Greater Manchester has developed a notable obsession with novelty tiramisu, transforming the classic Italian dessert into a local culinary phenomenon. From dedicated cafes to viral social media sensations, the region has embraced tiramisu in forms ranging from lattes to wheelbarrow-sized portions.
The Viral Tiramisu Drawer That Started It All
The craze can be traced back to Onda pasta's tiramisu drawer, which debuted in 2023. The restaurant shared a video of a massive slab of tiramisu that chefs scoop to order during service. The innovation went viral, amassing over 23 million views across Instagram and TikTok, with thousands of shares and comments. This sparked a wave of tiramisu-focused businesses across Greater Manchester.
Dedicated Tiramisu Cafes Spring Up
Since Onda's viral moment, cafes selling tiramisu cakes, drinks, and novelty flavours like matcha and pistachio have opened across the region. Notable dedicated tiramisu spots include LAYRr in Ancoats, Angel Crumbs in Circle Square, and Misu Tiramisu in Stretford. These venues offer a variety of non-traditional flavours, capitalising on the dessert's photogenic appeal.
Some social media users have criticised the trend, calling it a sign of gentrification. However, owners like Aleem Bani of Misu Tiramisu see it as a natural evolution. Misu began selling at makers markets and Manchester's Christmas markets before opening their own cafe. Aleem said: "Social media's massive for us, because it's so Instagrammable. People are seeing it on their socials and they’re wanting to come and try it for themselves."
Misu Tiramisu: From Markets to Main Street
Inspired by a trip to Milan, co-founders Aleem and Aishah spent a year refining their recipe before launching in their hometown of Sale. They now offer nine flavours, with a total of 13 variations sold. Aleem explained: "The concept of all these different flavours, this is something that was already happening in Italy. We have nine flavours of tiramisu... it's just the intrigue of what a certain flavour of tiramisu would taste like."
The gamechanger was their presence at Manchester's Christmas Markets, where they had queues daily. This success led to their Stretford cafe, where customers can watch tiramisu being made. Aleem noted: "The first day we opened we had queues across the whole of King Street and we were cleared up by like 2pm."
A New Way to Experience a Classic Dessert
Aleem attributes the trend to tiramisu's visual appeal and the novelty of new flavours. He said: "People are wanting to share what they’ve got from us and it’s a new way of trying tiramisu. It’s a classic dessert but it’s a new way of trying it; a new experience, so people are interested in trying it." Despite the craze, he does not recall a previous "tiramisu craze" in Manchester, suggesting the current wave is unique.
The rise of novelty tiramisu in Greater Manchester reflects a broader trend of Instagrammable food, with the dessert becoming a focal point for vendors and customers alike.
