The Vancouver Foodster Iced Summer Drink Challenge was a success featuring creations from cafes and restaurants around Vancouver. Each spot featured their creation from July 6 – 30, 2023. Our media judging panel determined the ultimate winners of the challenge, and this was quite the task as each judge who tasted each creation with a rigorous process based on taste, originality/uniqueness and presentation/appearance.
For this challenge, each cafe was able to enter up to two different drink creations and some of them have done that and others have only entered one drink creation.
The Winners are:
1st Place:
{102 points}
Tru Cafe
Tru Sunset
Price: $6.95
Created by: Megan O’Brien
Introducing Tru Sunset, a delightful 16oz iced tea beverage crafted for the summer season. This harmonious blend combines the natural goodness of rooibos tea with luscious pineapple puree and invigorating tonic water, crowned with a tantalizing mint foam topping.
Tru Sunset is a true testament to balance and flavor. The tropical sweetness of pineapple puree dances gracefully with the refreshing mint foam, while the slight bitterness of tonic water adds a delightful twist. The charismatic charm of rooibos tea shines through, delivering a vibrant sensory experience that awakens the palate.
Sip on Tru Sunset, and you’ll discover the perfect equilibrium of flavors, capturing the essence of a blissful summer day in every refreshing gulp.
Ingredients: Rooibos tea, Tonic water, Pineapple puree, & Mint foam.
Offered: all the time
Tru Cafe
1500 W 2nd Ave, Vancouver
Tel: (604) 731-2508
Instagram @thetrucafe
2nd Place:
{100 points}
Beyond Coffee
Strawberry Green Velvet
Price: $6.50
Created by: Lawrence Lownang
Description: fresh strawberry puree floating on top of house made sweet cream milk and matcha tea
Ingredients: matcha tea, milk, fresh strawberry puree, ice
Offered: all the time
Beyond Coffee
1015 Burrard Street, Vancouver
Tel:(604) 697-5326
Web: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_coffee_vancouver/
Twitter @dine_at_beyond
Instagram @beyond_coffee_vancouver
3rd Place:
{98 points}
Tamaly Shop
Mangonada
Price: $7.50
Created by: The team
Description: Mango frappe with chamoy and a candy tamarind stick.
Offered: All the time
Tamaly Shop
2525 Main Street, Vancouver
Tel:(604) 369-3446
Instagram @tamalyshop
In the People’s Choice Awards category, the public who tried the Iced Summer Drink Creations were the ones who had the opportunity to cast their vote throughout the challenge.
The Winners are:
1st Place People’s Choice:
Tamaly Shop
Mangonada
Price: $7.50
Created by: The team
Description: Mango frappe with chamoy and a candy tamarind stick.
Offered: All the time
Tamaly Shop
2525 Main Street, Vancouver
Tel:(604) 369-3446
Instagram @tamalyshop
2nd Place People’s Choice
Tamaly Shop
Dirty Horchata
Price: $5.50
Created by: The team
Description: Made out of rice, milk, vanilla and cinnamon at the top a shot of cafe de olla Mexican coffee, cinnamon and sugar cane.
Offered: All the time
Tamaly Shop
2525 Main Street, Vancouver
Tel:(604) 369-3446
Instagram @tamalyshop
3rd Place People’s Choice:
Tru Cafe
Espresso Rosé
Price: $6.05
Created by: Kitty & Riko Tsutsui
Description: Introducing Espresso Rosé, a captivating 12oz iced coffee drink that embodies the perfect blend of sophistication and sweetness. This exquisite beverage features a double shot of espresso, delivering a bold and robust flavor foundation. Combined with the enchanting essence of rose lemonade and the lusciousness of strawberry puree, Espresso Rose creates a harmonious symphony of taste. Indulge in this refreshing concoction and allow the delightful combination of espresso, rose, and strawberry to awaken your senses and transport you to a world of pure indulgence.
Ingredients: Double espresso shot, Rose lemonade, & Strawberry puree.
Offered: all the time
Tru Cafe
1500 W 2nd Ave, Vancouver
Tel: (604) 731-2508
Instagram @thetrucafe
Each media judge scored each creation with a maximum of 40 points as follows: Overall Taste 20 points, Originality and Uniqueness 10 points, Presentation and Appearance 10 points. The highest number of points a challenge creation could have been awarded is 120 points.
Our Media judges for this challenge were: Corey Lee, Hanson Do and Joyce Lam
Thank you to all the cafes that accepted my invitation and featured the Iced Summer Drink Challenge creations on the menu for the past few weeks during this challenge.
I encourage you to visit the winning cafes to try their Iced Summer Drink creations! See all the Iced Summer Drink Challenge Entries Here.
By: Richard Wolak