Seasonal Starbucks drinks are back
For me, winter has a distinct smell: cinnamon, pumpkin spice and candy canes. Starbucks smells just like that following the end of October and the beginning of November, and their winter seasonal drinks taste just like Christmas. A few of my favorite winter themed drinks are their seasonal ones, but some were of my own creation.
The Caramel Brulee Frappuccino, although incredibly sweet, is one of my favorite seasonal drinks. The little crunch of caramel at the top pulls the drink together. I prefer to get it with light ice, so that the drink has more flavor and it is not so diluted. With the normal amount of ice, there tends to be chunks in the drink that taste like water. With light ice, it tastes like a variation of a caramel frappuccino, but it has a more vibrant caramel flavor. I personally don’t like very sweet drinks, but the Caramel Brulee Frappuccino is one of my favorites. 7/10.
The Pumpkin Spice Latte is a staple for seasonal drinks, and it is highly anticipated by the public when November rolls around. I liked it as a kid because I had a huge sweet tooth, but now I am more inclined to order drinks that taste more like coffee than like sugar. The first sip is really good, but the longer I drank it, the more nauseous I felt. I would not recommend this drink, especially if you have sensitive teeth like me. But, if you are in the mood for something sweet that tastes like Thanksgiving, this is the drink for you. 4/10.
A more Christmassy drink that I enjoy is the Vanilla Bean Frappuccino (light ice) and I ask for it with strawberry puree at the bottom and topped with mocha syrup. I find the Vanilla Bean Frappe too sweet by itself, but when you add the strawberry, not only does it look aesthetically pleasing, it balances some of the sweetness with the sourness of the fruit. 8/10.
