Yaw bakehouse launches Tik Tok inspired menu by matcha star Jess Dobson

Green tea and sweet teeth are king at the YAW bakehouse with a new trend-following menu launched by a matcha barista star. Take a look at what they’ve cooked up. SEE VIDEO

A touch of Tik Tok and Japan has come to a popular Mackay bakehouse as its star barista launched a new menu showing her drink-making talents.

Known by the nickname Matcha Jess, hospitality veteran of 18 years Jessica Dobson is behind YAW’s brand new Tik Tok Taught Me menu and a number of innovative sweet drinks featuring her favourite ingredient, matcha.

YAW's star barista Matcha Jess was inspired by the Tik Tok's she watched to create a whole new menu. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Jess’ love affair with matcha began when she visited Japan on her honeymoon and experienced an authentic tea ceremony in Kyoto.

“I got to try the traditional style and then I tried all the different beverages they made with it in Starbucks and other cafes across the country,” Ms Dobson said.

“I just thought it was something that Australia needed.”

Ms Dobson has matcha imported from Kyoto and using traditional implements creates experimental beverages, her favourite so far being the Barbie Girl.

Inspired by a trip to Japan, Jess has been working with Matcha to create new drinks like the barbie girl and share her love of matcha with all her customers. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Using YAW’s homemade strawberry coulis and strawberry milk, she adds matcha to create a drink that has apparently become a bestseller.

“It’s about trying to bring something traditional into our (Australian) culture,” she said.
As well as her own inventions, Jess has devised the new menu using drinks and snacks that have been trending on Tik Tok as inspiration.

“It was going huge in Sydney and Brisbane so I decided to give it a go here and it turns out we could.”

The s'mores chocolate is a hot chocolate with toasted marshmallow meringue on top. Photo: Fergus Gregg

The most popular item from this selection is the hot chocolate topped with marshmallow meringue, toasted with a blowtorch, called a s’more hot chocolate.

“That’s been a #1 fan favourite I can’t keep up with demand,” she said.

The Tik Tok Taught Me menu debuted on May 14 and has been received almost universal praise from fans of YAW, 211 of whom left positive comments in support of the business and it’s employees.