{"id":429898,"date":"2026-10-16T21:58:07","date_gmt":"2026-10-16T21:58:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/429898\/"},"modified":"2026-10-16T21:58:07","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T21:58:07","slug":"banana-and-matcha-trends-are-taking-off-and-one-jacksonville-coffee-shop-is-mixing-them-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/429898\/","title":{"rendered":"Banana and matcha trends are taking off \u2014 and one Jacksonville coffee shop is mixing them up"},"content":{"rendered":"

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 Banana is showing up in more than smoothies and banana bread. Google searches for \u201cbanana coffee\u201d and \u201cbanana matcha\u201d have reached record highs, and restaurant chains introduced 100 new banana items from July 2025 through July 2026, according to market data highlighted by Axios<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The numbers point to a growing appetite for banana-flavored drinks and desserts. At Hilite Coffee<\/a> in Jacksonville\u2019s San Marco neighborhood, owner Nate Mayo is pairing banana with matcha, miso caramel and even ube banana pudding. <\/p>\n

One of the shop\u2019s creations is a banana miso matcha topped with house-made tiramisu. Mayo recommends sipping from the bottom first to taste the banana, then from the top for the matcha \u2014 without stirring the tiramisu topping into the drink. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt brings such richness to it,\u201d News4JAX Anchor Joy Purdy said after trying it. <\/p>\n

Another menu item takes the dessert route: S\u2019mores with ube banana pudding and a toasted vanilla bean marshmallow. The shop makes its chocolate and toasted marshmallow syrup in-house, Mayo said. <\/p>\n

A coffee shop built on exploration <\/p>\n

Mayo said his interest in coffee and matcha grew from traveling with his wife. They met in a coffee shop in Jacksonville and later sought out cafes across the country, Japan and Europe. <\/p>\n

After returning home, they began testing drinks and hosting small coffee gatherings. Those pop-ups grew into larger events, including Saturday takeovers at a restaurant. Hilite opened in January 2026, Mayo said. <\/p>\n

The shop\u2019s menu is shaped by travel, customer suggestions and experimentation. A regular sent Mayo a video of tiramisu served on a drink, inspiring him to develop his own version. He also draws ideas from other cafes and chefs, then tests recipes and adjusts them with customer feedback. <\/p>\n

Miso caramel became a signature flavor after Mayo tried miso caramel served over vanilla ice cream at a cafe. The idea has since inspired variations, including banana miso caramel. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re all about quality,\u201d Mayo said, describing the shop\u2019s approach. He said Hilite makes its syrups from scratch, uses organic strawberries in its strawberry offerings and weighs and times each espresso shot. <\/p>\n

Community is part of the menu <\/p>\n

Social media helped customers find the shop, Mayo said, even before it had a sign outside. Hilite also brings local vendors into weekend events, including makers of cookies, bread and ceramics, and a mobile bookseller. <\/p>\n

The shop has also started a neighborhood run club, pairing the activity with coffee and matcha. Mayo said the idea came together with help from a regular customer who had already been running in the area. <\/p>\n

Banana-flavored launches are also appearing at national chains. Starbucks and Wawa have added banana items, while Sonic Drive-In launched a nationwide \u201cBanana Collection\u201d that includes a Banana Dirty Dr Pepper, according to the TV report. <\/p>\n

For a closer look at Mayo\u2019s menu and the story behind Hilite Coffee, watch Joy Purdy\u2019s extended conversation on News4JAX-PLUS Thursdays at 3 p.m. and Sundays at 630 p.m., or on the News4JAX YouTube channel. <\/p>\n

Copyright 2026 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.<\/p>\n