3 ms·

Ever read the label on a LaCroix can? Can you tell me what the “natural” flavors are made from? The lack of transparency scares me, will the way thru process “n

• mattmaroon 5y ago
  I happen to do beverage production for a living now. I know exactly where they come from and how many are made. There’s nothing to be scared of. The FDA has a list of things you can call “natural flavor”. They are essentially all extracts, mostly refined through distillations. I’ll give you an example: blueberry. Industrial juice is typically concentrated by vacuum distillation. It had to be shipped frozen, and that’s very expensive, so it’s cheaper to remove the water. The first stuff that comes off of that is called essence and has a delightful blueberry flavor. It doesnt taste exactly like blueberry but it’s recognizable and highly potent. A couple drops of that flavor your entire can. You can actually buy them directly from a couple flavor houses (most are wholesale only but not all) in small quantities. Check out Silver Cloud Flavors. I have carbonated water on draft and just add them in rather than buying cans anymore.
  • sizzle 5y ago
    Thanks for demystifying this topic for me. Gonna look into these flavors to try!