Staff Writer- Bao Vu
Every year on March 17th, the world celebrates St. Patrick’s Day—a major Irish holiday. It’s the day when they honor the patron saint of Ireland with lively street festivals, traditional dances, and an abundance of green everywhere you look. You can easily spot shamrock symbols wherever you go.
To be honest, I used to mistake them for four-leaf clovers—the universal symbol of luck. But no, shamrocks are the real deal. Legend has it that St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the mystery of the Trinity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) to the Irish. Since then, this symbol has been inseparable from the holiday.
As a staff member at the Courtyard and the STEAMery, let me suggest some fun drinks to welcome Saint Patrick’s Day (or any day, really, because a good drink is always in season). Go ahead and save this list, then come visit us!
1. Lucky Charm—The Courtyard Special this week.
A perfect blend of green mint and a vanilla latte, topped with Irish cream cold foam and a mint sprinkle. Sounds delicious. Tastes delicious. You should definitely try it!
2. The STEAMery Special this week.
Green mint white chocolate with whipping cream and sprinkles on top. Lovely hot drink for a long winter like this.
3. Mint Mocha
A classic choice that never goes out of style. The harmony between the slight bitterness of mocha and the refreshing kick of mint is my absolute favorite.
4. Irish Cream Latte
Did you know the Courtyard just launched this new flavor? If you haven’t tried anything Irish Cream-flavored, it could be described as a creamy texture with notes of vanilla, cocoa, and some nutiness. Irish Cream is usually a drink that is made with the combination of Irish Whiskey and cream, but as this is a pub-lic drink, it will be a spirit-free riff on the similar notes and flavors. Come and try a basic Latte with Irish Cream (or Irish Cream cold foam). It tastes great hot or iced!
5. White (mint) Mocha with Matcha Cold Foam
Okay. The people at the Courtyard may not have heard about Matcha Cold Foam, because I usually just make it for myself. Now, what you should do is ask them for a white mocha with 2 pumps of white chocolate (more or less, depending on your taste in sweets). You could add a pump of mint also, if you like. Then, for the foam: ask them to prep the matcha with less water than usual, then mix it into the cold foam just like they do with other flavors. That’s it!
6. Cold Brew with Irish Cream and Matcha Coldfoam
If white mocha isn’t your thing, no worries. Use the same “Matcha Cold Foam” trick, but order a Cold Brew with Irish Cream instead. Pro-tip: You can also swap the Irish Cream for a mix of Caramel and Hazelnut. Both are delicious!
7. Chai Matcha
Exactly as the name suggests. You can order this at both The Courtyard and The STEAMery. Just ask the baristas, they’ll know what to do. Personally, I only use just 1 pump of Chai for a Tall and half a pump for a Short, so the Chai flavor doesn’t overpower the taste of Matcha. But if you’re a Chai lover, just add more then!
8. Matcha Lemonade / Matcha Juice
An incredibly refreshing option! My favourite thing so far. You can try half matcha (no milk) mixed with half lemonade, or get creative by mixing matcha with apple or orange juice (Minute Maid). Just a heads up: don’t add too much fruit juice if you still want to taste the matcha!
9. The Pot of Gold Refresher
This is a lemonade with a pump of mango, a pump of peach, and just like ¼ pump of coconut. I love adding a little bit of matcha powder on top for that extra “green” vibe. Otherwise, it’s great as is!
10. Tropical Green Dream Refresher
There’s nothing more that screams Saint Patty’s than a drink that is artificially green with an abundance of interesting flavors. This drink is similar to “The Pot of Gold Refresher” with a few deviations. The refresher is made up of lemonade, 1.5 pumps of mango, 1.5 pumps of peach, and (to top it off) 2 pumps of blue energy. We love color theory!
Whether you stop by The Courtyard to find a little green “luck” or head to The STEAMery for a focused afternoon pick-me-up, we’re always ready to craft the most thoughtful drinks just for you. Don’t hesitate to ask for those recipes above.
Wishing you a St. Patrick’s Day filled with joy and luck. See you behind the bar!