On November 7, Starbucks unveiled its holiday menu, complete with festive drinks and snacks, so here is the official review of the good and bad of the new menu.
Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha – 7/10
Starbucks describes this drink as being a rich espresso with white chocolate sauce, peppermint syrup, and steamed milk topped with sweet whipped cream and dark chocolate curls. Although the drink is made with white chocolate, it is not overpowering. Even so, it has a rich chocolate flavor. However, we would not recommend this or coffee lovers, since the coffee taste is lacking, due to the overpowering peppermint. The display is cute on the app, but the opaque top covers the whipped cream, so it’s a little disappointing. The drink would be better if it had less peppermint and a lid where the whipped cream is visible. Overall, it’s a perfect drink for a sweet tooth, but it is not advisable to order a grande.
Snowman Cake Pop – 2/10
Although the description is a cute idea, the drink does not match the description at all. It is also overpoweringly sweet. Unless one enjoys stomachaches or overly sweet desserts, this is not worth the price. It’s a cute idea, but there are plenty of more appealing options for the price that will taste much better.
Salted Pecan Crunch Cold Brew – 8.5/10
Described as a candied pecan inspired drink that is both savory and sweet, this coffee is made with cold brew, sweetened with a bit of vanilla syrup; and topped with smooth salted pecan cream cold foam and crunchy pecan sugar. This is definitely the best new holiday drink for coffee lovers. While the cold foam does not have a strong flavor, it is nice and simple. The drink has a “pecan crunch topping” that tastes like caramelized bits of pecan. The cold brew is a simple drink that does not have a big holiday look, but is still delicious. Yet, this is not for those who dislike coffee, as the cold brew is very strong.
Cranberry Lemonade Refresher – 8/10
A refreshing mixture of tart and sweet winter flavors mixed together create this perfectly concocted winter drink. The drink tastes of orange and cranberry, but the warm spices are missing, so the drink lacks the winter flavor. The deception is not awful, as cranberry is a very tart flavor on its own. In the end, this refresher is my second favorite, following the mango dragon fruit refresher at number one, and the strawberry açai last.
Toffee Bundt Cake – 4/10
The toffee bundt cake is a simple cake topped with holiday shaped sprinkles. Despite having a pleasing presentation with red and green sprinkles, the inside is dry and lacks flavor. Instead of tasting like a toffee bundt cake, it resembles banana bread without the banana. I do not recommend the cake, as it is a dull waste of money.
Turkey Sage Danish – 5/10
Out of all the foods we tasted, the Turkey Sage Danish was the best smelling, and the biggest disappointment. The outside is a fluffy pastry dough with a sage garnish on top and an inside full of small turkey meatballs. The description and presentation is a let-down. The danish is soggy and lacks a sage flavor. It would have been better to have turkey strips than turkey meatballs, because the turkey in ball form is unappealing and does not scream winter. The creamy béchamel sauce is none existent and cannot be tasted at all. It would be better if there was a different form of meat, less sogginess, and more sauce.
Overall, Starbucks is a good place to get an overpriced drink when one’s running late or wants something quick, but there are plenty of better options that are more worth one’s money. The menu has fun inspiration but poor execution, so while interesting, the Starbucks winter menu is overhyped.
