A Broth + Co guide to modern drink trends, traditional whole-food beverages, hydration, protein, bone broth and everyday nutrition.

Walk through almost any supermarket today and the beverage aisle tells a story. Coffee and tea are still there, but they now sit beside protein drinks, electrolyte drinks, kombucha, mushroom blends, collagen drinks, sleep drinks, greens powders, coffee alternatives and ready-to-drink products promising energy, focus, hydration or recovery.

This category is often called functional beverages. The phrase sounds modern, but the idea is much older than the label. For generations, people have prepared drinks and liquid foods that offered more than refreshment: broths, soups, herbal infusions, fermented milk drinks, green tea, golden milk, miso soup and vegetable broths.

The memorable idea is simple: the best functional beverages are not magic drinks. They are foods and drinks that fit into real eating patterns.

This guide connects with Functional Proteins Explained: Why Whey, Collagen & Bone Broth All Have Different Roles, Functional Hydration and The Food Matrix Explained: Why Whole Foods Matter.

 

What Is a Functional Beverage?

There is no single global definition of a functional beverage. In everyday nutrition, the term usually refers to drinks that provide more than plain hydration. They may contribute protein, electrolytes, plant compounds, fermented foods, herbs, spices, fibre, vitamins, minerals or other food components as part of a balanced diet.

Examples include milk, kefir, yoghurt drinks, green tea, herbal teas, vegetable juices, smoothies, protein beverages, electrolyte drinks, bone broth and vegetable soups.

The important point is that functional does not automatically mean better. A drink can be highly marketed and still be nutritionally ordinary. A simple homemade soup can be deeply nourishing without ever using the word functional.

A useful way to define the category is this: a functional beverage is a drink with a nutritional role beyond thirst. That role may be small, such as adding variety and warmth to an evening routine, or more substantial, such as contributing protein, fermented foods or vegetables.

This definition keeps the category grounded. It prevents every fashionable drink from sounding essential, while still recognising that beverages can meaningfully contribute to how people eat across the day.

 

Functional Drinks Are Not New

Long before supermarkets existed, traditional food cultures used beverages and liquid meals as practical nutrition. Japanese miso soup, Korean bone broth soups, Italian brodo, Greek lemon chicken broth, Mexican caldo, Indian golden milk, Chinese herbal teas, fermented dairy drinks and homemade vegetable soups all show the same pattern.

These foods were not invented by wellness marketing. They developed because they made sense. They used available ingredients, stretched food across households, warmed the body, supported hydration and made vegetables, herbs, protein foods and grains easier to enjoy.

That is the 'I never knew that' moment: many functional beverage trends are modern packaging around old food wisdom.

For more on what modern nutrition can learn from traditional food cultures, read Traditional Diets Explained: What Modern Nutrition Can Learn From the Past.

Why Functional Beverages Are Growing

Interest in functional beverages has grown because modern routines have changed. Many people want convenient nutrition, more protein, lower-sugar alternatives to soft drinks, caffeine-free evening options, practical hydration, portable foods and drinks made from recognisable ingredients.

People are also reading labels more closely. They are noticing added sugars, sweeteners, flavourings and long ingredient lists. At the same time, nutrition science is increasingly focused on dietary patterns rather than single nutrients in isolation.

This creates a useful shift. Instead of asking whether one drink is a perfect solution, the better question is: does this drink help me build a better eating pattern?

Busy mornings, long commutes, hybrid work, children's activities, training schedules and evening fatigue all influence food choices. A beverage can feel easier than cooking, which is why the category has grown so quickly. The challenge is making sure convenience does not replace nourishment.

The strongest functional beverages solve real-life problems: they help someone get enough protein at breakfast, drink enough fluids on a hot day, prepare a quick soup, reduce reliance on sugary drinks, or build a calming evening ritual without caffeine.

That broader pattern is explored in Food Systems Explained: Why Healthy Eating Is About More Than Individual Foods and Food Literacy Explained: Why Knowing How to Eat Matters.

The Main Types of Functional Beverages

Functional beverages vary widely. Some are traditional whole foods in drinkable form. Others are modern formulated products. Understanding the difference helps make the category less confusing.

 

Whole-Food Drinks Versus Formulated Products

One of the clearest distinctions is between beverages made primarily from recognisable foods and beverages built mainly from added or isolated ingredients.

Whole-food beverages may include vegetables, herbs, spices, fruit, milk, yoghurt, legumes, grains or bone broth. Formulated beverages may combine isolated proteins, added vitamins, minerals, sweeteners, flavourings, caffeine, extracts or functional ingredients.

Neither category is automatically good or bad. A well-formulated protein drink may be useful in a busy routine. A homemade smoothie can still become high in sugar if it is mostly juice and sweet fruit. The point is to look at the whole product, not the category name.

This is where the food matrix matters. A drink made from yoghurt, berries, oats and seeds provides protein, carbohydrate, fat, fibre, texture and naturally occurring food compounds together. A fortified drink may provide selected nutrients, but it may not offer the same whole-food structure or satiety experience.

That does not mean every drink must be homemade. It means the more a beverage looks like food, behaves like food and helps you eat better food, the easier it is to place within a balanced dietary pattern.

For more on this distinction, read Whole Foods vs Ultra-Processed Foods and The Protein Matrix: Why Whole Foods Offer More Than Just Protein.

Functional Beverages Are Still Food

This is the idea that makes the category easier to understand. Many traditional functional beverages are simply foods in liquid form.

A bowl of minestrone is not separate from nutrition because it contains liquid. A cup of bone broth is not separate from food because it can be sipped. A yoghurt smoothie is still part of the diet. A lentil soup still contributes legumes, vegetables and energy.

The body does not organise nutrition by supermarket category. It receives meals, drinks, nutrients, textures, flavours and routines as part of one whole pattern.

For everyday pattern-building, read Food First: 10 Daily Habits for Gut Health, Energy & Long-Term Wellbeing.

Protein Is Driving Beverage Innovation

Protein is one of the major drivers of functional beverage growth. People increasingly understand that protein matters across life, not only for athletes. It supports normal growth and development, muscle maintenance, satiety, recovery nutrition and healthy ageing as part of a balanced diet.

This has encouraged the development of dairy protein drinks, plant protein drinks, collagen drinks and broth-based options. The useful question is not simply how much protein is in the bottle. It is what type of protein, what else is in the drink, how often it is used and whether it helps someone meet their needs without displacing balanced meals.

For children and teens, protein sits within the broader needs of growth, development and active bodies. For adults, protein can help make meals more satisfying and support training or busy routines. For older adults, protein becomes especially important because appetite, meal size and muscle maintenance can change with age.

A protein beverage can be useful when it helps someone meet needs they were otherwise missing. It becomes less useful when it crowds out whole meals, vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts, seeds or other nutrient-dense foods.

For more context, read Protein Throughout Life: Why Your Protein Needs Change With Age and High-Protein Foods: The Foundation of Muscle, Healthy Ageing & Recovery Nutrition.

Hydration Is Becoming More Functional

Hydration is another reason the category is expanding. Water remains essential, but some situations increase the need for fluid and electrolytes, including prolonged exercise, hot weather, heavy sweating, certain work environments or simply long days where people forget to drink enough.

Functional hydration does not need to mean brightly coloured sports drinks. It may include water, mineral water, broth, soups, milk, smoothies, herbal teas or electrolyte drinks used appropriately. Context matters.

For more, read Functional Hydration.

Coffee Alternatives and Evening Drinks

Coffee remains a beloved ritual for many people, but not every functional beverage needs to stimulate. Many people now want options for different parts of the day: morning energy, afternoon variety or evening wind-down without caffeine.

Coffee alternatives may include chicory, roasted grains, mushroom blends, herbal blends or spiced drinks. Evening drinks may include chamomile tea, warm milk, golden milk, light soups or warm broth. Their value often lies as much in routine as in ingredients.

A warm drink can mark the transition between work and rest. A soup can make a light evening meal feel satisfying. A caffeine-free beverage can help replace grazing with a calmer ritual. These are small habits, but small habits repeated over time shape the diet.

How to Choose a Functional Beverage

The functional beverage aisle can feel crowded. A simple checklist helps cut through the noise.

·       Read the ingredient list before the front label.

·       Look for recognisable foods where possible.

·       Check added sugar, sweeteners and caffeine if these matter for your routine.

·       Consider whether the drink supports meals or replaces them.

·       Choose drinks that fit your day rather than chasing every trend.

·       Remember that long-term patterns matter more than individual products.

Marketing often highlights one benefit, but biology rarely works through one ingredient alone. Energy, sleep, digestion, appetite, recovery and concentration are shaped by the whole diet, movement, sleep, stress, hydration and daily routine.

It also helps to ask what job you want the beverage to do. If you need hydration, water or a lower-sugar electrolyte option may be enough. If you need a quick breakfast, a protein-rich smoothie with whole-food ingredients may make sense. If you want an evening ritual, a caffeine-free herbal tea, golden milk or warm broth may suit better than a stimulant drink.

Once the job is clear, the choice becomes easier. You are no longer shopping for a miracle. You are choosing a practical tool.

 

Where Bone Broth Fits

Bone broth occupies a useful place in the functional beverage category because it bridges food and drink. It can be sipped warm, but it can also become the base for soups, stews, sauces, risottos, casseroles, grain dishes and vegetable-forward meals.

Unlike many drinks designed to replace meals, bone broth often helps create meals. It can contribute protein, collagen-derived amino acids, minerals, savoury flavour and functional hydration within an overall dietary pattern.

The best way to position bone broth is as a traditional whole-food functional beverage. It is not a shortcut or a stand-alone solution. It is a practical ingredient that can make nourishing food easier to prepare and enjoy.

This is a subtle but important difference. A supplement-style drink often asks to be consumed separately from food. Bone broth works best when it brings people toward food: soup, vegetables, herbs, spices, legumes, grains, slow cooking and shared meals.

In that sense, bone broth is functional because it is useful. It adds savoury depth, supports warm hydration and makes simple ingredients feel more satisfying.

For more, read Bone Broth Benefits: The Complete Guide to Gut Health, Protein, Recovery & Healthy Ageing or browse Bone Broth, Collagen & Functional Nutrition.

Bone Broth in the Modern Australian Kitchen

Australia's food culture is multicultural, practical and constantly evolving. Bone broth fits naturally because it adapts to many cuisines rather than belonging to only one style of cooking.

It can support Italian minestrone, Vietnamese pho, Japanese noodle soups, Greek avgolemono, Middle Eastern lentil soup, Mexican caldo, Mediterranean seafood stew, vegetable soups, risottos, casseroles and braised vegetables.

This matters because useful nutrition must work in real kitchens. A functional beverage that also helps people cook more vegetables, legumes, grains and protein foods has a different role from a drink that is consumed in isolation.

This is also why soups remain so powerful. They combine hydration, flavour, vegetables, protein foods, herbs, spices and leftovers in one pot. They can be simple enough for a weeknight and flexible enough for many dietary preferences.

For families, soups and broths can help children become familiar with vegetables in a low-pressure way. For adults, they can make meal preparation easier. For older adults or people with changing appetite, warm savoury foods can be a practical way to make small meals more nourishing.

For practical meal ideas, explore The Ultimate Bone Broth Soup Guide: 30 Easy Bone Broth Soup Recipes From Around the World, Mediterranean Bone Broth Recipes, From Australia to Asia: A Journey Through Traditional Soups, Broths & Nourishing Recipes and The Power of Soup: How One Pot Can Support Immune Health, Eat More Vegetables & Reduce Food Waste.

A Simple Functional Beverage Day

There is no perfect beverage schedule. This example simply shows how drinks can complement meals without taking over the diet.

 

The point is not to drink more products. The point is to use beverages as part of a routine that makes nourishment easier.

For broth flavour ideas, read How to Flavour Bone Broth: Herbs, Spices & Gut-Friendly Ingredients or try the 7-Day Bone Broth Meal Plan: Gut Health, Energy & Easy Daily Nutrition.

Product Examples Within the Broth + Co Range

Broth + Co's bone broth range sits within the traditional whole-food side of the functional beverage category. The role is practical: warm drinks, savoury hydration, cooking bases and meal building.

For a spiced whole-food option, Ginger & Turmeric Bone Broth Concentrate: Traditional Ingredients, Modern Nutrition explains how traditional ingredients can fit into modern routines.

For those interested in mushroom-based functional nutrition, Energy Performance Bone Broth Powder is a functional food explains the role of bone broth and functional mushrooms in an everyday food context.

These options are best understood as part of meals and routines, not replacements for a varied diet.

The Bottom Line: Choose Drinks That Lead Back to Food

The functional beverage trend is useful when it encourages better habits. It becomes less useful when it turns nutrition into a shelf of promises.

A good functional beverage should lead you back to the basics: hydration, protein where needed, vegetables, whole foods, flavour, home cooking, cultural food traditions and routines you can repeat.

That is why the simplest question may be the best one: does this drink help me eat and live a little better today?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a functional beverage?

A functional beverage is a drink that provides more than hydration alone. It may contribute protein, electrolytes, fermented foods, herbs, plant compounds or other nutrients as part of an overall diet.

Are functional beverages better than water?

No drink replaces water as a basic hydration choice. Functional beverages serve different roles and should complement, not replace, water and balanced meals.

Is bone broth a functional beverage?

Yes. Bone broth is one of the oldest traditional functional beverages because it can be enjoyed warm and used as a whole-food base for soups, stews, sauces and meals.

Should functional beverages replace meals?

Usually no. Most functional beverages work best with meals or as part of a balanced routine. A smoothie or soup may be meal-like, but the overall pattern should still include vegetables, protein foods, fibre-rich carbohydrates and healthy fats.

What should I look for on the label?

Start with the ingredient list, added sugar, sweeteners, caffeine content, protein source and serving size. Then ask whether the drink fits your overall eating pattern.

Are traditional drinks still relevant?

Yes. Many traditional beverages, including broths, soups, teas and fermented drinks, remain relevant because they are practical, recognisable and easy to fit into everyday meals.

Summary

Functional beverages are one of the fastest-growing nutrition categories, but the best way to understand them is surprisingly simple: they are still part of food.

Some functional beverages are modern formulated products. Others are traditional whole-food drinks that have existed for generations. Their value depends on ingredients, preparation, routine and how they fit into the broader diet.

Bone broth belongs naturally in this conversation because it is both a beverage and a cooking ingredient. It can support warm drinks, savoury hydration and practical home cooking while helping people build meals from real ingredients.

The future of functional beverages may look new, but its strongest foundation is old: simple foods, prepared well, enjoyed regularly and woven into daily life.

For more meal inspiration, browse the collection of nourishing recipes.

Selected References

·       Bogue J, Collins O, Troy AJ. Market analysis and concept development of functional foods. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. 2017.

·       Bigliardi B, Galati F. Innovation trends in the food industry: the case of functional foods. Trends in Food Science & Technology. 2013.

·       Euromonitor International. Health and wellness beverages and functional drink category analysis. Industry reports.

·       Miller GD, Drewnowski A, Fulgoni V, Heaney RP, King J, Kennedy E. It is time for a positive approach to dietary guidance using nutrient density as a basic principle. Journal of Nutrition. 2009.

·       Monteiro CA et al. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them. Public Health Nutrition. 2019.

·       Cena H, Calder PC. Defining a healthy diet: evidence for the role of contemporary dietary patterns in health and disease. Nutrients. 2020.