Starbucks’ annual holiday drink line made its comeback on November 2 of this year. The menu includes the return of crowd-favorite drinks and desserts, along with some new appearances. With the release comes new designs for their cups, limited merchandise, and their free, reusable red cup that many customers got a hold of on Starbucks’ annual Red Cup Day. Like many others, I love Starbucks, and I tend to frequent the coffee shop on the way to school in the mornings or after a long day. While I have my go-to drinks, I love ordering the holiday flavors when they come out. This year, I enjoyed almost all of the drinks I tried.
The Starbucks holiday menu would not be what it is today without the Peppermint Mocha. “I love the peppermint mocha,” said senior Ellie Smith. Something about it just reminds me of the holidays, and the combination of all the flavors together just puts a perfect winter day into a comfort drink.” explained Smith. The beverage was one of the first holiday drinks introduced to the franchise and has been a staple of the menu for over two decades now. When the drink menu is released each year, this beverage is the first one I try. The taste is sweet, and the texture is creamy and smooth. The mix of chocolate and peppermint works so well together. “The taste of the peppermint mocha is so reminiscent of being in elementary school and watching the Polar Express with my hot coco and a candy cane,” said senior Isabella Galván. “Now that I’m a teenager, I like the hot coco and peppermint combo blended into a frappuccino.”
After falling in love with the flavor of their new fall menu addition, the Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte, I was so excited to see that they were adding a gingerbread version to their menu this season. After taking a few sips of the latte, I was a little disappointed in its lack of gingerbread flavor. The drink itself is delicious, but compared to the pumpkin chai, it falls a little flat. Even though I was let down a little bit, I would definitely try it again because it is a solid drink and nevertheless quite tasty.
If you’re looking for a classic drink that is delicious but isn’t too fancy, then the Chestnut Praline Latte is for you! This drink is on the sweeter side, but it isn’t overwhelming. It took me a while to get around to trying this drink because I was hesitant about the chestnut flavor, but after taking a sip, I wish I had tried it sooner. It’s simple, but it’s not plain by any means. I will definitely revisit this flavor throughout the season. Another drink I discovered I loved later than I should have is the Caramel Brulée Latte. I really enjoy coffee paired with caramel flavoring, and this drink is nothing but delicious. The taste of it is very sweet and it carries a toasty undertone. It definitely lives up to its name and will not disappoint you. “Even though I’m not much of a coffee girl, I love the caramel brulée latte,” said senior Jimena Morote. “It has a very warm, comforting taste compared to the other drinks.” Although it tastes similar to a regular caramel latte that you can get at any time, I wish they kept this drink available throughout the year.
In 2021, Starbucks released the new Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte. I was very intrigued by this flavor, and I couldn’t wait to try it, but when I got my hands on it and took a sip, I wasn’t a huge fan of the taste. It was a little bland and seemed like it was watered down by the ice even though I got it freshly made. I gave it another try last year, and I had the same results, but for this review, I bought it yet again. It’s definitely grown on me a little. I would like to say I’ve just had bad luck the past two years, or maybe I didn’t like the almond milk in this drink specifically. Overall, no matter how much I try to love this drink as much as other people do, it just doesn’t hit the spot.
Finally, I tried a classic holiday drink that Starbucks has carried for a while. The Gingerbread Latte is a warm, sweet drink that has just the right amount of spice in it. Even the smallest whiff of the drink brings back warm and cozy memories of Christmas. It’s not super in your face, but it’s also not too basic. I believe that even non-coffee lovers would enjoy this drink! You can’t go wrong with a gingerbread latte!
The holiday menu at Starbucks provides customers with a decent variety of flavors, so I believe anyone could find a drink they would love! From the cool, icy flavor of peppermint to the warm, sugary taste of gingerbread, there are many different options to choose from. When the new year rolls around, I get a bit sad to see their removal of the seasonal flavors, but it makes the return of them even more special!
