Natural & Botanical Extract Demand Rising in Middle East & Africa

Rise of Natural & Botanical Extract Sourcing in the Middle East & Africa

The flavor and fragrances market in the Middle East and Africa is experiencing significant changes due to the increased consumer preference for natural, clean-label and botanical ingredients. These changes in consumer behavior combined with the government’s efforts to clarify the regulations concerning natural formulations, have resulted in manufacturers rapidly investing in botanical extraction, sourcing indigenous raw materials and developing botanically derived concentrates.

In response, companies like Givaudan, Firmenich, Takasago and Symrise have developed strong partnerships with local farms. These collaborations are helping ensure a stable supply of high-quality natural notes tailored to regional preferences. The demand for natural extracts is also shaping long-term innovation strategies across flavors and fragrances, influencing product development in beverages, confectionery, personal care, and fine fragrance categories.

Growing Demand for Clean-Label Natural Ingredients

Younger, health-oriented consumers in the Middle East and Africa are driving the demand for clean-label products. The increased demand for natural flavors has led many major suppliers to reformulate their product lines around botanicals to eliminate artificial flavoring and lessen potential for allergens.

To help meet the needs of its Middle East and Africa customers, Givaudan offers botanical ingredients such as rosemary, mint, hibiscus, and citrus as natural flavor solutions through its Naturality Pathway program. Symrise has introduced several applications of natural fruit extracts focused on the Middle East, such as pomegranate, date and citrus extracts. These fruits are culturally popular in the region. Such examples show how key players are strategically repositioning their portfolios in order to satisfy clean-label demand and to preserve flavor and stability across a broad spectrum of food products.

Botanical Extracts Gain Traction in Traditional and Modern F&B Products

Modern products are now being created by combining the traditional Middle Eastern ingredients with contemporary food and beverage applications and have opened up many new opportunities for suppliers of botanical extracts. The growing popularity of herbal tea, functional beverages, and spiced yoghurt, for instance, has resulted in heavy investments in botanic ingredients like cardamom, saffron, cloves, attar, fenugreek, and tamarind by  flavor houses.

Firms like Takasago are launching botanical line of extracts for beverage applications in the Middle East and Africa region, with specific focus on cinnamon-cardamom blends for milk-based drinks and hibiscus concentrates for ready-to-drink teas. Other companies are also teaming up for distillation in Egypt and Morocco to establish a consistent and stable supply of mint and basil oil, both of which are widely used in the confectionary and salty food categories.

Regional Farming Partnerships Strengthen Supply Chain Security

Another major development shaping the natural extract segment is the rapid growth of sourcing partnerships across African agricultural regions. Several global flavor companies are investing in local farms to secure long-term access to aromatic plants, reduce volatility in global supply chains, and ensure compliance with sustainability requirements.

Symrise’s partnership with Madagascar’s vanilla cooperatives has been one of the most prominent examples, strengthening traceability and improving supply stability for its natural vanilla extracts. Givaudan has also expanded sourcing operations in Rwanda and Kenya to cultivate high-quality chili, ginger, and citrus inputs used in both food and fragrance portfolios.

These localized supply chain relationships not only improve raw material security but help manufacturers comply with the Middle East and Africa region’s growing emphasis on sustainability and ethical sourcing.

Extraction Technology Investments Shape Product Development

Growth in demand for natural extracts is causing major companies to continue major investments in advanced extraction technologies. Technologies such as CO₂ extraction, cold-pressing and solvent-free distillation preserve volatile aromatic compounds and provide a higher purity of flavor, a critical element for clean-label product lines.

Natural Extract Trends Extend Into Fine Fragrances and Personal Care

As the food industry continues to grow, the fragrance industry in the Middle Eastern region is expected to undergo many changes. The way in which Arabic culture values its relationship with natural oils like oud, rose, musk, & amber is creating a path for premium fragrance lines.

Internationally known fragrance companies are focusing on Africa to obtain their botanical ingredients for their perfumes. Companies such as Givaudan produce containers from African sandalwood and Firmenich's business diversification into floral ingredients from the Sahel region has enabled them to offer manufacturers with fragrance formulations that meet consumers' sensory expectations in the Middle East and Africa markets.

For detailed insights on regional ingredient trends, see the Middle East and Africa Flavors and Fragrances Market

Natural and Botanical Extracts Are the Future of Middle East and Africa Flavor Development

The burgeoning development of extraction methods for natural and botanical extracts across the continent of Africa and the Middle East signifies a distinctive change in the flavor innovation space within those geographies. As global and regional manufacturers prioritize clean-label design, culturally relevant formulations, and sustainable raw-material sourcing, investment in botanical extraction is expected to accelerate both in scale and speed. This shift reflects a broader industry trend toward ingredients that are transparent, traceable, and aligned with consumer expectations in the Middle East and Africa region.

Additionally, a shift like this can be viewed as a competitive threat and growth opportunity for all of the B2B participants in the FMCG supply chain, including producers, flavor houses, ingredient suppliers, and regional distributors. Companies that successfully upgrade their extraction technologies, expand ethical sourcing programs, and build flavor and fragrance portfolios aligned with the taste and wellness trends of the Middle East and Africa will be the ones that ultimately lead the market. By delivering greater relevance and value to customers, these players will be best positioned to sustain long-term competitive advantage in the region.