NactaSmoke: Natural Smoke & Grill Flavours for Meats, Snacks and Sauces

NactaSmoke is Nactarome’s full range of natural smoke and grill flavours, fully compliant with the latest EU regulations and ideal for savoury applications. Developed from our long-standing expertise in meat and smoke flavourings, the collection offers authentic, versatile and cost-effective alternatives to smoke condensates — delivering the taste of fire, without the smoke.

Why Smoky Flavours Matter to Consumers

Across the world, smoky flavours are synonymous with indulgence, authenticity and culinary tradition. Consumers describe them with attributes such as woody, grilled, roasted, charred, rich, warm, comforting — appealing to both flavour and aroma, as well as texture and mouthfeel. From Texas-style BBQ and South American churrasco to Middle Eastern kebabs and Asian yakitori, smoky notes are universal but culturally distinctive.

The demand is clear: according to Innova Market Insights, over 50% of new product launches with smoke or roasted flavours (2019–2024) were in meat, fish and egg categories, followed by snacks, ready meals and sauces. Dairy and plant-based segments are also increasingly adopting smoky notes to meet evolving consumer tastes.

EU Regulatory Context: Smoke Flavourings in Transition

The EU has introduced significant changes to the use of smoke flavourings. From January 2024, primary products such as SF-007 and SF-010 are banned, while others are subject to transitional periods ending in 2026 or 2029 depending on the food category. This means manufacturers must reformulate to remain compliant while continuing to deliver authentic smoky profiles.

NactaSmoke provides the solution: a collection of natural flavourings and blends that mimic the taste and complexity of traditional smoke, without relying on banned condensates. Clean-label and fully compliant, NactaSmoke ensures continuity, safety and innovation.

Our Flavour Portfolio: From Beech to Charcoal

The NactaSmoke portfolio is designed to capture the diversity of smoke and grill experiences, offering solutions across two main families:

• Woody Types (Beech, Hickory, Oak) — Rounded, ashy or phenolic notes depending on the profile, ideal for meat marinades, sausages, ham and sauces. Available in powder format with recommended dosages between 0.4–0.6%.
• Smoke & Grill Types (Charcoal, BBQ, Bonfire, Roasted, Bacon) — Profiles that deliver smoky, charred, phenolic or roasted notes. Versatile in sauces, snacks, RTE meals, cheese, and savoury seasonings. Available in both liquid and powder formats, with flexible labelling options.

Each profile has been crafted by our taste experts through collaboration across markets, ensuring authentic, recognisable and appealing smoky experiences for consumers.

Applications: Where NactaSmoke Adds Value

Thanks to its versatility, NactaSmoke can elevate a wide range of savoury categories. It can be used as a standalone flavour or combined with other ingredients like smoked paprika, onions or garlic for greater depth and differentiation.

• Meats & Processed Meats — Enhance sausages, hams, bacon or marinades with authentic smoky signatures.
• Snacks — Deliver BBQ or charred notes to crisps, extruded snacks or nuts, creating strong consumer appeal.
• Sauces & Seasonings — Add grill and bonfire profiles to BBQ sauces, spice blends and rubs for extra impact.
• Cheese & Dairy Alternatives — Provide smoky depth to processed cheese slices, plant-based cheeses or cream-based dips.
• Ready Meals — Enrich roasted or grilled dishes, from pasta sauces to meat substitutes and soups.

Sustainability and Clean Label Advantages

Unlike smoke condensates, NactaSmoke solutions are smoke-condensate free, clean label and developed with natural flavourings. They are more cost-effective compared to smoked ingredients, allow for simpler labelling (“natural flavouring” or “smoky flavouring”), and are available in both liquid and powder formats for maximum flexibility in formulation.

Why Partner with Nactarome?

Choosing NactaSmoke means working with a partner that understands the complexity of savoury flavour development. We combine:

• Regulatory expertise — helping you navigate the new EU framework with confidence.
• Full technical support — flavourists and technologists working alongside you to optimise taste, dosage and stability.
• Global culinary inspiration — smoky profiles that reflect diverse traditions, from American BBQ to Middle Eastern mechoui.
• Cost-effectiveness — competitive solutions compared to smoked ingredients, without compromising taste.

In short, NactaSmoke helps you deliver the authentic taste of fire in a safe, compliant and innovative way.

Contact

Get in touch at info@nactarome.com to learn more about how we can support your flavour development projects or have a look through our website for our other flavour offerings.