Spicy alcohol, matcha, and pickle-inspired beverages are making waves in the beverage industry. According to The Drinks Business, Tastewise analyzed billions of data points between April 2023 and April 2025 for its Summer F&B Playbook, highlighting what’s hot this season.
The report shows Gen Z pushing for bold, playful, and decadent drinks that invite experimentation. Interest in spicy alcoholic beverages jumped 6% year over year, with drinks like the “Spicy Sauvy B”—white wine infused with jalapeños—grabbing attention. Online, “Spicy Margs” continue to dominate as riffs on the classic tequila-and-lime margarita trend.
Bars and brands are capitalizing on the fiery flavor boom. Moth’s Spicy Margarita hit Sainsbury’s shelves in spring, while London venues such as Cavita and Corrochio’s embraced the trend with their own takes.
Eric Rozestraten of Tastewise explained to The Drinks Business, “It’s all about consumers chasing excitement. Spicy alcohol lets them explore adventurous flavors without straying too far from what they know.”
This craving for spice highlights a key theme in Gen Z drink trends 2025: a willingness to play with boundaries while staying rooted in familiar formats.
While spicy cocktails dominate the bar scene, non-alcoholic beverages are also thriving. Tastewise found that 77% of consumers now seek functional benefits in their drinks.
Celebrities fuel the movement, too. Snoop Dogg recently partnered to launch Iconic Tonics, a range of cannabis-infused functional beverages. With the functional drinks sector projected to hit US$200 billion globally by 2030, this trend shows no signs of slowing down.
Functional drinks don’t just mean vitamins. Mushroom-based beverages have experienced a surge in popularity, with consumer interest increasing 11% year over year. Reishi and lion’s mane in particular have moved into the mainstream, showing a 14% growth in menu mentions.
Prebiotic drinks climbed 29% in popularity, while hormone-support beverages rose 19%, according to the Tastewise analysis reported by The Drinks Business.
These shifts reveal how health-driven innovation is blending seamlessly with Gen Z’s desire for fun, flavor-forward experiences.
From jalapeño-infused wine to mushroom tonics, Gen Z drink trends 2025 prove that young consumers want both edge and function in their beverages. They expect drinks to deliver not just taste, but also benefits, personality, and a story worth sharing online.
For producers, that means innovation isn’t optional—it’s essential.
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The Drinks Business Article — Gen Z want spicy alcohol, matcha and pickles, report reveals, written by Amelie Maurice-Jones
The image of the article is courtesy of ©LeoPatrizi via Canva.com
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