I’ve consumed two Starbucks Iced Pineapple Matcha Drinks so far, and I’m considering picking up a third.
That might make you think I’m giving this new spring beverage from the coffee chain my seal of approval, if I had one. But even if I did, I wouldn’t give this drink one. I’ve had two because, after the first one, I wasn’t sure how I truly felt about it. Even after the second, I’m still confused.
The beverage features flavors that I enjoy separately — matcha green tea, pineapple, ginger, and coconutmilk, all of which are shaken with ice. But when they come together in a #5 plastic Starbucks cup, I can’t help but think its flavor is weird.
Now that sounds bad, but I have to admit, I think my taste buds like that weirdness. Why do they? I don’t know.
Starbucks’ Iced Pineapple Matcha Drink is unlike anything I’ve ever tasted before. The matcha and pineapple are the most notable flavors competing for your taste buds, and to be honest, they are strange cupfellows. I’ve never come across the combination before among the dozens of matcha-flavored products I’ve had over the years.
The coconutmilk enhances the flavor of the pineapple, giving the whole drink a pina colada undertone. As for the ginger, it’s light and not noticeable with every sip. I’m not sure why it’s there.
While I liked the beverage, my wife didn’t, and I feel its flavor is unusual enough that many others besides her will not enjoy it. Even if you love matcha, which my wife does, it doesn’t mean you’ll fall in love with this.
With that said, if a mashup between a matcha latte and a virgin pina colada sounds intriguing to you, then give Starbucks’ Iced Pineapple Matcha Drink a try.
Purchased Price: $5.55
Size: Grande
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 170 calories, 5 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 115 milligrams of sodium, 30 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 27 grams of sugar, 2 grams of protein, and 80 milligrams of caffeine.
I have purchased three pineapple matcha drinks. I like it. I like how it makes me feel better. The second one I purchased, they balked on selling it to me, because they were out of coconut milk. They substituted lemonade for the coconut milk. It was OK. Tonight, I got one that was made the way it’s supposed to be made. The coconut milk really does enhance the pineapple–it has a very smooth taste. I like how this drink makes me feel better, so much (I think it’s the matcha), that I’m going to purchase my own matcha tea powder to make at home, when I can’t get it at Starbucks. I give it a 10.