Flavorman, a Louisville-based beverage development company, was featured on NPR's Planet Money in an episode titled "Where all those weird new drinks are coming from," released October 2. The episode explores Flavorman's work in the functional beverage sector, where demand for products built around adaptogens, probiotics, and similar ingredients continues to grow. As part of the segment, Flavorman's lab created a conceptual drink designed to capture the essence of Planet Money: a functional sparkling coconut water flavored with yuzu and elderberry. The beverage was developed purely for educational purposes and is not a commercial product, will not be sold, and was not developed in partnership with or endorsed by NPR. "Part of what makes beverage development so interesting is that a drink can communicate an idea before anyone takes a sip," said Flavorman Founder David Dafoe. "In this case, we asked ourselves: if the energy of Planet Money could be bottled, what would it taste like?"

Design Rationale The flavor selection was deliberate.

Yuzu provides a distinctive citrus character with global appeal, while elderberry adds a layer intended to reflect the podcast's approach to sharing knowledge with its audience. Coconut water was chosen as the base to highlight its naturally occurring electrolytes, with added carbonation meant to evoke sound waves through the beverage's texture and mouthfeel. According to Flavorman's team, the conceptual drink draws on Planet Money's ability to make complex economic topics approachable and connect audiences with stories and perspectives from around the world. Founded in 1992, Flavorman operates one of the largest full-service beverage product development facilities in the United States, serving clients ranging from startups to major international brands.

Why It Matters

For operators and CPG brands, the episode highlights how custom beverage developers are responding to growing consumer interest in functional drinks and how flavor development has become a storytelling tool in building brand identity and differentiation in a crowded market.

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Written by FBM Publications Editors