On Tuesday morning in Williamsburg, barista Carla Mendez dusted a swirl of pine-infused foam atop an oat milk latte, sending a sharp, woodsy aroma drifting over the counter at Sprout, Brooklyn’s latest café devoted to the city’s growing obsession: forest-inspired drinks. Forget pumpkin spice—this autumn, New Yorkers are sipping on juniper lattes, spruce sodas, and cocktails redolent of moss and meadow.

The trend isn’t just about novelty. Owners and chefs say city dwellers, drained by subway delays and crowded sidewalks, are craving a taste of the wild. “People want a break from the urban grind,” says Alex Kim, co-founder of Midtown’s Pine & Cedar, where the signature soda is steeped with Douglas fir needles harvested from the Catskills. “A sip of something resinous or herbal—it’s almost like a walk in the woods.”

Across Manhattan, menus this week are dotted with birch syrup glazes and wildflower bitters. At the Lower East Side’s Le Forêt, chef Nina Desai is serving a foraged mushroom tart alongside a mug of cedar tea, drawing lines of curious regulars by 6 p.m. “Urban foraging has become more than a hashtag—our guests want to taste the landscape,” Desai notes, as she plates a dish with locally sourced juniper berries.

The movement has caught the attention of beverage distributors, too. Bronx-based startup Sylva launched its first bottled spruce soda at Union Square Greenmarket last Friday, selling out before noon. Founder Lucia Alvarez credits the appetite for forest flavors to a post-pandemic hunger for nature: “People are tired of artificial everything. They want the real thing, even in a soda.”

As September draws to a close, the city’s appetite for woodland flavors shows no sign of waning. Whether it’s a pine needle garnish at a West Village cocktail bar or a juniper latte cradled on a brisk walk through Prospect Park, New Yorkers are proving that a little taste of the forest can go a long way—even in the heart of the five boroughs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are forest-inspired drinks in NYC cafés?

Forest-inspired drinks in NYC cafés include beverages like juniper lattes, spruce sodas, pine-infused oat milk lattes, and cedar tea, often made with ingredients such as Douglas fir needles and locally sourced juniper berries.

Which NYC cafés are serving forest-flavored drinks?

Cafés such as Sprout in Williamsburg, Pine & Cedar in Midtown, Le Forêt on the Lower East Side, and Bronx-based startup Sylva are serving forest-flavored drinks.

Why are forest flavors trending in NYC cafés?

Forest flavors are trending in NYC cafés due to a post-pandemic desire for natural, authentic experiences and a craving for a taste of the wild among city dwellers.

What ingredients are used in NYC’s forest-inspired drinks?

Ingredients include pine-infused oat milk, Douglas fir needles from the Catskills, locally sourced juniper berries, birch syrup, and wildflower bitters.

Where can I buy bottled spruce soda in NYC?

Bottled spruce soda from Bronx-based startup Sylva was sold at Union Square Greenmarket, where it sold out before noon last Friday.

Editorial Transparency. A first draft of this story was produced with AI-assisted writing tools, then reviewed for accuracy and tone by the named editor before publication. More on our process: Editorial Policy.