Pandan for Coffee Shops: The Complete Guide for Baristas and Café Managers
Maison Pandan
The pandan latte is no longer a niche curiosity. From coffee shops in Paris and Lyon to London and Amsterdam, pandan is fast becoming the must-have alternative drink of 2026. If it's not on your menu yet, here's everything you need to know to launch it — and make it a hit.
Why pandan is the next big café ingredient
Every few years, one ingredient transforms café culture. Matcha did it. Turmeric did it. Oat milk did it. Pandan is next — and the signs are clear:
- 📈 Searches for "pandan latte" have grown 300%+ in France and Europe in 12 months
- 📱 TikTok and Instagram have made the pandan latte one of the most shared drinks of 2025–2026
- 🍵 Matcha shortages are pushing cafés and consumers to explore alternatives
- 🌿 Clean label demand — customers want natural ingredients, with no artificial colorings
- 💚 The color — that vibrant natural green is unbeatably photogenic
For café owners, pandan offers something rare: a genuinely new flavor profile, a striking look, and a story to tell.
What is pandan? The brief for your team
Pandan (Pandanus amaryllifolius) is a tropical plant from Southeast Asia, nicknamed "the vanilla of Asia". Its dried, ground leaves produce a fine green powder with a naturally sweet, warm, vanilla-like aroma — complex, approachable, and perfectly suited to hot and cold drinks.
What your baristas need to know:
- ✅ 100% natural — the green color is real, not artificial
- ✅ Caffeine-free — ideal for customers who avoid caffeine
- ✅ Naturally sweet — reduces the need for added sugar
- ✅ Free from major allergens in the powder itself
- ✅ Vegan and plant-based — works with all plant milks
The drinks to put on your menu
1. The Pandan Latte (hot & iced) — your signature drink
This is your pandan anchor. Easy to make, visually spectacular, instantly shareable on social media.
Hot Pandan Latte — Pro Recipe
- 1 tsp (3–4g) pandan powder
- 30ml hot water (85°C)
- Whisk vigorously into a smooth paste (milk frother or bamboo whisk)
- Froth 200ml plant milk (oat milk gives the best visual result)
- Pour the milk over the pandan paste
- Finish with latte art
- Optional: 5ml vanilla syrup or honey to boost sweetness
Iced Pandan Latte
- Make the pandan paste as above
- Add 1 tsp sweetener (optional)
- Pour over ice
- Top with cold oat or coconut milk — don't stir, for a layered look
💡 Pro tip: Coconut milk gives the most authentic taste. Oat milk gives the most striking green contrast.
2. Pandan Syrup — the versatile base
Make pandan syrup in batches and use it across your whole menu.
Pandan Syrup (1 liter batch)
- 500ml water
- 500g granulated sugar
- 15g pandan powder
- Heat, whisking constantly, until the sugar dissolves
- Simmer 5 minutes, strain if needed, cool and bottle
- Storage: 2–3 weeks in the refrigerator
Use it in: lattes, iced drinks, lemonades, cocktails, or drizzled over waffles and pancakes.
3. The Pandan Matcha (the fusion)
Combine equal parts pandan paste and matcha paste for a layered green drink with depth and complexity. Two trends in one cup.
4. Coconut-Pandan Cold Brew
Cold brew + pandan syrup + coconut milk + ice. Dark, rich, sweet and exotic. A must for a premium summer menu.
5. Pandan Hot Chocolate
Melted dark chocolate + pandan paste + frothed oat milk. Sophisticated, comforting, unexpected. Perfect as a seasonal winter special.
Dosage guide for coffee shops
| Drink | Pandan powder | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pandan latte, small | 2–3g (½–¾ tsp) | Subtle, approachable |
| Pandan latte, large | 3–5g (¾–1¼ tsp) | Full flavor |
| Iced pandan latte | 4–5g (1–1¼ tsp) | Higher dose to offset dilution from ice |
| Pandan syrup (per serving) | 15–20ml syrup | Adjust to taste |
| Pandan smoothie | 5–8g (1¼–2 tsp) | Pairs well with banana/mango |
Menu positioning & pricing strategy
Names that sell
- ✅ "Pandan Latte" — simple, on-trend, recognizable
- ✅ "Green Velvet Latte" — mysterious, premium, great for first-timers
- ✅ "Southeast Asian Latte" — tells a story, adds provenance
- ✅ "The Vanilla of Asia" — educational and intriguing
Suggested retail prices
- Hot pandan latte: 4,50€ – 6,50€
- Iced pandan latte: 5,00€ – 6,80€
- Coconut-pandan cold brew: 5,50€ – 7,00€
At 3–5g per drink and an ingredient cost of around 0,10–0,20€ per serving, margins are excellent — typically 90%+ on ingredient cost alone.
Training your baristas
- Always make a paste first. Mix the pandan powder with a little hot water (85°C, not boiling) before adding milk. This prevents lumps and ensures an even color.
- Use a milk frother or bamboo whisk. A regular spoon won't dissolve the powder properly.
- Oat milk = best visual contrast. Its creamy color makes the pandan green pop. Coconut milk gives the most authentic taste.
- Temperature matters. Heating above 90°C can dull the green color. Froth milk to 65–70°C.
- Store it properly. Keep pandan powder tightly sealed, away from light and moisture. Once opened, refrigerate to preserve the aroma.
Social media: how to make your pandan latte go viral
- 📸 Film the pour. Green pandan paste meeting white milk creates a stunning visual. Post it as a Reel or TikTok — it works every time.
- 🏷️ Hashtags to use: #pandanlatte #pandanbio #lattevégétal #coffeeShop #tendancecafé #pandanpoudre
- 🤝 Invite a local food blogger to a launch tasting — pandan is still new enough to get food media talking.
- 🎯 Geotag your posts — customers searching for a pandan latte in your city will find you.
FAQs from café owners
How long does pandan powder last in professional use?
Sealed, the powder keeps for 18 to 24 months. Once opened, store it in an airtight container in a cool place. For high-volume venues, the 500g or 1kg size offers the best value.
Is the pandan supply reliable?
Yes — unlike matcha, which faces significant supply issues, pandan is grown abundantly across Southeast Asia. Maison Pandan ensures a reliable supply with no minimum order for new trade customers.
Will customers actually order pandan?
Yes — especially if it's featured on your menu and well described. Cafés that have launched a pandan latte regularly find it becomes one of their top 3 specialty drinks within weeks, driven by social media curiosity and repeat orders from new fans.
Do you offer trade pricing?
Yes. Maison Pandan supplies coffee shops, restaurants and hospitality businesses across France and Europe. Contact us for trade pricing and free samples.
Ready to add pandan to your menu?
Cafés that move first on pandan own the trend in their neighborhood. With an ingredient cost under 0,20€ per serving, a retail price of 5€+, and a drink that markets itself on social media, the business case is obvious.
👉 Order your first pandan powder today — available in 100g, 200g, 500g and 1kg. Contact us for wholesale pricing and a free sample for your café.
🌏 Want to taste pandan from several Asian countries before you choose? We offer professional tasting packs with pandan powders selected by origin (Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, etc.). Submit a trade inquiry here →
