TikTok loves a slightly strange-sounding food trend. Last year, there was okra water, which is just as it sounds: water infused with okra overnight. Users touted its health benefits, claiming it could improve skin and digestion, though the claims weren’t backed by much research. Onion coffee had a moment in 2024, too. And of course, who could forget the MSG cucumber salad obsession?
The latest craze making the rounds? Stretchy yogurt. But what exactly is it, and can it be made vegan?
TikTok’s latest obsession: Stretchy yogurt
Despite the name, stretchy yogurt isn’t actually that stretchy. At first glance, it looks like mozzarella cheese, but the texture is more sticky and thick than elastic.
According to Modern Asian Baking founder Kat Lieu, the trend originated in China, though it’s not really sold as “stretchy” there. “It’s marketed as silky, thick, creamy, and at most, sticky yogurt,” she wrote in a blog post. “It’s a fun, pourable yogurt that’s like a thick, viscous, melted milkshake.”
New York-based Mamie’s Yogurt has helped to popularize the treat in the US. Lieu writes that the shop likely makes its signature product with a powdered starter, then freezes it to achieve that thick, stretchy look.
Tangram
Heather Martin, RD, also has thoughts. In an article for Today, she speculated that Mamie’s might use a special culture to create the yogurt, or maybe rice starch.
The taste, though, isn’t too distinct from regular yogurt. “Just tasted like regular yogurt with fruit pieces in it,” said one Reddit user. Lieu’s review is more generous. She described making the yogurt from scratch as “messy, a little chaotic, and totally delicious.”
Beyond taste, stretchy yogurt may also offer some health perks. Yogurt is nutrient-dense (especially plant-based versions) and contains beneficial gut bacteria, some of which may even help reduce the risk of chronic diseases, including certain cancers.
The good news? You don’t need a trip to New York to try it. Stretchy yogurt is easy to make at home. And yes, it works with dairy-free ingredients too.
Kat Lieu
Can you make vegan stretchy yogurt?
Mamie’s Yogurt doesn’t appear to offer dairy-free versions, but Lieu has developed a method you can try at home, and it’s easy to swap in vegan ingredients. All you need is vegan Greek yogurt, dairy-free milk, tapioca starch, and sugar. Mix the ingredients in a bowl, cover, and microwave for two minutes. As it cools, the mixture thickens into that signature stretchy texture.
“The one ingredient that you shouldn’t swap out is the tapioca starch, because that’s the one that contributes to the stretchiness,” explains Lieu.
Serve your stretchy yogurt with toppings like fresh fruit, chocolate chips, or granola.
For more plant-based stories like this, read:
Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.
