Indulge in Healthy Chocolate

With nutrition and wellness major global concerns, chocolate manufacturers have begun developing products designed for the health-minded consumer. Beyond sugar-free and low-calorie formulations, added vitamin content and organic labeling, Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD) shows many new products with flavors inspired by nature and nutritious ingredients.

Fruit-based: Moving beyond the tried-and-true caramel and nut flavors familiar to consumers, manufacturers are increasingly experimenting with fruit flavors to differentiate their products and suggest a healthier, more nutritional profile. A number of fruit-flavored chocolate products that launched recently boasted real fruit content to position themselves as more natural and less processed than their more traditional competitors.

For example, in Australia, new Bellis Indulgence Strawberry Bars contain 70% fruit and only 3 g of fat per bar. Also described as a good source of fiber, Bellis Indulgence Strawberry Bars offer consumers the taste of fruit coated in Belgian-style dark chocolate. The bars allow people to enjoy a maximum flavor treat without sacrificing perceived health or nutrition concerns.

Cadbury Wedel likewise stresses the real fruit content of its summer edition Milk Chocolate Bar in Poland. Made with concentrated juice and fruit purée, the chocolate bar contains a yogurt, wild strawberry and blueberry filling. This light, fruity filling makes it ideal for health-conscious eaters.

Plant-based: In addition to fruit-based flavors, chocolate manufacturers have begun pulling from other areas of nature to include new herb- and plant-inspired tastes in the chocolate launches. This makes the products seem closer to nature and more authentic, and thus they appeal to the consumer looking for healthy, nutritious treats.

Green tea remains a popular flavor, especially in Asian markets. Known to be beneficial to the body because of its high antioxidant content, green tea has recently become a popular flavor across various food categories. In Japan, Meiji Seika Kaisha recently released Japanese Nuts: Green Tea & Macadamia. The crushed macadamia nuts are coated in green tea-flavored chocolate for a taste that combines the familiar—chocolate and nuts—with the exotic—green tea.

Other herb-based chocolate formulas have been recently introduced around the globe. Beyond mint, always a popular combination with chocolate, Mintel GNPD has seen products flavored with lemongrass, pandan (a leaf often used in South Asian cooking), lavender and hemp. In Germany, J.G. Niederegger’s Marzipan Harmonie chocolates feature three nature-inspired flavors: apple-lemongrass, ginger-buckthorn and peach-green tea.

Functional: Taking it up a notch, some new product launches go beyond healthy, natural flavors to include ingredients known for their functional benefits. Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, is recognized as a good source of antioxidants that help prevent various diseases by fighting off dangerous free radicals in the body. Several new dark chocolate products highlight this fact by emphasizing the cocoa content. In Singapore, the Hershey Company doesn’t do so, but it does describe its Nuggets Truffles as a natural source of flavanol antioxidants. Made from special dark mildly sweet chocolate with chocolate truffle filling, Hershey’s Nuggets are simultaneously indulgent and beneficial to the body.

The goji berry, a super food quickly becoming famous for its high antioxidant content, has even entered the chocolate realm as manufacturers look for ways to increase the health profiles of their products. Canadian brand Himalania now features Yogurt Covered and Chocolate Covered Goji Berries, designed to indulge a taste for sweets while providing healthy antioxidant qualities.

No longer is the chocolate flavor market limited to caramel, almond and peanut. Forward-thinking manufacturers are determined to give health-minded consumers the chocolate products they need for acceptable, yet luscious, chocolate indulgences. With nature-inspired flavors and functionally nutritious ingredients, these new chocolate products should do well amid rapidly growing health trends.

The Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD) tracks new product launches, trends and innovations internationally. For additional information regarding GNPD, visit www.gnpd.com or call Mintel International at 1-312-932-0600.

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