Culture

A Holiday Review: Starbucks’ Official Christimas Drink Menu

We get a head start on the flavors of the winter season at everyone’s favorite caffeine purveyor.

Violet Vacanti and Page Miller-Petznick • November 13, 2023

As this year’s winter season approaches, get ready for Starbucks’ all-new Holiday sweet treat and beverage menu to complete a warm seasonal welcome at local and global cafes. Although their variety is extreme, we picked four beverages and one warmly baked treat to review and gave our honest opinions to save customers from buying an overpriced drink that will leave them feeling like a Grinch.

Starbucks’ Holiday Menu

Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai

(Page Miller-Petznick and Violet Vacanti)

Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai

The iced gingerbread oat milk chai brings together warm gingerbread notes, a comfortable blend of chai spices, and velvety oat milk to produce a new holiday beverage that is perfectly balanced by this season's warming aromas. This drink is offered both iced and hot; however, we felt that it was in our best interest to order this beverage iced. Overall, this drink lacked the appropriate taste of gingerbread and resembled a chai latte with an overabundance of milk.

We rated this item a 3/10.

Peppermint Mocha

(Page Miller-Petznick and Violet Vacanti)

Peppermint Mocha

Although this Starbucks favorite combines their signature espresso roast, velvety milk, and sweet mocha syrup, this beverage resembles a peppermint hot cocoa. It's topped with whipped cream, peppermint flakes, as well as delicious chocolate curls. If you're looking for a warm sweet drink that can appeal to all customers, this drink is for you as it heats you up for the winter months.

We rated this item a 9/10.

Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte with Cold Foam

(Page Miller-Petznick and Violet Vacanti)

Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte with Cold Foam

The iced sugar cookie almond milk latte includes sugar cookie syrup combined with Starbucks Blonde Espresso following a sweet vanilla foam to balance out the bitterness of the coffee. This orginal Starbucks drink is topped with festive green and red sprinkles.

We rated this item a 8/10.

Iced Chestnut Praline Latte

(Page Miller-Petznick and Violet Vacanti)

Iced Chestnut Praline Latte

This beverage starts as a regular Starbucks latte until flavors of caramelized chestnuts and spices combine with the steamed milk within this drink. It's topped with praline crumbs to give it a finishing touch; however, there was no balance for the sweetness of the drink which ultimately decreased our enjoyment of it.

We rated this item a 5/10.

Gingerbread Loaf

(Page Miller-Petznick and Violet Vacanti)

Gingerbread Loaf

Although similar to its cousin, the pumpkin loaf, this Starbucks classic welcomes a yummy baked treat full of ample ginger-spice flavors. A delicious creamy vanilla frosting covers the roof of the loaf.

We rated this item a 7/10.

About the Contributor

Violet Vacanti, Editor-in-Chief

Violet Vacanti is a senior at Brownell Talbot. She joined Verbatim to sharpen her journalism skills and explore her creative writing techniques. Her publications include op-eds, podcasts, and senior stories.

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