With the holiday season vastly approaching and many looking forward to all things that surround this time of year, Starbucks draws the largest crowd in the fast food and drink industry with its holiday menu. With a selection of eight drinks and 6 sweet treats, there is so much to unwrap this holiday season.
A fan favorite amongst many reviewers, as it was the first drink to sell out at the Plainfield location on Route 59 and 119th, the Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte is the perfect cup of coffee to get you in the holiday spirit! The sugar cookie syrup takes away the bitterness of the espresso, and it is the right amount of coffee and sweetness. Enjoying a holiday drink like this must be followed by a sweet treat, but unfortunately, this sweet treat fell short of our expectations. The newly added penguin cookie has replaced the well-loved snowman cookie on the menu this holiday season. After looking at many online reviews, consumers are hoping the snowman is back on the menu next holiday season rather than the penguin.
For those who may not rave over the Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte and prefer something more on the bitter side with those earthy coffee tones, the Iced Gingerbread Oat Milk Chai Latte is the perfect drink for you this holiday season. The Iced Gingerbread Oat Milk Chai Latte is a drink many were skeptical of as the earthy tones of chai and the sweet hints of gingerbread did not seem like the ideal combination. However, the delightful mix presented the best triple combination of flavors.
The pastries and bakery items this holiday season are an endless phenomenon and something consumers can’t resist purchasing. Not only is the visual presentation of these pastries enticing, but the taste is enjoyable for all. The adorable snowman cake pop stuck on a red and white swirl stick reminds people of candy canes and the holiday season, decorated with the face of a snowman smiling with earmuffs. The visual presentation is the only difference in their classic birthday cake pops sold during the regular season. Another new pastry, the Dark Toffee Bundt, left many disappointed as the visual and taste both lacked. The Dark Toffee Bundt is topped off with red and green Christmas sprinkles with swirl-shaped dark chocolate bun as its base. Flavors like a caramel or chocolate drizzle would make a great addition to the pastry.
The Cran-Merry isn’t much to rave about; this drink, from the odd taste of coconut milk to the warm spices, has your taste buds conflicted. The drink feels more appropriate for the summer season despite the name of it; it does not belong on this holiday menu. Many describe the taste as bitter milk with a mix of McCormick spices. With an alternative to the classic Cran-Merry, Starbucks also offers a drink just as bad. The Cran-Merry Orange Refresher is a coconut milk and orange flavor combination that should not, and does not, belong together. It’s a combination that does not scream Christmas or the holiday season; the visual appeal and texture leaves a concerning idea of what it is one is indulging in.
There are only three more drinks remaining on the menu with one being a waste of a review and money spent: the Chestnut Praline Latte. It has an odd and unsatisfying taste of chestnut – and chestnut alone – leaving no other flavor to be perceived. With the small and flavorless topping of praline on top, the drink is left with a chunky and difficult sip. However, Starbucks earns redemption with its second best-seller: the Peppermint Mocha. It is an explosion of enjoyable flavors with the holiday spirit sprinkled on top and the perfect hot drink with the right amount of peppermint allowing the savor to be both enjoyable and sweet, topped off with chocolate shaving. The last drink of choice is the wonderful Caramel Brulee Latte with its delicious touch of caramel, making it perfect for a hot drink during the cold season.
