Boba might be the next big thing. Boba, also known as bubble tea, is a tea-based drink that originated in Taiwan in the 1980s. The beverage typically consists of brewed tea mixed with milk and the novel addition of tapioca pearls (the bubbles). The tapioca pearls add flavor, a chewy texture, and an eye-catching visual…
America has a sriracha obsession – and with good reason. Sriracha sauce is a perfect accompaniment to chicken, pork, noodle dishes, fries, spring rolls, chips, popcorn, sandwiches, and much more. Sriracha’s enticing moderate spice level and bright red coloring earned “Ingredient of the Year” honors from Bon Appétit Magazine in 2010, and its popularity has…
Thai Tea has been a popular drink in Southeast Asian countries for decades, and demand seems to be growing rapidly here stateside. At cafés & coffee shops, food trucks, and Thai restaurants throughout the United States, Thai Tea is appearing on drink menus with increasing frequency. A type of milk tea beverage made from brewed…
The Flavors of Winter Within the coffee industry, it’s well known that winter is a popular time for special limited time offerings with seasonal ingredients. Throughout the season, nostalgic and well-loved flavors take center stage, creating decadent, comforting, and eye-catching café drinks. For many customers, the winter season is closely connected with holiday fare and…
The tea drink known as masala chai continues to rise in popularity across the United States, owing to a number of factors. Trends such as consumer demand for energizing alternatives to coffee, increased awareness of health & wellness, and the idea of “culinary tourism” which gained traction during the pandemic, have contributed to the rise.…
In the current state of the café industry, creative coffee drinks are all the rage: Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espressos, Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brews, and Mexican Spiced Mochas just to name a few. With that surging popularity, businesses of all types are looking for ways to enter into the coffee game. Recently, Coca-Cola…
The term “mocktail” has seen increased usage within the public consciousness over the past couple decades. As many know, a mocktail is a cocktail-style beverage that does not contain any alcoholic ingredients. While non-alcoholic bar beverages have been around a very long time, with the recent rise of healthy-living initiatives like Dry January, mocktails are…
Winter is Coming Winter is a popular time of year when customers reach for seasonally-themed limited-time-offerings at coffee shops and restaurants nationwide. Whether it’s an office coffee break, a grab ’n’ go en route to a shopping excursion, or a holiday gathering, winter-themed beverages are sure to be seen. Familiar Favorites With the unprecedented disruptions…
Nothing is certain about the origin of the cocktail, except that it seems to be an American invention. It first appeared in a Hudson, New York newspaper in 1806, when an editor referred to the term as “a stimulating liquor composed of spirits of any kind—sugar, water, and bitters.” Then again, maybe it was Betsy…
With its range of available flavors and brands, alternative milks are no longer a fringe dietary preference. What began in 2008 as a mere soy milk option has soared into a $16 billion global industry that milks just about any oat or nut it can find. Although still popular amongst vegans and lactic-challenged consumers, these…