Coffee & Beverage Syrups Guide UK: Vanilla, Caramel, Fruit Syrups & More
Compare flavoured syrups for lattes, iced coffee, frappes, hot chocolate, milkshakes, lemonades and cold drinks. Explore classic coffee flavours, fruit syrups, sugar-free options and professional beverage bases for home and café-style drinks.
Start with the finished drink, then choose the syrup
A coffee syrup, fruit syrup and frappe base do different jobs. Start with the drink you want to make, then choose the flavour, format and formulation that best fits the recipe and how often you expect to use it.
Vanilla Syrups
A versatile choice for lattes, iced coffee, hot chocolate, frappes and milkshake-style drinks.
Browse Vanilla & Coffee SyrupsCaramel Syrups
Use caramel or salted caramel to create sweeter, dessert-style coffee, iced drinks and milkshakes.
Browse Caramel SyrupsFruit Syrups
Choose strawberry, peach, cherry, orange and tropical flavours for cold drinks, smoothies, lemonades and milkshakes.
Browse Fruit SyrupsSugar-Free Syrups
Selected flavours are available in sugar-free formats, including vanilla and caramel.
Browse Beverage SyrupsCoffee & beverage syrup buying guide
Use the sections below to compare syrup styles and choose according to the drink you want to create.
Build flavoured coffee with a focused syrup range
Coffee syrups can extend a drinks menu without requiring a completely separate ingredient set for every beverage.
Classic flavours such as vanilla, caramel, hazelnut and gingerbread can work across hot coffee, iced coffee and dessert-style drinks.
For home use, choose flavours you genuinely expect to use. For a café, a smaller core range can be easier to manage than a very broad collection of slow-moving bottles.
- Lattes
- Cappuccinos
- Iced coffee
- Cold brew
- Hot chocolate
- Frappes
- Milkshakes
- Seasonal drinks
Vanilla syrup: a versatile starting point
Vanilla is one of the most flexible beverage-syrup flavours because it can complement coffee, milk, chocolate and dessert-style drinks without requiring a highly specialised recipe.
Nicol Retailer currently carries vanilla syrup options from more than one range, including DaVinci and Tate & Lyle.
Stock-planning tip: if you are building a small café syrup range, vanilla can be a practical core flavour because it works across multiple hot and cold drinks.
Caramel & salted caramel for dessert-style drinks
Caramel flavours can suit drinks where you want a sweeter, rounder and more indulgent profile.
Use caramel in hot coffee, iced coffee, frappes, milkshakes or dessert-style beverages. Salted caramel adds a slightly different flavour direction while still serving many of the same applications.
If you already stock vanilla, caramel can be a useful second core coffee flavour because it creates a clearly different drink without requiring an entirely different service process.
- Lattes
- Iced coffee
- Frappes
- Milkshakes
- Hot chocolate
- Dessert drinks
- Cold coffee
- Seasonal menus
Fruit syrups for cold drinks, milkshakes & refreshers
Fruit syrups can move the drinks menu away from coffee and into cold, refreshing or dessert-led beverages.
The current Beverage Syrup range includes flavours such as orange, cherry, passion fruit, strawberry and peach.
These can be relevant to lemonades, iced teas, milkshakes, smoothies, sparkling drinks and other cold beverages, depending on the specific syrup.
Range-building tip: choose fruit flavours that support several drinks. One versatile fruit syrup may be more useful than multiple bottles with very narrow applications.
Sugar-free syrup options for selected flavours
Some beverage-syrup flavours are available in sugar-free formulations.
Nicol Retailer currently lists DaVinci Sugar Free Vanilla and Sugar Free Caramel syrups.
Do not assume that every flavour has a sugar-free equivalent. Check the individual product and its current ingredients before adding it to a drinks menu.
- Sugar-Free Vanilla
- Sugar-Free Caramel
- 1 litre formats
- Hot drink use
- Cold drink use
- Milkshake applications
Frappe, lemonade & beverage bases
Not every beverage product in the category is simply a flavouring syrup. The current range also includes products designed as drink bases.
For example, Nicol Retailer currently lists DaVinci Gourmet Liquid Frappe Base and DaVinci Cloudy Lemonade Base.
A base product should be selected according to the finished drink and the manufacturer’s preparation guidance, rather than treated as interchangeable with a standard coffee syrup.
Important distinction: a flavour syrup, frappe base and lemonade base may require different preparation. Always follow the product-specific directions.
How to choose the right beverage syrup
Start with the drink rather than the flavour name.
Which syrup works for which drink?
These combinations provide a practical starting point. The final recipe should still follow the individual product guidance.
Vanilla or Caramel
Reliable core flavours for hot or iced coffee drinks.
Mint, Vanilla or Caramel
Use complementary flavours to create dessert-style variations.
Vanilla, Caramel or Hazelnut
Classic coffee flavours can transition easily into cold service.
Fruit or Dessert Flavours
Strawberry, caramel and other suitable syrups can broaden milkshake menus.
Fruit Syrup or Lemonade Base
Use fruit flavours or a purpose-made base depending on the recipe.
Coffee Syrup & Frappe Base
Build flavour and texture using products suited to the chosen preparation.
DaVinci syrups for broad flavour choice
DaVinci currently represents a substantial part of Nicol Retailer’s beverage-syrup range, with coffee flavours, fruit flavours, frappe products, lemonade bases and sauces.
That breadth makes the range useful for cafés, dessert businesses and home users who want several flavour directions within one brand family.
Tate & Lyle coffee syrups
The current Tate & Lyle range includes vanilla and mint coffee syrups alongside other sweetening products.
The current vanilla and mint syrup product pages identify them as Fairtrade-certified options. Check each specific product for its current formulation and certifications.
Beverage syrups for cafés, restaurants & hospitality
Professional syrup purchasing should be based on the actual drinks menu and expected throughput.
A café may benefit from a focused core of vanilla, caramel and one or two seasonal or fruit flavours, rather than holding a very large number of slow-moving bottles.
Also consider portion consistency, bottle size, storage and how many different drinks each syrup can support.
- Coffee shops
- Cafés
- Dessert parlours
- Restaurants
- Hotels
- Events
- Milkshake bars
- Hospitality venues
Keep a professional syrup range commercially useful
More flavours do not automatically create a better drinks menu. A syrup earns its place when it supports enough sales or enough different drinks to justify the stock.
Ingredients, sugar-free options & dietary information
Beverage syrups can differ considerably in sweeteners, flavourings, colours, preservatives and dietary information.
Some products may be sugar-free, vegan, Fairtrade-certified or otherwise suitable for particular preferences, but these features should be checked on the exact product.
Important: do not assume all syrups within one brand share the same formulation or dietary status. Check the current product page and packaging supplied for ingredients, allergens and suitability.
For wider guidance, visit Ingredients, Allergens & Dietary Information .
Explore the wider drinks collection
This guide focuses specifically on coffee and beverage syrups.
For ready-to-drink options, read Soft Drinks Buying Guide UK .
For the complete drinks hub, including soft drinks, cordials, mixers and milkshakes, visit Soft Drinks & Beverages Online UK .
Coffee & beverage syrup FAQs
Common questions about choosing flavoured syrups for hot and cold drinks.
What syrup is good for coffee?
Vanilla, caramel and hazelnut are versatile starting points for lattes, iced coffee and other coffee-based drinks.
What syrup is good for iced coffee?
Vanilla, caramel, hazelnut and similar coffee flavours can work well in iced coffee, depending on the recipe.
Does Nicol Retailer sell sugar-free coffee syrup?
Yes. The current range includes selected sugar-free options, including DaVinci Sugar Free Vanilla and Sugar Free Caramel.
Can beverage syrups be used in milkshakes?
Many beverage syrups can be used in milkshake-style drinks, but always check the intended uses and preparation guidance for the specific product.
What fruit syrups does Nicol Retailer sell?
The current range includes fruit flavours such as orange, cherry, passion fruit, strawberry and peach.
What is a frappe base?
A frappe base is designed to support the preparation of blended or frappe-style drinks. It should be used according to the directions for the specific product.
Does Nicol Retailer sell DaVinci syrups?
Yes. Browse the DaVinci category for the current range.
Does Nicol Retailer sell Tate & Lyle coffee syrups?
Yes. The current range includes Tate & Lyle vanilla and mint coffee syrups.
Can cafés buy beverage syrups from Nicol Retailer?
Yes. The beverage-syrup range includes products suitable for regular hot and cold drink preparation. For wider business purchasing, visit Catering & Bulk Food .
Where should I check ingredients and allergens?
Check the current individual product information and packaging supplied. For wider guidance, visit Ingredients, Allergens & Dietary Information .