Holiday drinks welcome winter spirit

Sam Klein
Print/Podcast Editor

Starbucks holiday drinks were released for the season on Nov. 2, and include some new drinks and some traditional drinks.

The Peppermint Mocha drink made its debut in 2002 and has been a holiday staple at Starbucks since. It can be ordered as hot, iced or as a Frappuccino. The mint and coco, being opposing flavors, come together to create a flavor that tastes like a candy cane dipped into chocolate. The drink costs $4.65 for the grande size.

Another drink that has quickly become a favorite is the Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte, which is $5.25 for a grande. The drink has been around for three holiday seasons now and is known for its green and red sprinkles on top of the drink. The drink has a sweet taste, thanks to the sugar cookie syrup. The use of almond milk also adds a nuttier and more distinct flavor to the drink. The latte can be spiced up with any of the Starbucks cold foams, like the vanilla cold foam for example to add some extra sweetness.

The Caramel Brulee Latte, while a good latte, really isn’t anything special. The drink is similar to how a normal caramel latte would taste. However, the brulee topping is a nice touch that adds to the appearance of the drink. One suggestion would be to swap out the whipped cream for cold foam to make it a little more special. All in all, it’s a solid drink but could benefit from some modifications like more caramel drizzle and cold foam. It can be purchased for $4.65 for a grande.

A fall favorite this year was the Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam Chai Tea Latte, and it’s been followed up with the reappearance of the Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai. The main benefit of the latte are that because the drink only uses oatmilk, even for the cold foam, it’s completely dairy free. For those who enjoy gingerbread, it’s the perfect drink to get into the holiday spirit. For those who don’t; however, they may want to try a different drink off the menu to get in the holiday mood. The cost for a grande is $6.40 with tax.

After the popularity of the Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam Chai Tea Latte, it’s debatable if the drink lives up to the same standards. While the chai is good, it may be recommended to try it with a different milk to get a more creamy cold foam on top.

The last drink on the holiday drink menu is the Chestnut Praline Latte, and it can be purchased for $4.65 for a grande. Compared to the Caramel Brulee Latte, this one is superior. The chestnut provides a more unique flavor, making the drink more distinct and memorable. The drink embodies the holiday spirit, but not in the typical peppermint or caramel way.