Is there anything sweeter than finding out your favorite cafe is bringing back a seasonal signature drink? I can only think of one thing. And it’s a tie. No, strike that, I’ve given it more thought, and discovering the Strawberry Matcha Cream Latte is back at Equator Coffees is definitely the sweetest.
“The Strawberry Matcha is a returning favorite from last summer and part of our ongoing series of seasonal, organic, house-made fruit beverages,” says Tina Mountain, Director of Retail at Equator Coffees, “we keep the name simple and ingredient-focused to let the drink speak for itself. By highlighting the key flavors up front, we aim to celebrate the quality of the ingredients and keep the experience approachable and memorable for our guests.”
We spoke to Tina Mountain to learn more.
What inspired the creation of this drink?
We wanted to create a beverage that resonates with our guests and celebrates the flavors of the season. The Strawberry Matcha strikes a balance between something sweet and visually beautiful while keeping the focus on the hero ingredient, our organic matcha. By pairing seasonal organic strawberries with vibrant matcha, we’re able to highlight freshness and flavor without overpowering what makes the matcha so special.
Who created it? Individual? Team effort?
The Strawberry Matcha was very much a team effort. Our Retail Ops team meets regularly for R&D, where we explore potential ingredients and beverages we believe will excite our guests. We focus on sourcing ingredients we’re proud of and spend a lot of time tasting, adjusting, and refining until we land on something we all love. Much like our guests, everyone on the team has different palates and preferences, so reaching consensus is both a challenge and a joy. That process, finding something we’re all excited about mirrors our goal of creating a drink our guests will fall in love with, too.
Are there any unique or locally sourced ingredients used in this drink?
The Strawberry Matcha is crafted with simple, high-quality ingredients. We use ceremonial-grade matcha sourced from Japan, our own house-made organic strawberry purée, your choice of milk, and a touch of Strauss Organic Heavy Cream. By combining thoughtfully sourced ingredients with our own from scratch preparation, we’re able to highlight freshness and quality in every sip.
How did you work to balance the flavors and create the perfect taste profile?
When developing the Strawberry Matcha and any beverage on our menu, we always approach it through the lens of who we are and what we want to showcase: our hero ingredients, coffee and tea. Our goal is to create something approachable and delicious while keeping the balance just right, sweet enough to feel indulgent but still matcha-forward. During recipe development, we carefully source and create ingredients that make this balance possible, testing and refining until we land on the perfect profile. We also offer modifiers so guests can customize their drink, whether they prefer it a touch sweeter or more restrained.
What kind of tea/tisane is used in this drink?
We use an organic matcha sourced from Aiya, a family-owned producer in Nishio, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Aiya has been crafting exceptional matcha for over 130 years.
Does this drink work as both hot and iced? Did that influence the recipe?
The Strawberry Matcha is served exclusively iced. Ideally, we aim to create beverages that work beautifully both hot and iced, and we do a lot of development to make that possible. In this case, though, when we tested a hot version, the way the fruit purée interacted with the matcha didn’t create a flavor or texture we felt our guests would enjoy. Rather than compromise on quality, we chose to launch it as an iced-only beverage, and it’s been absolutely worth it.
Would you recommend any food pairings to go along with it?
Absolutely! The Strawberry Matcha pairs beautifully with several of our fresh-baked pastries, but two favorites stand out: our buttery, delicate Almond Croissant and our seasonal berry scone. Both complement the drink’s bright, fruity notes without overpowering the matcha, making for a balanced and indulgent pairing.
What are people saying about it?
Our guests can’t get enough of the Strawberry Matcha. They love how beautiful it looks, it’s become one of our most photographed drinks, with plenty of photos popping up on social media. Beyond the aesthetics, customers are talking about the balance of flavors and the quality of the ingredients. We’ve even had several guests reach out to request that we make it a permanent menu item.
We hope it does. We really do!
Have a Strawberry Matcha Cream Latte at Equator Coffees locations.
On The Menu is an exploration of the best, most beautiful, most delicious and thought provoking original signature drinks on cafe menus worldwide. Read more On The Menu features exclusively on Sprudge, presented by DONA Teas & Tisanes.
