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Could Korean aloe vera beverages become the next big trend in drinks?

July 31, 2014
Customers sample a Korean aloe beverage at the Fancy Food Show held in New York in June.

Customers sample a Korean aloe beverage at the Fancy Food Show held in New York in June.

Could Korean aloe vera beverages become the next big trend in drinks?

According to the New York branch of Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), Korean brands comprised 68 percent of aloe drinks imported to the U.S. between April 2013 to 2014. In contrast, the next biggest imports, Taiwanese brands made up just 21 percent of the total.

OKF Corporation and PurePlus Co. each exported 720 and 462 containers in that period. Korean companies took seven of the top 10 import brands.

The industry has seen a 35 percent increase in imports of Asian aloe beverages over the same period in the previous year — from 2012 to 2013, the U.S. took in 669 containers. From 2013 to 2014, it took in 1,257.

“Korean aloe drinks have maintained their No. 1 position despite competition from Taiwanese and Chinese brands because of their taste and quality,” said Shin Hyun-gon, branch manager of aT New York. “With Korean aloe beverages as the base, we’re going to be focusing on promoting ginseng drinks and rice-based drinks as the new hit product.”