Natural and artificial flavourings are both used to make food taste better, but they’re created in different ways. Natural flavourings come from real sources in nature, such as plants, fruits, herbs and spices.
How is a natural strawberry flavour made?
A natural strawberry flavour might be made by extracting flavour compounds from real strawberries or other natural ingredients that contain similar compounds. These flavourings are processed in a lab, but the starting materials come from natural sources. You can add natural flavourings to your food and delicious options are available like https://foodieflavours.com/collections/natural-flavourings.
The definition of what is a ‘natural’ product has been discussed around the world for decades.
Artificial flavourings are made in laboratories using chemical processes
Scientists create flavour compounds that mimic the taste of natural ingredients, but they don’t come directly from the original food. For example, the flavour that tastes like vanilla in some sweets might be made from synthetic chemicals rather than from real vanilla beans. Interestingly, the chemical structure of natural and artificial flavourings can sometimes be the same. This means the taste can be very similar.
Artificial flavourings are often cheaper to produce
Natural ingredients can vary depending on the growing conditions, seasons, or harvest quality, which can affect the final flavour. Artificial versions can also last longer in processed foods. However, some people prefer natural flavourings because they feel they are more authentic or closer to real food ingredients. Food labels in the UK must clearly state whether flavourings are natural or artificial, so consumers can make their own choice.