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Starbucks launched four new beverages Tuesday, putting strawberries and matcha in the menu spotlight.
White Chocolate Strawberry Cream Cold Brew evokes chocolate-covered strawberries with its combo of cold brew sweetened with vanilla syrup topped with white chocolate strawberry cream cold foam and chocolate curls. Strawberry Shortcake Frappuccino has a base of crème Frappuccino swirled with strawberry pure and cinnamon dolce syrup, finished with whipped cream and a sprinkle of caramel sugar.
Both are limited-time offers tied into Valentine’s Day, sporting a holiday-centric pink color and candy notes. Customers can top any beverage with the strawberry cold foam during the run of the LTO, but raspberry cold foam is now available year-round for another berry option.
The Seattle-based coffee giant is also expanding its matcha menu, a move that reflects the growing popularity of green tea lattes. According to Technomic, matcha lattes have increased 18% in menu mentions year over year, and continued growth is predicted.
Matcha is growing as a platform for beverage innovation. | Photo courtesy of Starbucks
Starbucks added two matcha drinks to the permanent menu. Iced Double Berry Matcha again taps strawberries, layering strawberry puree, matcha and raspberry cream cold foam over ice. Iced Banana Bread Matcha combines matcha with brown sugar syrup and milk over ice; it’s topped with banana cream cold foam and caramel crunch.
“Our matcha delivers a vibrant, velvety green experience with a smooth and creamy body,” said Sakthi Vijayakumar, the Starbucks beverage developer who helped create these new drinks, in a statement. “It is a perfect beverage to bring new flavor combinations to customers.”
About a year ago, Starbucks streamlined its menu, cutting 13 items. Now the R&D focus seems to be on seasonal flavor variations of core products, like lattes, matchas, cold brews and frappuccinos. Last spring, cherries, ube and lavender lent flavor inspiration, while in the fall, apple crisp came on the menu as a pumpkin spice alternative.
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