The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of Spoon University.
Blank Street offers an overwhelming amount of flavored matcha drinks. With so many options, it can be tough to know which one to try next. After sipping my way through most of the menu, here are my rankings for your next Blank Street matcha run.
6. PB & J
Blank Street’s latest Spring release takes inspiration from the classic peanut butter & jelly sandwich and puts it in drink form.
Right off the bat, I noticed how picture worthy the drink was (snap a shot before you mix!). It features a layer of strawberry jam at the base, a smear of “peanut butter” around the sides (more on this later), and the classic green matcha to fill the rest — an ombre of all your favorite flavors.
Interestingly, the drink doesn’t actually contain peanut butter (a win for all of you with allergies). Instead, they use cashew butter, a swap I immediately noticed as an avid peanut butter fan. Unfortunately, the substituted nut butter lacks the comforting sweetness and familiarity of your typical peanut butter off the grocery shelf.
As for the other half of the flavor pair, the “jelly” component is extremely subtle. Although the drink includes a housemade PB & J syrup, the supposedly dual flavor leans much more toward the nutty side, which completely dominates any hints of sweet strawberry. Compared to their other drinks, there’s a surprising lack of sweetness.
Another thing to note (especially if you’re a texture person) are the gritty chunks of cashew butter and blobs of jelly that occasionally get pulled up the straw. It makes sense that these add-ins don’t dissolve seamlessly into the drink, but still comes as a surprise and is rather off-putting.
For being a peanut butter and jelly matcha, the jelly flavor needs to be upped. It’s the most creative flavor on the list, but its overwhelming nuttiness and lack of sweetness is not your typical PB & J experience. I’d pass.
5. Mint Chip
If you’re not a fan of anything mint in your food (like me), you might reconsider after trying Blank Street’s Mint Chip Matcha. Although, I must confess that the only reason I ended up trying this drink was because it was free. After waiting in the usual long line and finally reaching the register, I spotted the “FREE DRINK” sign. They had accidentally made an extra, the barista informed me. I debated for a moment between saving $7 but risking trying a new flavor, or sticking with my staple order. Budget-day it was!
The drink features a subtle mint flavor with just the right amount of sweetness. Again, as someone who avoids anything minty, this flavor surprised me. It was the perfect classic mint chocolate chip flavor without having the overpowering toothpaste-like aftertaste. Note that there’s no actual chocolate chips in the drink, but I’d consider that a good call (given the PB & J situation mentioned above).
For mint chocolate chip lovers, good news: this one is a must-try (even I liked it). Bad news: it was a seasonal flavor, so keep an eye out if they bring it back!
4. Daydream
The Daydream has been a staple on the Blank Street menu long before I first discovered their matchas. It’s made with their housemade blend of vanilla bean, honey, and a dash of cinnamon, creating a comforting, sweet profile that seriously feels like a warm hug.
It’s so good that I even tried recreating it with my own syrups. Spoiler: I failed. Honestly though, I’m not surprised — there’s no at-home recreation that can match or top what they’ve perfected. The vanilla and honey add a mellow sweetness, while the cinnamon finishes it off with just a gentle hint of spice. I’ll leave the creativity to them.
Sure, it’s not as flashy or bold as some of their other seasonal flavors (we all know I’m talking about PB & J), but that’s exactly the point. It’s a timeless, calm, and balanced sip — the kind of drink you can order any day, any season. Truly, a daydream.
3. Banana Bread
This flavor was introduced as part of Blank Street’s Autumn menu last year which, trust me, I made sure to grab as many times as possible before it was replaced at the end of the season.
Made with banana, nutmeg, and cinnamon, the drink captures the warm, cozy notes of freshly baked banana bread, a coziness that feels as if it were straight out of a Gilmore Girls scene. Or maybe your grandma’s kitchen, soft jazz playing in the background… “Just like grandma used to make,” you might say. But literally — that was Blank Street’s advertising tagline from their “Home Street Home” campaign, designed to market their new drinks by bringing the comforting feel of home into the Blank Street coffee experience. A perfect fit, in my opinion.
Fun fact, this was actually the first Blank Street matcha that I tried, thanks to a friend who unknowingly launched my Blank Street addiction and kept me coming back for their matchas (I have yet to even try their coffee). The flavor profile is very similar to Daydream — mellow, spiced, and comforting — but it’s one step above with the extra hint of banana (which, by the way, is not the artificial banana flavor you get with, say, a banana Laffy Taffy). The banana syrup is so simple and so good, a flavor that is way underrated and surprisingly uncommon in the café world.
I seriously hope this one returns next fall, but the sooner the better — I could drink it all-year round!
2. Blueberry
Blueberry and matcha have quickly become a popular pairing, for a good reason, which makes sense why this flavor is now a fan favorite at Blank Street. The drink combines matcha with blueberry oat milk, creating a soft, earthy color palette that is both photo-worthy and flavorful.
True Blank Street fans know that this flavor isn’t new, but launched as part of the Spring menu last year. Thankfully, unlike the Banana Bread, it stuck around.
From the first sip, the drink tasted familiar. Then it clicked — it was exactly what the barista had described as “cereal milk,” you know, that sweet leftover milk at the bottom of a sugary cereal bowl (sometimes better than the actual cereal itself).
The drink leans incredibly sweet, despite blueberry being typically a tart fruit. Not only did it satisfy my sweet tooth for the day, but for the entire week. Next time (of course there’ll be a next time), I’ll be requesting it with half the amount of syrup. Regardless, this is one of my top favorites.
1. Strawberry Shortcake
Another new addition to Blank Street’s Spring menu is the Strawberry Shortcake Matcha, which has quickly become the newest must-try trend on social media (one that I most recently took part in). As part of its release campaign, select locations even offered a free slice of strawberry shortcake (yes, the real version!) with a purchase of the accompanying drink.
This one left me absolutely speechless in the best way. As someone who made strawberry shortcakes during the hot summers growing up, this tasted like a sip of my childhood. The housemade strawberry shortcake syrup and strawberry jam add layers of depth, perfectly capturing the comforting essence of the nostalgic dessert.
However, if you’re a true matcha enthusiast — someone who values the distinct taste and bitterness of matcha — this one might not be for you. The strawberry cake flavor overshadows the matcha, placing an emphasis on its bold sweetness as the primary flavor. Personally, however, I am more of a flavor enthusiast — someone who simply likes what tastes good — and I must say, drinking cake is the best thing ever.
This one takes the top place over the many, many Blank Street matchas I’ve tried. It’s indulgent, nostalgic, and definitely delicious. No need for the real deal when this is on the menu. Let’s hope it’s here to stay permanently.
A final guide
Yes, this may be an addiction. Between these six drinks and the countless repeat orders in between, I might have overdone my research (but money well spent, eh?). Here’s some extra tips and tricks I’ve picked up along the way.
Pro tip #1: order through the free Blank Street app. The long lines I mentioned earlier? They’re every day. With the app, you can skip the wait and perfectly time your grab-n-go order.
Pro tip #2: In all drinks mentioned (beside the free Mint Chip), I substituted in almond milk instead of the standard oat, which usually helps tone down the sweetness. That said, most were still a little too sweet for my taste. Unless you’re looking for a dessert-in-a-cup, I’d recommend ordering them half-sweet (which you can also do hassle-free on the app), especially the Blueberry and Strawberry Shortcake.
While Blank Street might not serve the most authentic matchas on the market, their unique and accurate takes on memorable flavors — Strawberry Shortcake and Banana Bread specifically — make them 100% worth trying. Plus, their housemade syrups are truly one-of-a-kind flavors that you won’t find anywhere else.