Social listening has become a fundamental strategy for brands when developing or optimizing products and services. User comments can inspire businesses to include a new item on their menu or catalog, but so can jokes.

This is the case of the origin of the new range of matcha drinks that McDonald’s Australia, through its McCafé division, has presented this week. The company has made a fake product a reality that went viral last year after some users posted it on TikTok.

In the video, the users pretended to order Strawberry Matcha’ at a McAuto, as part of what was actually a joke on social networks. That publication, however, quickly gained notoriety, causing McDonald’s Australia, nicknamed Macca’s in the country, to deny its existence and, thereby, causing frustration among all those who had been interested in the drink.

However, the company took note of consumer interest in matcha drinks and in the second quarter of this year conducted a limited trial in select restaurants in some regions of the country. According to the company, the movement generated great demand and filled social networks with mentions, leading users to claim the drinks even in those regions where they were not offered.

Now the company has announced that starting October 29, three new matcha drinks will officially arrive on its menu in all restaurants in the country and on an unlimited basis. “Australians were obsessed with Macca’s matcha and wanted more“the company says in a statement.”Now, Macca’s answers the call with three new matcha creations: bold, beautiful and full of flavor. This isn’t just a drink, it’s a full-blown matcha movement“.

Thus, among the three new matcha drinks that have been announced is, precisely, the Strawberry Matcha Iced Latte that appeared in the joke that started the initiative. Consumers will also be able to enjoy Matcha Iced Latte and Matcha Latte. All drinks have been presented through the prism of indulgence and as “the little whims you deserve”.

“The response to our Matcha test was exceptional: fans flooded social media with enthusiasm and made it clear that they wanted more” said Amanda Nakad, Director of Menu and Brand Marketing at McDonald’s Australia, in the statement. “The new McCafé Matcha range is our response to that need”.