Is there something sweeter than discovering out your favourite cafe is bringing again a seasonal signature drink? I can solely consider one factor. And it’s a tie. No, strike that, I’ve given it extra thought, and discovering the Strawberry Matcha Cream Latte is again at Equator Coffees is unquestionably the sweetest.
“The Strawberry Matcha is a returning favourite from final summer season and a part of our ongoing collection of seasonal, natural, house-made fruit drinks,” says Tina Mountain, Director of Retail at Equator Coffees, “we maintain the title easy and ingredient-focused to let the drink converse for itself. By highlighting the important thing flavors up entrance, we purpose to have a good time the standard of the elements and maintain the expertise approachable and memorable for our visitors.”
We spoke to Tina Mountain to be taught extra.
What impressed the creation of this drink?
We needed to create a beverage that resonates with our visitors and celebrates the flavors of the season. The Strawberry Matcha strikes a steadiness between one thing candy and visually stunning whereas retaining the give attention to the hero ingredient, our natural matcha. By pairing seasonal natural strawberries with vibrant matcha, we’re in a position to spotlight freshness and taste with out overpowering what makes the matcha so particular.
Who created it? Particular person? Group effort?
The Strawberry Matcha was very a lot a crew effort. Our Retail Ops crew meets repeatedly for R&D, the place we discover potential elements and drinks we imagine will excite our visitors. We give attention to sourcing elements we’re pleased with and spend numerous time tasting, adjusting, and refining till we land on one thing all of us love. Very like our visitors, everybody on the crew has completely different palates and preferences, so reaching consensus is each a problem and a pleasure. That course of, discovering one thing we’re all enthusiastic about mirrors our purpose of making a drink our visitors will fall in love with, too.
Are there any distinctive or domestically sourced elements used on this drink?
The Strawberry Matcha is crafted with easy, high-quality elements. We use ceremonial-grade matcha sourced from Japan, our personal house-made natural strawberry purée, your selection of milk, and a contact of Strauss Natural Heavy Cream. By combining thoughtfully sourced elements with our personal from scratch preparation, we’re in a position to spotlight freshness and high quality in each sip.
How did you’re employed to steadiness the flavors and create the right style profile?
When growing the Strawberry Matcha and any beverage on our menu, we at all times strategy it by means of the lens of who we’re and what we wish to showcase: our hero elements, espresso and tea. Our purpose is to create one thing approachable and scrumptious whereas retaining the steadiness good, candy sufficient to really feel indulgent however nonetheless matcha-forward. Throughout recipe improvement, we fastidiously supply and create elements that make this steadiness doable, testing and refining till we land on the right profile. We additionally supply modifiers so visitors can customise their drink, whether or not they desire it a contact sweeter or extra restrained.
What sort of tea/tisane is used on this drink?
We use an natural matcha sourced from Aiya, a family-owned producer in Nishio, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Aiya has been crafting distinctive matcha for over 130 years.
Does this drink work as each scorching and iced? Did that affect the recipe?
The Strawberry Matcha is served completely iced. Ideally, we purpose to create drinks that work superbly each scorching and iced, and we do numerous improvement to make that doable. On this case, although, after we examined a scorching model, the best way the fruit purée interacted with the matcha didn’t create a taste or texture we felt our visitors would take pleasure in. Moderately than compromise on high quality, we selected to launch it as an iced-only beverage, and it’s been completely price it.
Would you suggest any meals pairings to associate with it?
Completely! The Strawberry Matcha pairs superbly with a number of of our fresh-baked pastries, however two favorites stand out: our buttery, delicate Almond Croissant and our seasonal berry scone. Each complement the drink’s vivid, fruity notes with out overpowering the matcha, making for a balanced and indulgent pairing.
What are individuals saying about it?
Our visitors can’t get sufficient of the Strawberry Matcha. They love how stunning it seems to be, it’s turn into one in every of our most photographed drinks, with loads of photographs popping up on social media. Past the aesthetics, clients are speaking concerning the steadiness of flavors and the standard of the elements. We’ve even had a number of visitors attain out to request that we make it a everlasting menu merchandise.
We hope it does. We actually do!
Have a Strawberry Matcha Cream Latte at Equator Coffees places.
On The Menu is an exploration of one of the best, most stunning, most scrumptious and thought scary authentic signature drinks on cafe menus worldwide. Learn extra On The Menu options completely on Sprudge, introduced by DONA Teas & Tisanes.
