The post Viral matcha cocktail trend may not be as healthy as it looks, say experts appeared first on My Blog.
]]>Rensel Cabrera, bar director at The Sylvester in Miami, said the idea started more as a trend experiment than a passion project.
“When we were doing these menu flips, we started looking at trends, style of cocktails, ingredients — and one of the top trends besides espresso martini was matcha,” Cabrera told Fox News Digital.
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His bar doesn’t serve coffee or tea, but he figured the powder’s bright color might really make a cocktail pop.
“Since we’re a cocktail bar, we don’t really serve any teas, lattes or coffee, but we still thought it could be a cool ingredient to use,” he said.
The “Dama Verde,” pictured at right, is a cocktail infused with matcha powder at The Sylvester in Miami. (iStock; RC Visual for The Sylvester)
A year later, his “Dama Verde” — a matcha-infused honeydew vodka cocktail — is one of his bestsellers.
“They’re drinking pretty hardcore at night,” he said of some of his customers, “and if they’re going to drink something, at least [let’s] make it a little healthy.”
But others point to the paradox between caffeine and alcohol — and wellness.
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South Carolina dietitian-nutritionist Lauren Manaker told Fox News Digital that the health benefits of matcha tend to fade when mixed with liquor.
“While matcha itself has a host of benefits, mixing it with alcohol does shift the narrative,” she said.
In New York City’s East Village, Bananas founder Chris Ng and general manager Dania Kim said their boozy “Matcha Latte” has become a local hit.
Kim said she wasn’t chasing a fad when she created it.
Dania Kim, shown at right in the background, developed the “Matcha Latte” cocktail for Bananas of New York City. (Bananas NYC)
“It wasn’t [about] following any type of trend,” she told Fox News Digital. “It was more [about] catering to the weather in summer, and any particular flavors that I truly enjoyed.”
She grew up drinking matcha, but said she “didn’t know how much matcha was actually trending.”
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Then she realized it was the Generation Z crowd, mostly, who were “going crazy” for the drink.
Kim said she knows the health halo only goes so far.
The “Matcha Latte” is a popular drink among the Gen Z crowd. (Bananas NYC)
“Ultimately, it’s the health factor of it, even though this version is not quite healthy because it’s alcoholic,” she said.
Still, her Gen Z guests seem drawn to the idea of a better-for-you buzz.
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“They don’t really drink as much,” she said. “They care more about their health and nutrition-based habits. If something is good for you, I think they’ll kind of look past any bitterness or earthiness.”
Ng told Fox News Digital that much of matcha’s appeal is visual.
The “Matcha Latte” at Bananas is a visually appealing dessert cocktail. (Bananas NYC)
“When people go out to eat, they eat with their eyes first,” he said. “When they see on a menu ‘Matcha Latte,’ the first thought probably reminds them of getting a hot drink and getting something with green tea.”
Cabrera’s Miami version, dusted with matcha powder and citric acid, remains a top seller, though he said caffeine-sensitive customers sometimes hesitate to order it.
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“Maybe if someone doesn’t want the energy, the natural caffeine that matcha has — maybe, [later at] night, someone’s looking for something that’s not so caffeinated.”
Though it’s not marketed toward women, the cocktail seems to be more popular with that demographic, Cabrera said.
“It’s like double matcha,” he said. “The matcha is in the drink and outside the drink.”
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Even for the health-conscious who aren’t big drinkers, the trade-off is clear, Manaker said.
“Matcha cocktails might feel like a middle ground,” she said. “They’re not pounding shots. And sure, they are getting some antioxidants in their drink. But they are also getting alcohol, which isn’t great for our livers or brains.”
Peter Burke is a lifestyle editor with Fox News Digital. He covers various lifestyle topics, with an emphasis on food and drink.
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]]>The post Brewery goes viral for defending policy banning kids after 7 p.m.: 'Not a playground' appeared first on My Blog.
]]>Eastside Brewing Co., an Ohio-based craft brewery that runs a taproom in Reynoldsburg, recently announced that it would begin barring children after 7 p.m. and would no longer allow unaccompanied teenagers.
In an Oct. 15 Facebook post that attracted hundreds of comments, the brewery stated that it was being threatened by customers who disagreed with the policies about kids.
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“Although things have been going very well for us, there is one sore spot that seems to come back again and again. Unsupervised children,” the post said.
“It’s not that we don’t like kids,” the group added. “We manufacture alcohol. … We have created an environment that appeals to adults.”
Eastside Brewing Co. (not pictured) in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, drew attention after announcing new limits on the presence of children in its taproom. (iStock)
The brewery claimed that the new policy has prompted some customers to call the owner “a d—head, an a–hole and a child hater, among others.”
The statement added, “Many of these parents are the ones who sit inside the taproom drinking beer while they let their kids go outside to play.” It said kids engage in kickball matches, digging in the beer garden and antagonizing dogs as common issues.
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“The truth is, we never intended for our outdoor space to be a playground for kids,” the post added.
“We have signs posted regarding our policies. Some breweries are built for kids. … Please understand, this is not us.”
The brewery (not pictured) said in a Facebook message that it “never intended for our outdoor space to be a playground for kids” but still wants to be “open to families.” (iStock)
The post added, “Yes, we want to keep the brewery open to families. … We work hard to provide a place for you to come and enjoy one another’s company over a pint.
“We hope you will continue to join us.”
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Fox News Digital reached out to Eastside Brewing Co. for additional comment.
An overwhelming majority of commenters supported the brewery’s message, with dozens pledging to visit next time they were in Reynoldsburg.
“Great post. You’ve earned our business the next time we’re in town!” one Ohioan said.
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“I have children, I go to the brewery to get away from children for a while,” another wrote. “You’re being generous by allowing them until 7. If you want to grab a beer while your kids run amok, go to Chuck E. Cheese.”
One customer said it was “inconsiderate” for breweries to allow children to run around aimlessly.
One commenter thanked the Ohio business for maintaining a comfortable space for adults to enjoy food and beer. (iStock)
“Take your child to a park to run their energy out before coming to a brewery,” she said. “Thanks for being a reliable establishment [where] I can enjoy food and drink!”
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“I wanna know what parent in their right mind thinks a brewery is a great hangout to bring kids?” another chimed in.
Amid all the support, some users reacted negatively to the post.
Eastside Brewing Co. (not pictured) said the decision followed repeated issues with kids running around and playing near adult guests. (iStock)
“What a ridiculous, judgmental post. Hope you’re still around in 2 years,” one person wrote.
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“I’ve enjoyed the brewery over the years but will not be back,” another said.
Andrea Margolis is a lifestyle writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Readers can follow her on X at @andreamargs or send story tips to andrea.margolis@fox.com.
The post Brewery goes viral for defending policy banning kids after 7 p.m.: 'Not a playground' appeared first on My Blog.
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