The fro-yo craze sweeping NYC and Los Angeles has finally made its way to Pittsburgh. Fans of the delicious
and nutritious tart treat served up at places like
Pinkberry and
Red Mango will now be able to satisfy their cravings at
Karmic Yogurt, set to open in Shadyside in mid-March.
“My first experience with tart frozen yogurt was in New York. When I came back to Pittsburgh, there was nothing like it here,” says Karmic owner Matt Yang, a Pittsburgh native who previously worked for a large consulting firm. “I just
really like it, and looked for a replacement here. From the due diligence I did, and what I saw with Pittsburgh getting more healthy, the trend is definitely viable.”
Located at 731 1/2 Filbert St. off Walnut, the 250-square-foot shop will launch with three flavors—the Karmic (creamy and tart!), a customer-chosen flavor of the month and its signature green tea, made from 100% Matcha imported from Shizuoka, Japan. “We’re perfecting it now. A lot of places use artificial green tea flavoring. Ours is what’s used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies,” adds Yang, 27.
The low-cal sensation (read: less than one gram of fat and 32 calories per ounce), which originated in South Korea, is full of healthy probiotic cultures. Karmic’s impressive menu of fresh toppings includes blackberries, kiwi, Oreos, and granola.
Patti Chan designed the shop's colorful logo.
The renovated shop features new walls, countertops, tiled floors, and outdoor seating. “It’s a great for space for us to start out it with; it has a small business feel,” adds Yang, who also space shopped in Squirrel Hill and Mt. Lebanon. “It’s my first business and first time away from the corporate world.”
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Writer:
Jennifer BaronSource: Matt Yang, Karmic Yogurt
Image courtesy Karmic Yoghurt