MANE, the largest privately held supplier of flavours and fragrances, launched Taste of the Tropics, a natural, authentic tropical flavour collection, at SupplySide Global 2026 in Las Vegas.
Inspired by Costa Rican fruits and firsthand experiences of MANE’s flavourists and consumer insights experts, it offers true-to-fruit profiles that meet growing demand for unfamiliar flavour combinations, global influences and new sensory experiences.
The collection gives formulators options for new and reformulated products, from fruit-forward concepts to unexpected pairings.
Reflecting Costa Rica’s biodiversity, it features banana, coconut, guava, lulo, mango, papaya, passionfruit, pineapple, star apple, tamarind and tree tomato.
Natural, authentic food experiences continue to shape product development. In MANE’s September 2026 fruit flavour study, tropical fruits ranked as the most premium family among berry, citrus, melon, orchard, stone fruit and tropical.
More than half of respondents placed tropical fruits in their top two and more than twice as many chose tropical over berry as the most premium group.
The study also found strong interest in novel fruit profiles, with authenticity being key to exploring flavours from other countries.
Nearly half preferred pairing unfamiliar and familiar fruits; many others were open to unfamiliar flavours alone.
“Authenticity is increasingly important as consumers seek flavour experiences that more closely reflect the character of the fruit itself,” said Amy Bennett, Director of Sweet Flavor Creation for MANE’s North American Flavor Division.
“MANE’s new Taste of the Tropics flavour collection gives formulators the flexibility to explore distinctive fruit profiles, informed by our firsthand tasting and evaluation of authentic fruits in Costa Rica. That direct experience helped us understand each fruit’s nuances and translate them into differentiated, true-to-fruit sensory experiences.”
Available in the US and Canada in liquid and spray-dried formats, the flavours support new combinations across bakery, beverages, condiments, confectionery, dairy, dressings, functional beverages, marinades, rubs, sauces, snacks and sports and energy drinks.
Many flavours feature ANTILLONE, a natural molecule developed through MANE’s proprietary biotechnology process that delivers crisp, juicy pineapple and tropical fruit notes.
Visitors to MANE’s booth #2745 at SupplySide Global can sample five prototypes.
- Sunshine Focus Bites: convenient energy and focus gummies pairing passionfruit and papaya with caffeine, L-theanine, vitamins B6 and B12 and MANE Kancor Bacopa extract, a natural herbal supplement known for cognitive benefits.
- Costa Rican Sunrise: a low-calorie, naturally coloured tropical soda combining papaya, guava and mango with juice and fibre.
- Tropical-Inspired Pineapple and Onion Chutney: topped with sweet tamarind sauce, combining bright fruit, tangy-sweet and savoury flavours.
- Costa Rican Style Sauce Kettle Chip: features POWERDRY PR lime flavour and natural paprika and annatto colours, with a tangy, sweet profile reminiscent of the popular Costa Rican condiment.
- Tropical Twist Energy Drink: a banana-pineapple, piña colada-inspired drink with 5 g of sugar, Reb M (a next-generation stevia sweetener with a clean, sugar-like taste and minimal off-notes), 150 mg of natural green tea caffeine, L-theanine, magnesium and B vitamins.
