Koomi
5/F The Podium, 12 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City
Open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Monday to Friday), 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Saturday to Sunday)
(SPOT.ph) Maybe you have mixed feelings about yogurt, as many of us did when we were children; maybe it was never really your thing, as much as you like dairy. “Why, yes, I would like the fermented version of a thing I like as is, thank you!” is a strange thought, it’s true.
But now that we’re older—hopefully wiser—our palates have been refined, and yogurt is now a treat. It’s pretty darn good for you, too, so you don’t even have to feel bad about it.
Not that there’s anything to feel bad about at Koomi over at The Podium. The soft aesthetic is a welcome break from harsh or loud colors, and the flavors they’re serving up only reinforce the good vibes. The Australian brand is making waves with their simple but solid promise of “guiltless goodness,” and if we’re being perfectly frank, they seem to have no intention of ever under-delivering.
We’ll start you off with an easy one. The Stick-On-Me Purple Rice (P120) may sound very out of the ordinary, but this is Koomi’s signature item for a reason. The tartness of the freshly churned yogurt is beautifully offset by the soft purple sticky rice, whose sweetness doesn’t announce itself with megaphones from the rooftops. Instead, it’s a soft flavor, one that you’re chasing as you drink—but happily so.
For something more in-your-face, the Mango Moo (P125) is your best bet. It’s one of the punchier flavors because they’re not necessarily after the ripest of mangoes, but that’s why it’s so good. When it’s in that middling stage, you get two layers of subtle sourness in your yogurt, and you can truly appreciate the natural taste of a normal mango.
If heft is what you’re after—and if you’re fresh from the gym, it might be a good idea—you have three great options, and what you have is really up to you. The Nuts About You (P135) is heavily textured with pistachios and almonds, and that’s where the drink-snack/snack-drink gets its sweetness. Again, it’s understated, but definitely present. For fans of the Japanese ingredient, the Rah Rah Red Bean (P120) is the horse to bet on. But for us, the Chewy Chewy Oats (P120) is the left-fielder that stole our hearts in the last inning—it’s that good. The oats used aren’t rolled or steel-cut, but left whole, and it makes all the difference. (We actually want to change the name to “Whatever Oats Your Boat” but we’re not allowed in the boardroom. You can guess why.)
Those are just a few of our favorites, but there are 13 variants to choose from—a galaxy of options, really, when you account for the add-ons like Dragonfruit (P20), Strawberry (P20) and Boba (P30). But we have a feeling you’ll have fun exploring, and you can find them popping up almost everywhere. Currently, they’re also open at Robinsons Magnolia and Eastwood Mall, but it’s best to keep an eye out for that cow.
Photos by Kit Singson
