal framework that must be adhered to – particularly in the production and marketing of ‘functional drinks’.