How Forget Me Not Café Created Toronto’s Most Viral Drink
A local Toronto café has become the talk of the town with a drink that’s taking over the internet. Forget Me Not Café, located on Ossington and Adelaide, recently introduced the Banana Bread Matcha Latte, a creamy and pastel-colored beverage that has been dominating social media feeds across the city.
Despite its instant popularity, the café’s owners, Joolee and Johanna Youn, say the viral drink wasn’t part of a grand marketing strategy. Its creation was a happy accident.
“We were looking to make something that felt comforting for spring, but with a twist,” Joolee says. “Johanna had been thinking about this flavor combination for a while, so we decided to give it a try.”
The result? A blend of ceremonial-grade matcha, house-made sweet cream, and banana flavoring, topped with a banana chip for garnish. The flavor profile, which the café describes as perfectly balanced, quickly won over many Toronto residents, with food lovers flocking to Forget Me Not to try the viral drink.
A Long Journey to Perfection
While the drink’s success may seem instantaneous, perfecting the Banana Bread Matcha Latte took a lot of effort. Johanna, the mixologist behind the recipe, shares that it took months of testing before they found the right balance of ingredients. “We spent a lot of time adjusting ratios, textures, and fine-tuning everything,” she says. “It wasn’t an easy process.”
The team worked hard to get it just right, and their effort paid off. The drink has now become a hit, drawing customers to the café’s two locations, where they line up for a taste.
Why Is It So Popular?
The owners have a few ideas about why the Banana Bread Matcha Latte is capturing so much attention. First, they believe timing played a role. “Matcha is everywhere right now on social media, and people are eager to try new flavors,” Joolee explains. They also took inspiration from other popular matcha spots around the city, like Matcha Matcha, which is known for its creative take on matcha-based drinks. Forget Me Not wanted to add their unique touch, creating a drink that felt warm and comforting yet fresh and new.
But it’s more than just a trend. The drink offers a moment of respite in a busy day, making it more than just a delicious beverage. “It’s something that brings a little comfort in the middle of the chaos that is everyday life,” Joolee says.
With great success comes some challenges. The popularity of the Banana Bread Matcha Latte has led to high demand, with the café often selling out during the day. “We’ve had to figure out how to keep up with the demand,” Johanna says. But despite the chaos, the team remains thankful for the support they’ve received. “We’re grateful for the community and our staff who’ve been working hard behind the scenes,” Joolee adds.
For those who are eager to try the viral drink, Forget Me Not Café’s Banana Bread Matcha Latte is available at their locations at 506 Adelaide Street West and 102 Ossington Avenue — that is, as long as it hasn’t sold out for the day. For more matcha treats, try this viral matcha cake with pistachio cream.
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