Tag: Starbucks

What is Starbucks’ Iced Guava Passionfruit Drink?

It’s a sister drink to the Iced Pineapple Matcha and Iced Golden Ginger Drinks in that it features coconutmilk as its base. This one packs a flavor punch with guava, passionfruit, pineapple, and ginger. It uses the pineapple ginger syrup along with a guava juice blend to create a bubblegum pink color and creamy flavor.

How is it?

You know how when you’re little and you think you don’t like fish (or insert other food you hated here), but it’s really because you actually haven’t tried it and just think you don’t like it? That’s how I used to be with coconutmilk. But once I began trying it a few years back in Starbucks’ Pink and Violet drinks (Refreshers paired with coconutmilk), I was sold.

The new Iced Guava Passionfruit Drink does not disappoint when it comes to creamy coconutmilk goodness. Having really enjoyed the recently released Iced Golden Ginger Drink, I was excited to try this one too.

At first sip, it immediately transports me to somewhere tropical – I definitely wanted to be on the beach with this one in hand. Despite the 25 grams of sugar in a tall, it’s not overly sweet. The fruity guava flavor definitely comes through, but the pineapple ginger syrup wasn’t very noticeable. All in all, it’s a pleasant drink – fruity flavor, a nice thickness from the coconutmilk and certainly refreshing on a hot day.

Anything else you need to know?

Like the Iced Golden Ginger Drink, there’s no caffeine in this one. So if you’re willing to fork over the more than $4 for a Starbucks drink that’s not going to give you a caffeine boost, it’s worth a try.

Conclusion:

While I enjoyed and loved the taste, I wouldn’t add it in to my normal Starbucks drink rotation, but keep it as a special, once-in-a-while beverage for an afternoon treat.

Purchased Price: $4.45
Size: Tall
Purchased at: Starbucks
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 140 calories, 2 grams of total fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 60 milligrams of sodium, 31 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 25 grams of total sugars, 1 grams of protein and 0 milligrams of caffeine.

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.

What is the Starbucks Iced Golden Ginger Drink?

Starbucks Iced Golden Ginger Drink pairs coconutmilk with a golden ginger blend, that includes turmeric, and a pineapple ginger syrup for a fruity iced beverage.

How is it?

Wow! This drink exceeded my expectations!

First of all, the beautiful golden yellow color is sure to be seen on Instagram accounts everywhere.

At first sip, I got a nice flavor of ginger that lingered after, but in a good way. The pineapple came through later, which I think was due to needing to stir the drink a bit after the syrup settled. My husband and I both agreed that this tasted like the perfect virgin happy hour drink — fruity, creamy, and packs just enough of a punch.

What I love about this is that it wasn’t too sugary or sweet – it didn’t leave me feeling like I just had a sugar bomb. The coconutmilk also makes the Iced Golden Ginger Drink more filling, in my opinion, than a regular Starbucks Refreshers beverage.

Is there anything else you need to know?

Unlike Starbucks Refreshers, the Iced Golden Ginger Drink does not have any caffeine in it. So don’t expect it to give you that type of energy boost! But I love having an option if I feel like I’ve already caffeinated enough but still want to partake in an afternoon Starbucks run with my co-workers.

Conclusion:

I love this drink and can’t wait to enjoy it even more as the weather warms up.

Purchased Price: $4.95
Size: Grande
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 140 calories, 5 grams of total fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 120 milligrams of sodium, 22 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 19 grams of total sugars, 1 grams of protein and 0 milligrams of caffeine.

What is the Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew with Salted Honey Cold Foam?

Starbucks has released yet another cold brew beverage with Cold Foam. This time, it’s a Nitro Cold Brew with Salted Honey Cold Foam. Also on top is a toasted honey topping. For those of you unfamiliar with nitro, it means the cold brew comes out of a nitrogen tap, meaning it’s a bit creamy and smooth.

How is it?

I have been loving cold brew lately (I have an infant, so give me all of the caffeine!), and I like that Starbucks has been introducing honey into other new beverages. But this one, literally and figuratively, fell flat for me. The Nitro Cold Brew itself is standard Starbucks – I did enjoy the smooth taste – but it lost its nitro-ness quicker than I was prepared to drink the beverage.

And let’s talk about the Cold Foam. I was pleased with the toasted honey topping – it had a nice sugary crunch – but the foam itself had no trace of honey flavor. It also dissolved into the drink rather fast, leaving me with about 3/4 of a cup of what looked like just plain cold brew.

I think Starbucks does cold brew beverages better when there is something IN the drink, a la Vanilla Sweet Cream or another syrup. The Cold Foam on top can really be a hit or miss.

Is there anything else you need to know?

If you mobile order your Starbucks drink (because if you wait in the drive-thru line, you’re coffee-ing wrong), they’ll wait until you arrive to pour the Nitro Cold Brew, which is a nice touch, to maximize the nitrogen in there.

Conclusion:

A decent drink, but not memorable. Glad I tried, but wouldn’t order again.

Purchased Price: $4.95
Size: Grande
Purchased at: Starbucks
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 40 calories, 0 grams of total fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 240 milligrams of sodium, 7 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 7 grams of total sugars, 2 grams of protein and 275 milligrams of caffeine.