What's Shaken stirs up milkshake culture in Vancouver

There’s no doubt that Vancouverites enjoy their bubble teas, ice coffees, and fruit smoothies. Now, a new downtown business is adding milkshakes to the mix. What’s Shaken (586 Davie Street), a gourmet made-to-order milkshake bar, opened on March 23.

Inspired by the popularity of milkshake parlours of the 1950s, the owners of What’s Shaken decided to revitalize the concept while adding unusual flavours, different dietary options, and local art to the mix.

The shop offers over two dozen original flavours of milkshakes (starting at $3.75), including Mango Lassi, a blend of vanilla ice-cream, almond milk, mangoes, and cardamom; Apple Pie, a mix of vanilla ice-cream, apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg; and Get Figgy with It; which consists of chocolate ice-cream, coconut water, and figs.

Health-conscious customers can also choose from several “veggie shakes”, such as the carrot, spinach, and ginger-infused Garden Bliss, or Kale Colada, a milkshake of ice-cream, coconut water, pineapple, and kale. Supplement boosters can also be added to shakes for $1.

What’s Shaken offers dairy ice-cream and Coconut Bliss, an Oregon-based organic ice-cream brand that’s dairy-, soy-, and gluten-free.