With the current cold and snowy winter weather, heating up your body with festive holiday drinks is the way to go. Many countdown the days until the holiday menus come out at various places. Every year, Starbucks celebrates the holiday season by releasing a range of festive drinks served in their much-anticipated holiday cups. There is so much to choose from to meet your needs. In order, here are my favorites that you must get your hands on this holiday season.
Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte
This sweet, creamy and light drink tastes like vanilla with a hint of the roasty, buttery flavor of a golden cookie. The almond taste is subtle, although you can ask for a different type of milk if that does not fit your needs. The sugar cookie-flavored syrup combined with the cold foam along with the red and green sprinkles on top makes it the perfect drink that should definitely be at the top of your list if you have not tried it already. For those who are not a fan of such sweetness and like to taste the coffee in their drink, maybe order an extra espresso shot.
Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai
The creamy consistency and warm spices in this drink make it the perfect drink to get into the holiday spirit. The non-dairy gingerbread-flavored cold foam and spice topping creates a feel-good moment when taking the first sip of this drink. If you like gingerbread cookies, this essentially can be seen as the liquid form of that, and it does not disappoint. I recommend asking for cinnamon powder on top.
Peppermint Mocha
Peppermint mochas are a classic holiday drink. If you like a strong chocolatey and minty flavor, this is the best pick for you. The peppermint and mocha syrup along with the peppermint bits put the lid on top. Peppermint is one of the most popular and common flavors of the holiday season. Having this drink hot will satisfy your sweet tooth along with warming you up during the cold winter months. If you like your mochas rich and thick, make sure to ask for whipped cream added to it for a better tasting experience. Personally, I am not a big hot coffee drinker, so this ranks lower for me.
Cran-Merry Orange Lemonade Refresher
This refresher includes seasonally inspired flavors that are sweetened with Christmas flavors of cranberry and orange, plus it’s topped with real cranberries. You can request different modifications for different flavor profiles too. With the lemonade added by choice, it is sweet and tart, but just the right amount of both. With it being the first holiday refresher to be released from the chain, it is definitely worth giving a try. The drink does have a sour funk when you first taste it, but the sweetness definitely evens it out.
Caramel Brulee Latte
The Caramel Brulee Latte has its own flavor profile, characterized by its thick and sweet taste, which sets it apart from the traditional Caramel Latte, which has a sweet and buttery flavor. The best description is it is a burnt caramel with creamy vanilla, light toasted nuts and a little hint of butterscotch and white chocolate. The taste generally tastes like caramel bits with a hint of vanilla that makes it not too overpowering. Those with nut allergies do not need to worry though, there are no nuts in this drink. The rich caramel brulee sauce along with the whipped cream and sprinkled topping generally tops this drink off. You can also order the iced version, as seen in the photo above.
Chestnut Praline Latte
Lastly, the Chestnut Praline Latte is a blend of rich steamed milk, espresso and chestnut praline syrup. It is topped with whipped cream and spiced praline crumbs, giving it a warm and comforting taste. The nutty flavor is subtle, allowing the coffee’s taste to come through, yet it is not overly sweet. The caramelized chestnuts and the spiced praline crumbles make this drink more praline with a strong buttery, almost savory taste. It isn’t over the top and not an off-putting amount of sweet.
Whether you go for something towards the sweeter side like the Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte or something more towards the coffee side like the Peppermint Mocha, I can guarantee you any of these drinks will warm you up or cool you down, if you prefer iced drinks, just in time for the holidays and get you into the holiday spirit. There are always justifications you can ask for to adjust these drinks to your liking, but all of these drinks are some that do not disappoint and you do not want to miss out on trying this upcoming holiday season.
