The supplement shelf is changing. Where there used to be capsules and tablets, there are now functional gummies, chewable tablets and stick packs that melt in the mouth. For many consumers, taking a supplement has become part of a daily routine they actually enjoy, closer to a small snack than to medicine.
For brands, this is a big opportunity. For formulators, it is often a big headache, especially when the active ingredient is a botanical.
Why functional gummies and snacks are on the rise
Several things come together:
- Enjoyment instead of obligation: a gummy or a chewable feels like a treat. That makes it easier to take something every day, which matters for any product meant for long-term use.
- Convenience: no water, no swallowing large capsules, easy to take at work, on the go or in the evening.
- Pill fatigue: many consumers already take several capsules a day and are looking for a different way.
- New occasions: an evening gummy for relaxation or a chewable after training fits into everyday life in a way a capsule does not.
The format has become part of the product promise. Consumers do not just choose an ingredient, they choose how they want to take it.
The problem: botanicals were not made for gummies
Many of the most interesting natural ingredients are exactly the ones that are hardest to put into a gummy or snack.
Taste. Turmeric is earthy, boswellia is resinous, passionflower is bitter and hay-like. In a capsule, nobody notices. In a gummy or a chewable, the extract meets the tongue directly.
Solubility. Many botanical actives are poorly soluble in water. In a gummy mass or a drink powder, they do not disperse evenly, they clump or settle.
Dose. A gummy only holds so much. Native extracts often need high daily amounts, sometimes split into several doses a day. That does not fit into one or two gummies.
Processing. Gummy production involves heat and moisture. The ingredient has to survive the process and still work as a free-flowing powder on the production line.
As a result, many botanicals end up in capsules, not because consumers want capsules, but because the extract does not allow anything else.
How OPTISOLV® Technology makes botanicals snack-ready
OPTISOLV® Technology is a dual coating at the molecular level. An inner layer of cyclodextrin, a ring-shaped starch molecule, holds the active in a crystal-free state and improves solubility. An outer layer of phospholipids supports a stable release over time and helps mask the taste of the extract. Learn more about OPTISOLV® Technology.
For gummies and functional snacks, this means:
- Taste masking built into the ingredient: the coating reduces the off-notes of the extract, so less work is needed on the flavour side.
- Better solubility: the active disperses instead of clumping, for example over 1000x water solubility for OPTISOLV® Curcumin compared to native curcumin.
- Lower dose: OPTISOLV® Boswellia is used at 250 to 500 mg once a day, compared to 900 to 1,500 mg split into 2 to 3 doses for the native extract. A smaller dose is much easier to fit into a gummy.
- Easy processing: all OPTISOLV® ingredients are free-flowing powders. OPTISOLV® Passiflora is stable during pasteurisation and heat sterilisation, with reduced browning.
- Natural excipients only: no synthetic emulsifiers, which fits the clean-label positioning many snack brands want.
Which OPTISOLV® ingredients fit gummies and snacks
| Ingredient | Health areas | Snack-friendly formats |
|---|---|---|
| OPTISOLV® Curcumin | Gut health, joint health, immunity | Gummies, chewing tablets, stick packs, sachets |
| OPTISOLV® Boswellia | Inflammatory balance, joint health, gut health | Gummies, chewing tablets, stick packs, sachets |
| OPTISOLV® Passiflora | Relaxation, sleep | Gummies, chewing tablets, stick packs, sachets |
All three are also available for powders, capsules and tablets. For more formats and industries, see Applications.
Proof on the tongue: the Passiflora taste test
Does it really make a difference to consumers? We tested it. In a blind, external consumer test with 75 participants, 72 % preferred OPTISOLV® Passiflora over the native passionflower extract at the same dose, taken directly from a stick without water. OPTISOLV® Passiflora was rated significantly better on every sensory attribute. Read the full article: Passionflower taste test: 72 % of consumers prefer OPTISOLV® Passiflora.
Ideas for functional gummies and snacks
- An evening gummy with passionflower for a relaxing end of the day
- A turmeric chewable as part of a daily gut health routine
- A boswellia gummy for active people who care about their joints
- A stick pack that melts in the mouth, taken on the go without water
- A drink powder stirred into a warm evening drink
The format can follow the brand’s concept, not the extract.
Frequently asked questions
What are functional gummies?
Functional gummies are gummies that contain active ingredients such as vitamins, minerals or botanical extracts. They combine a supplement with the convenience and enjoyment of a snack.
Why are botanical extracts difficult to use in gummies?
Many botanicals taste bitter or earthy, are poorly soluble in water and need high doses. In a gummy, the taste is noticeable directly and the space for the active ingredient is limited.
Which OPTISOLV® ingredients can be used in gummies?
OPTISOLV® Curcumin, OPTISOLV® Boswellia and OPTISOLV® Passiflora are suitable for gummies, chewing tablets, stick packs and sachets.
Does OPTISOLV® Technology use synthetic emulsifiers?
No. OPTISOLV® Technology uses natural excipients only: gamma-cyclodextrin and sunflower lecithin.
Can I test the ingredients in my own product?
Yes. We provide samples for your development. Contact us.
Develop your next functional gummy
Planning a gummy, chewable or stick pack with a botanical ingredient? Request samples and test OPTISOLV® ingredients in your own formulation, or talk to our team about your product idea.
