Showing up everywhere from cafés to social media feeds, matcha has quickly become one of the most popular drink trends. After seeing drinks from NOK108, a family-run matcha truck in Charlottesville, all over Instagram, I decided it was finally worth trying. When I saw that even people who do not usually like matcha were praising it, the hype became hard to ignore.
NOK108 is run by former University alumna Yuna Park, who operates the truck alongside her mother and sister. Their drinks are influenced by their family’s matcha business in Japan, where Park’s uncle runs his own shop. What began as a small family-run operation has grown into a recognizable presence in Charlottesville, reflecting the rising popularity of matcha.
Across Charlottesville, NOK108 hosts pop-ups at a range of locations, making appearances at The Fralin Museum of Art, Whole Foods and the Charlottesville City Market. Their weekly schedule shifts often, but is updated weekly on their Instagram. No matter where they set up, though, NOK108 draws in large crowds of regulars as well as eager matcha samplers — something my friend and I learned when we arrived right at their 10 a.m. opening at the Fralin and saw that a line had already formed.
At first glance, the truck appears small and understated, with a white exterior and minimal branding. Orders are taken through a front window, with a simple menu displayed below. Still, the long lines that gather around the truck make it clear that its popularity extends far beyond its modest appearance. In fact, the line itself almost felt like part of the experience, with groups of students chatting and comparing orders while others snapped photos of their drinks as soon as they got them. The setup was simple, but the energy around it made it feel like more than just a coffee stop.
The truck has many unique drink options, including their Strawberry Matcha Cloud, Yuzu Sparkling Matcha and a Raspberry Earl Grey matcha latte. Some of their matchas are made with sparkling water or coconut water, but their lattes — both classic coffee and matcha lattes — come with a base of oat or whole milk. All of their syrups, including flavors such as strawberry, lavender and earl grey are house-made, giving each drink a distinct, well-crafted flavor.
NOK108 also serves food items at many of their pop-ups. They were not selling any at the Fralin when I went, but they often have a variety of pastries such as egg tarts, financiers and earl grey lemon cookies to accompany your drink.
After much deliberation, my friend and I decided to get the Strawberry Matcha with oat milk and the classic house matcha latte with added earl grey syrup. At around $8.50 each, their drinks, all of which are iced, are definitely on the pricier side — especially for something served from a mobile truck. Although the quality helps justify the cost, it is not something that feels reasonable to purchase every day.
Despite the long line, the operation itself was surprisingly efficient. There were only about two people working the truck, yet they moved quickly, keeping orders flowing without sacrificing quality. We waited around 5-10 minutes for our drinks once we reached the front, which, considering the steady flow of customers, felt reasonable. We were there for about 25 minutes total, but by the time we left, the line had nearly tripled — pushing wait times closer to an hour.
The presentation alone made the drinks well worth the wait. The Strawberry Matcha had a layer of fresh berry puree on the bottom, which tinted the milk a beautiful pink. The matcha itself was a vibrant green, and came topped with a freeze dried strawberry. The colorful drinks are complemented by a simple white sleeve displaying the NOK108 logo.
I tried the Strawberry Matcha latte first and was greeted with so much flavor in the first sip. The strawberry puree had a bright sweetness that combined perfectly with the earthy matcha.
The smoothness of the oatmilk helped mellow out the flavors, preventing them from overpowering the drink. I am usually not a fan of oatmilk — I find that it can make a drink too milky — but this one was noticeably lighter. Each flavor came through and worked to create the perfect balance.
After being impressed by the bright sweetness of the Strawberry Matcha, I tried the Earl Grey latte, which was much more subtle. It did not have the same punch from the fruit that the Strawberry Matcha did, but the syrup still had a sweetness that paired well with the matcha. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this drink, as I am not a fan of earl grey flavor, but the added sweetness from the syrup lifted its bitterness for a perfect balance.
Overall, NOK 08 completely changed my perspective on matcha. What I expected to be overly earthy or bitter turned into something balanced and genuinely enjoyable. Between the quality of the drinks and the atmosphere around the pop-up, NOK108 feels like more than just a place to grab a drink.
Although the long wait times may deter patrons who might be in a hurry, whether you are a longtime matcha fan or someone who usually avoids it, it is definitely worth trying for its refreshing, flavorful drinks. The lively ambiance of this pop up in tandem with their bespoke drinks make NOK108 a wonderful stop for a pick-me-up.
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