Some of today’s most popular beverages on U.S. menus are exports from other countries. Think bubble tea and flat whites, to name just two. What could be next?
Technomic just released its 2025 Beverage Global Menu Category Report, and nonalcoholic beverage sales are up around the world. The Middle East/Africa leads, with an increase of 16.7% in the last two years, followed by Asia Pacific, up 14.7% and Latin America, 8.8%.
While 56% of these global sales come from drinks ordered along with breakfast, lunch or dinner, 33% of consumers purchase a beverage for a snack between meals.
So what are they drinking? Fruit juice, soft drinks, coffee and lemonade lead the list, but it’s the variations on these drinks that are worth watching. In the UAE, avocado coffee is popular, and in Asia, frozen dirty coffees are trending.
Vanilla frozen dirty coffee is a thing in Asia. | Photo courtesy of BeanStar Coffee Indonesia Instagram
Here are some of the other beverage trends gaining traction around the world.
New takes on coffee
On its K Coffee menu in China, KFC introduced a new Zero Sugar Coconut Latte, prepared with fresh-ground arabica coffee and sugar-free coconut milk. Like oatmilk and almond milk, coconut milk is a sought-after dairy alternative. It looks like we may see more coconut-flavored beverages in 2026. Monin, a flavoring company, named toasted coconut the Flavor of the Year.
Other fruit flavors are making their way into coffee, too. Cotti Coffee launched an Apple Sparkling Cold Brew at its locations in Malaysia last fall, promoting it as “crisp, fizzy and energetic.”
Cold brew combined with sparkling soda water becomes a coffee tonic. | Photo courtesy of Mammoth Coffee South Korea Instagram
Coffee tonics, a drink that fuses barista and bartender culture, are also on the rise. Mammoth Coffee developed a Lemon Tonic Cold Brew as an LTO in South Korea. It’s prepared with fresh lemon juice, carbonated soda water and cold brew coffee and was available in regular and decaf versions.
Speaking of decaf, more cafes across Asia are offering calming drinks in the afternoons and evenings. Twosome Place in South Korea promotes its Decaf Cold Brew Coffees for end-of-day sipping to relax rather than rev up.
Hojicha, a Japanese roasted green tea, is also emerging as a calmer alternative to matcha drinks, with potential for increased growth on menus globally, the report stated.
A shot of health
Chains are updating beverages to be more mindful of health and diet needs without sacrificing craveability, finds Technomic. Sugar, fat and calories are being reduced or eliminated to make coffees and teas healthier, and protein add-ins continue to be in demand. Yogurt, avocado, coconut, local sugars and fresh seasonal fruits are highlighted as healthier.
Yogurt combined with tea and fruit is ready for sipping. | Photo courtesy of LiHO Tea Singapore Instagram
Drinkable yogurts are rolling out in Asia as a new beverage platform. LiHO Tea launched a range of Yo-Yo Yoghurt drinks in Singapore, featuring a base of yogurt combined with tea and fruit.
Beverages that single out wellness ingredients and benefits are more widely available, with callouts including immunity boosts, gut health, stress relief and even beauty enhancements. The BS Latte, a limited-time offer at locations of Do Qoo, again in Singapore, features black sesame, soy milk and soy pudding and is promoted as an option to “beat fatigue and bolster heart health.”
Protein smoothies, shakes and coffees are already big in the U.S., but that trend is accelerating beyond our shores. Burger King introduced BK Protein Shakes for a limited time in Brazil, boasting 20 grams of whey protein available in any flavor.
Trendsetting toppings
Chains across Asia and beyond are showcasing flavored sweet dairy whips as tea and coffee toppers.
Strawberry Cream Latte has a creamy topping with bits of crunch. | Photo courtesy of The Venti South Korea Instagram
In South Korea, a concept called The Venti introduced a Strawberry Cream Latte featuring a topping combining sweet choux cream milk, cookie bits, ice cream and strawberry sauce.
Asian café Lelecha launched two new Gold & Silver Corn Drinks in China that combine milk, tea, salty cheese, mango and a cheese foam topping with roasted pine nuts garnish. Whole corn kernels at the bottom create a variation on boba.
And Esteh added a new Silky Cream Taro to its menu in Indonesia, featuring soft taro layered with cheese cream on top and egg pudding at the bottom.
Eye-catching Instagrammable drinks are still going strong and becoming even more colorful and crazy to stand out on social platforms. In Germany, Burger King offered a new line of Summernades, fruity drinks topped with cotton candy.
Burger King's colorful refreshers topped with cotton candy. | Photo courtesy of Burger King Germany LinkedIn
Purple seems to be the “it” global beverage color. Bagelstein launched a new Ube Latte at its cafes in France, and Auntie Anne’s launched a Purple Potato Oat Milk LTO in Thailand, prepared with Okinawa purple potatoes and oatmilk, topped with a crunchy crumble.
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