The Vancouver Foodster Iced Summer Drink Challenge was a success featuring creations from cafes and restaurants around Vancouver. Each spot featured their creation from August 7-31, 2025. 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.
The Winners are:
1st Place:
{107 points}
Hakka Momo Corner
Sunmint Blush
Price: $9
Created by: Hannah
Strawberry, pineapple, carrot juices with cold mint tea, Poured over pearl and ice. Garnished with mint, pineapple and strawberry
Ingredients: Strawberry, pineapple, carrot juices, mint tea, mint, pineapple and strawberry
Offered: all the time
Hakka Momo Corner
140-3031 Beckman Pl, Richmond
Tel: (604) 336-9618
Instagram @hakkamomorichmond
2nd Place:
{104 points}
Ban Chok Dee Thai Cuisine
Mango Passion Soda Lemonade
Price: $7
Created by: Nasuang Bumrungthai (Patty)
A tropical blend of passion fruit and mango juice, sweetened with passion fruit syrup and brightened with freshly squeezed lime and margarita mix, then topped with sparkling soda. Finished with a garnish of mint, lemon, grapefruit, and an edible flower.
Ingredients: passion fruit, mango juice, passion fruit syrup,
margarita mix and soda. Garnish with lemon, mint, edible flowers and grapefruit.
Offered: all the time
Ban Chok Dee Thai Cuisine
20563 Douglas Cres, Langley
Tel: (778) 278-3088
Instagram @banchokdeethai
3rd Place:
{101 points}
Cafe Duello
Summer Matcha Nog
Price: $6
Created by: Nicky Dexter & Maria Jose Barreda
Say hello to Xmas in August! A creamy oat‑nog base ribboned with chocolate, followed by a vivid jewel‑green matcha layer suspended above, and capped with a cloud of coconut whip lightly dusted with cocoa. The drink starts mellow and chocolatey, then brightens as matcha lifts the finish, while the chill stays distinct to keep every sip refreshing. It is equal parts eye‑catching and satisfying—perfect for a summer‑heat cool‑down.
Ingredients: matcha, oat milk nog, chocolate syrup, coconut whipping cream, cocoa powder
Offered: all the time Monday – Saturday, closed Sunday
Cafe Duello
426 W Hastings St, Vancouver
Tel: (604) 568-9907
Web: https://www.academieduello.com/cafe/
Instagram @cafeduello
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:
Cafe Duello
Summer Matcha Nog
Price: $6
Created by: Nicky Dexter & Maria Jose Barreda
Say hello to Xmas in August! A creamy oat‑nog base ribboned with chocolate, followed by a vivid jewel‑green matcha layer suspended above, and capped with a cloud of coconut whip lightly dusted with cocoa. The drink starts mellow and chocolatey, then brightens as matcha lifts the finish, while the chill stays distinct to keep every sip refreshing. It is equal parts eye‑catching and satisfying—perfect for a summer‑heat cool‑down.
Ingredients: matcha, oat milk nog, chocolate syrup, coconut whipping cream, cocoa powder
Offered: all the time Monday – Saturday, closed Sunday
Cafe Duello
426 W Hastings St, Vancouver
Tel: (604) 568-9907
Web: https://www.academieduello.com/cafe/
Instagram @cafeduello
2nd Place People’s Choice:
Benzo Café
Benzo’s Matcha Mocha Affogato
Price: $8.95
Created by: The team
Description: Japanese Matcha Powder Frappe with Freshly brewed espresso combined with chocolate chips (Mocha), topped with a silky-smooth cold foam.
Ingredients: 10% Cream, Ice, Matcha Powder, Double shot of Espresso, Milk Chocolate Chips
Offered: all the time
Benzo Cafe
4429 Hastings St, Burnaby
Tel: (604) 816-5344
Web: https://www.benzocafe.ca/
Instagram @benzocafe
3rd Place People’s Choice:
Ban Chok Dee Thai Cuisine
Mango Passion Soda Lemonade
Price: $7
Created by: Nasuang Bumrungthai (Patty)
A tropical blend of passion fruit and mango juice, sweetened with passion fruit syrup and brightened with freshly squeezed lime and margarita mix, then topped with sparkling soda. Finished with a garnish of mint, lemon, grapefruit, and an edible flower.
Ingredients: passion fruit, mango juice, passion fruit syrup,
margarita mix and soda. Garnish with lemon, mint, edible flowers and grapefruit.
Offered: all the time
Ban Chok Dee Thai Cuisine
20563 Douglas Cres, Langley
Tel: (778) 278-3088
Instagram @banchokdeethai
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, Jay Minter and Shelley Hayashi.
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