The 'smurf' latte contains E3 live blue algae, lemon, ginger agave and coconut mylk. Photo / Instagram / @matcha_mylkbar
The 'smurf' latte contains E3 live blue algae, lemon, ginger agave and coconut mylk. Photo / Instagram / @matcha_mylkbar
"IT has a strong, seaweed-type smell." Yep, meet the new "it" vegan take on coffee - a smurf latte.
The blue drink is made of algae, lemon, ginger agave and coconut milk, costs $8 and is becoming a social media sensation after debuting on the menu at Melbourne eatery MatchaMylkbar this week.
Matcha Mylkbar co-owner Mark Filippelli said the vegan cafe had sold at least 100 of them in four days.
"It tastes like a warm lemon, ginger and honey tonic," Filippelli told News Corp Australia today.
"We don't use honey, as it's not vegan, so we use agave instead."
And while one of Filippelli's colleagues described it as tasting like "sour milk" to Broadsheet, Filippelli said the smurf latte was actually much more pleasant to the palette.
But he admitted it "does have quite a tart after taste".
Algae is an edible freshwater plant and is a known source of antioxidants, Filippelli said. "It is such a powerful antioxidant that one gram of it every day has a huge (health) benefit," Filippelli told News Corp Australia.
Matcha Mylkbar's menu includes a beetroot latte ($5), mushroom latte ($7), turmeric latte ($6) and apple pie latte ($5), along with a vegan take on eggs (made of plant-based ingredients) and soy "chicken" burgers.