Flavours and Natural Flavours: How Natural Are They Really?
When you open a tea bag and are met by the smell of fresh fruit or herbs, you might think you are drinking something natural. Unfortunately, this is often not the case. Many products in the supermarket, including tea bags, contain 'natural flavours'. But how natural are these really?
What exactly are natural flavors?
The term ‘natural’ sounds healthy and pure, but that’s often misleading. According to EU regulations, a flavouring can be called ‘natural’ if it comes from at least 95% of a natural source. Sounds great, right? Unfortunately, the source of those flavourings can be anything that has ever existed in nature – from plants to animals, like lice for the colour of pink cakes! What’s worse, you often don’t even know which source has been used, because manufacturers are not required to state this on the label. So, your ‘natural’ strawberry flavouring in those tea bags? That could just as easily come from, say, fermented rice or beet pulp.Pure ingredients versus natural flavors
Many consumers immediately think of something healthy and unprocessed when they hear the term “natural,” but that’s not always the case. A recent episode of the Keuringsdienst van Waarde ( Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority) examines the apparent purity of “natural flavors.” While the term suggests that these flavors come directly from natural sources like fruits and herbs, the reality is often very different. For example, so-called “natural flavors” in products like strawberry yogurt or vanilla custard can come from fermented rice, beet pulp, or even lice. While these raw materials are technically natural, they often have little to do with the flavor they mimic. Furthermore, the production method for many of these natural flavors is surprisingly industrial and complex, involving yeasts, DNA manipulation, and chemical processes. Yet manufacturers are still allowed to label their products as “natural,” adding to the confusion among consumers.
Want to know more about how manufacturers make these aromas and what really lies behind that label? Watch the full episode of the "Keuringsdienst van Waarde" here.
At Spoon Moment, we are against this kind of misleading practice. We believe that truly natural means that there are no hidden substances or vague aromas that end up in your cup of tea. That is why our Spoons do not contain any aromas or other strange additives that are often found in traditional tea bags. Instead, we use pure superfoods and natural ingredients such as turmeric, ginger, matcha and chai, without any chemical treatments or ‘secret’ processes. The result? A delicious, genuine taste and a product that you can truly trust.
Want to know more about how manufacturers make these aromas and what really lies behind that label? Watch the full episode of the "Keuringsdienst van Waarde" here.
At Spoon Moment, we are against this kind of misleading practice. We believe that truly natural means that there are no hidden substances or vague aromas that end up in your cup of tea. That is why our Spoons do not contain any aromas or other strange additives that are often found in traditional tea bags. Instead, we use pure superfoods and natural ingredients such as turmeric, ginger, matcha and chai, without any chemical treatments or ‘secret’ processes. The result? A delicious, genuine taste and a product that you can truly trust.
A conscious choice
So next time you choose a tea or other beverage, think about what’s really in it and check the label! At Spoon Moment, you don’t have to worry about that. We stand for transparency and purity, with no hidden ingredients or misleading terms.
With our superfood Spoons you are not only choosing a tasteful experience, but also a healthy, natural lifestyle. And that makes all the difference.
1 comment
Weeral iets bijgeleerd. Je staat er niet bij stil wat je aankoopt. Volgende keer zal ik alerter zijn. Dank je Spoon sisters.