This year Starbucks released its official holiday lineup on Nov. 4, 2021. This year’s winter menu consists of many new drinks, but also some old favorites, such as the Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino and the Caramel Brûlée Latte.
Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino
This cold drink is perfect for the holiday season. Along with the strong taste of peppermint, the Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino also gives off a chocolate-like taste. This drink is made with peppermint, chocolate, milk and coffee and it is topped with whipped cream and dark chocolate curls. This drink is a frappuccino, meaning it is not like an iced or warm coffee. It is cold and thick, more of a smoothie style; therefore, customers are not tempted to drink it as fast and it is more filling, meaning customers do not have to spend extra money on a venti drink because the tall and grande are just as filling. Overall, this is a delicious treat for the holidays, and if someone is looking to save some money for the holidays but still wants the refreshing taste, the Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino is for you.
If you are not a fan of the smoothie-like textures and you are willing to spend a little more, you are in luck because Starbucks has a number of options that might be better for you.
Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte
This sugary drink is the first dairy-free beverage on the holiday lineup. This drink features almond milk, espresso and sugar cookie syrup, and it is topped with red and green sprinkles to add a festive touch. This drink is favored by many because not only is it tasty and refreshing, but it is also lactose-free. The Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte can be ordered either as a cold beverage or a warm alternative. This drink is able to be customized in many different ways. For those who are not the biggest fans of almond milk, you can also ask for this drink with 2% milk instead.
“The Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte from Starbucks is by far my favorite holiday drink this year,” sophomore Olivia Moisa said. “It is sweet, but the sweetness doesn’t overpower the drink. I recommend ordering with 2% milk if you are like me and not the biggest fan of almond milk.”
This beverage can be customized in many ways to better fit your liking. The Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte is a new drink on the winter menu this holiday season but it is definitely the most favored this year. This drink is also a wonderful way to keep festive during the holidays.
Caramel Brûlée Latte
This warm drink is perfect for a cold, snowy day. The Caramel Brûlée Latte is a sugary drink; it contains espresso, steamed milk and a special rich caramel brûlée sauce. This drink is great for those that prefer a flavorful taste rather than just straight coffee; it is full of rich caramel flavor and will still give that extra caffeine boost, perfect for a snow day. This drink is not the crowd’s first pick, but it definitely is a favorite.
This drink can come off bland to many, but for others, it is just the right drink for them.
“This drink didn’t have as much flavor as I predicted; it reminded me of just a basic white mocha,” sophomore Katie Decremer said.
This drink is not for everyone but is favored by many.
Chestnut Praline Latte
The Chestnut Praline Latte is made with espresso and steamed milk, with added flavors of caramelized chestnuts and spice, it is topped with whipped cream with spiced praline crumbs added for a festive decorative touch. This beverage in a way tastes like a s’more; it has a buttery taste, but also a warm, toasty and nutty flavor. This drink is good for those looking for a more basic taste but also a little bit of a different flavor. This drink gives off a good caffeine boost and will help start off your morning on a cold winter day.
The holiday lineup is a great way to engage customers during the holiday season. Starbucks makes sure to have a wide variety of drinks that suit everyone’s differences, making it a fun experience for customers to try out each drink and find which one best fits their liking. These drinks are not only tasty treats, but they are very creative and festive for the holidays.
