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Blueberries are sweet + delicious!
They are low in calories, high in fibre, loaded with vitamin C, have the highest antioxidant capacity of all fruits + veggies and are nutritious!

Blueberries can be enjoyed fresh or frozen.
They are an easy grab + go snack, can be used as a topping on pancakes, oatmeal or yogurt, blended into smoothies or easily folded into muffins or other sweet treats. Blueberries are a superfood!

Blueberries are versatile….
Blueberries are colourful…
We loooove blueberries!

Visit us at any of our 9 locations + enjoy one of our tasty blueberry treats. Whether you prefer your coffee paired with a muffin or enjoyed with a dessert, we have blueberry options waiting for you!

Happy Spring!

Posted in A Take Five Cafe Feature

There was a time when muffins could be considered as wedges of cake in disguise! Once the basic batter was dissected + the sugary toppings with artificial flavours were exposed, what was really left was a delicious dessert. But things are changing….the understanding of nutrition is evolving + bakers all over are switching direction. That’s not to say that everyone doesn’t enjoy a piece of cake now + then and it certainly doesn’t mean that every muffin needs something to boast about, but it does mean that there are more certifiably healthier choices out there.

After receiving positive reviews from our loyal customers about a few of our healthier muffin options, our bakers have decided to add another addition to our muffin line. And in keeping with our mission of trying to offer something for every dietary need, this one happens to be gluten free! Meet the new Quick Start Gluten Free Muffin. It’s full of everything you need to get a jump on your day: gluten free oats, flax seeds, dates, chunks of rhubarb, blueberries + walnuts. With a little more to offer than your basic favourite, it is healthier, moist, insanely delicious + of course, gluten free!

Visit us for a try + while you’re here, consider one of our other fan favourites: Gluten Free Fruit + Nut, Morning Glory, Oat Bran, Sugar Free Fruit or Vegan Chocolate. While we can’t promise a solution for every dietary concern, we are trying to promise a little something for everyone…one bite at a time!

We hope to see you soon!

Happy Spring!

Posted in A Take Five Cafe Feature

There are several months of the year that shine, but one of the months with the most to boost is March! Not only is Daylight Savings in March, giving us that extra hour of daylight we crave this time of year,  but it is also the first day of Spring….a new season with lots to offer!

If you have taken the time to look outside you will note the once bare trees now have buds. Flowers are emerging from the ground + the days are warmer + brighter! Windows can now be opened during the day letting in a fresh breeze + more time can be spent outdoors. All this magic creates a spring in our step + we feel this is cause for celebration!

And nothing tastes more like Spring than our popular Lavender Latte. Our roasted espresso is slightly sweetened with lavender + lemon zest. It’s the perfect combination of soothing flavour + energizing espresso which we describe as ‘aromatherapy meets caffeine therapy’. We think it’s pretty special + can’t think of anything better to put a spring in your step!

Come visit us at any of our 9 locations + give a toast to Spring with a Lavender Latte!

Posted in A Take Five Cafe Feature

A kind gesture can go a long way but who would have thought that the kind acts of two Nova Scotia teens would start such a positive revolution? The teens bought + distributed 50 pink shirts after a male ninth grade student was bullied for wearing a pink shirt during the first day of school. This was the boys’ way of taking a stand against bullies. The concept gained traction and has become synonymous to standing up against all forms of bullying….years later the official Pink Shirt Day was introduced + every year the support for Pink Shirt Day gets bigger + louder! And Take Five Café is proud to be part of the movement!

For the NINTH consecutive year, Take Five Café is supporting the amazing Pink Shirt Day campaign through the sales of Pink Cupcakes with all proceeds going to the CKNW Orphans’ Fund.  Over the past eight years, over 12,000 cupcakes have been baked + sold with a total donation of just over $14,000!! And this year we are hoping to sell more!

But we need you + time is running out! Until the end of February, cupcakes are available at all of our 9 Take Five Café locations.  You can drop in + buy one for a friend or two but even better, you can place a large order for business meetings, classroom parties or special events by calling our Catering Department directly: 604.697.9050. Pink Shirt Day is Wednesday, February 28^th – the perfect day to have cupcake treats on hand!

Together we can make a difference and stand up to bullying at home, at school or at the workplace. Take Five Café is proud to support such an important cause and hope you will consider doing the same.

So what do you say? Sweet treat for a great cause….the cupcakes are calling!

Posted in A Take Five Cafe Feature

How about a compromise instead….
The New Year seems to be the time people choose to turn a new page. Most look at January as the start of positive changes + the end to bad habits. We put high expectations on ourselves which is further enhanced with the repeated tag line: New Year, New You. The question is, are we setting ourselves up to fail?

Change is a process. Most unhealthy habits took years to develop, so it only makes sense that they take time to break. It is hard to maintain new routines if they are very different than what has been the norm in everyday life. And besides….what is wrong with the old you!?  We think you should focus on tiny steps + compromise instead.  Perhaps eat healthy during the week, but allow a small treat on the weekend. Or commit to the gym a few times each month but park further away from your destination to squeeze in some extra walks everyday. Being too rigid in your goals is a sure way to help foil your resolutions + besides, don’t we all deserve a break now + then?

No matter your approach to obtaining your goals, we have something waiting for you.  Whether it be the five servings of fruit + veggies in our Fruit + Veggie Smoothies, or the decadent chocolate in our Classic + Toasted Coconut Hot Chocolates, the decision is yours! And if you decide to grab a smoothie during the week + a specialty hot chocolate on the weekends, we won’t tell!

Here’s wishing you all a happy, healthy New Year full of adventure, successful resolutions + compromise!

Posted in A Take Five Cafe Moment

One cupcake at a time…

On Wednesday, November 29^th, CKNW radio held a live broadcast from the Fairmont Hotel to raise funds for the CKNW Orphans’ Fund. This was the 40th Annual pledge day and this year the broadcast assisted in raising an impressive 1.3 million dollars! This special children’s charity provides grants to thousands of children in BC living with special needs. The broadcast is a live conversation with some of the most influential philanthropists in Vancouver who appear as guests during the day. Their thoughtfulness inspires listeners to give generously + get involved in their community. Every appearance is aimed at bringing attention to the charity and to inspire those around us to make a positive difference.

Take Five Café was proud to be invited to this live radio broadcast.  Each year, we support the campaign through the sales of Pink Cupcakes with all proceeds going to the CKNW Orphans’ Fund.  Over the past eight years, over 12,000 cupcakes have been baked + sold with a total donation of just over $14,000!! That’s a lot of cupcakes. And we can’t wait to make even more next year!

Take Five Café is proud to support such an important cause and hope you will consider doing the same. Watch for us in February 2018 when our cupcakes make their comeback! 2018 will mark the ninth consecutive year involved with the charity – we hope you’ll be a part of it.

For more information on the CKNW Orphans’ Fund: CKNW Orphans’ Fund

Posted in Take Five Cafe Events

Have that stuffy, coughing, aching feeling?…

Then we have a tea for you! Our new Elixo Tea is made with stone ground rooibos tea leaves, ginger, citrus, all natural honey crystals + cayenne pepper.  It also includes camu camu berries, an Amazonian fruit with very high levels of all natural Vitamin C. The antioxidants in Elixo helps fight colds while the ginger + citrus are known to boost energy…. cayenne pepper adds to the flavour but is also great for clearing sinuses! But with so many great medicinal properties, does Elixo Tea taste good?!

Elixo Tea is surprisingly delicious! The citrus base adds a bit of tartness while the sweetness from the honey crystals keeps the bitter away! The cayenne pepper is not over powering, but does add a peppery bite at the finish. Combined with a hint of ginger, the flavour will rev up the palate + energize your senses.  This tasty tea truly is a cup of antioxidants in disguise!

Visit us at Take Five Cafe + experience the tasty health benefits of Elixo Tea!

Posted in A Take Five Cafe Feature

Everyone loves the slow days of summer. It’s a time for vacations, longer evenings + the skies are brighter. But there is something about the falling leaves of Autumn that makes us realize, we are ready to move on. More than the excitement of returning routines, the fall brings new episodes of our favourite shows, new activities to try + new fall favourites to enjoy! And Take Five Café is doing just that! Sharing new flavours!

Introducing our new Stone Ground Teas. Made from stone ground black teas from India, our teas are blended with organic cane juice + other natural ingredients to produce amazing flavours! Our classic London Fog has bergamot + all natural vanilla, while our Authentic Chai includes spices like ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves + cardamom. And why is stone ground tea so special? Because instead of soaking the leaves in hot water + removing them, the tea leaves are ground into a fine powder + whisked into your beverage for sipping. Natural nutrients in a cup – our cup of tea!

Visit us at Take Five Cafe + discover the magic of Stone Ground Tea!

Posted in A Take Five Cafe Feature

The lovely summer weather is not only perfect for eating outdoors, but it’s a great excuse to focus on simple suppers!  And with so many options available a summer salad is hard to beat. All salads can be turned into a meal by simply adding chicken, fish, tofu, egg or noodles….not only are they delicious but they are easy + don’t require hours standing in front of a hot stove.  All you need is a little creativity, fresh ingredients + your favourite dressing.

At Take Five Café, simple salads with fresh, local ingredients are one of our summer favourites. Come in + grab a quick Italian Bean Salad Cup or Quinoa Salad Cup for a healthy lunch on the go. Or if you’re in the mood for something more filling, try our Chicken Caesar Salad or Chicken Spinach Salad. It doesn’t matter which option you choose, at Take Five, our salads are a win win!

Below is a popular Take Five recipe….add your favourite other protein + turn this side salad into a meal:

Quinoa Salad

2 cups leafy greens (your choice)
½ of each chopped red + yellow peppers
½ cup black or white quinoa
¼ cup cubed feta cheese
½ cup Cherry tomatoes cut in halves
Fresh basil leaves
Drizzle of fresh lemon juice
Salt + freshly ground black pepper

Wash + rip 2 cups of your choice of greens (romaine lettuce, iceberg, butter, kale, radicchio). Chop ½ red pepper + ½ a yellow pepper (the 2 colours add pizzazz to your salad). Add ½ cup of halved cherry tomatoes. Add ¼ cup cubed feta cheese and a small handful or fresh basil leaves.

Prepare quinoa according to your recipe. (For extra flavour, use chicken stock to prepare instead of water) Add cooled, cooked quinoa to your salad

Drizzle with a little olive oil + lemon juice. Add salt + freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Posted in Take Five Cafe Food

All things iced are refreshing when hot! But all things iced are not created equal!

Our teas are steeped fresh resulting in teas with a deep aromatic taste. They are then blended in house with other flavours to create unique + delicious iced tea recipes. Choose from Mango Iced Tea or Hibiscus Berry Iced Tea. Add lemonade for a twist or create your own spin…just ask our baristas.  And if you don’t find a version that quenches your thirst; you can always enjoy a glass of our Strawberry Lemonade. Either way, we have your thirst covered!

Visit us + grab a steeped iced tea or lemonade blended with ice. Nothing beats a refreshing cool drink on a hot day!

Posted in A Take Five Cafe Feature