Starbucks takes the game of unique beverages to a completely different level. Dozens of new recipes are being introduced each year all over the world and the most popular of them are being re-introduced annually for special events (like the pumpkin spice latte).
The chain started with one little store in Seattle, Washington in 1971 and now it has more than 24,000 stores in more than 70 countries and it's former CEO Howard Schultz may run for president of the United States of America. In addition to this, Starbucks has an incredible corporate culture and they are committed to eliminating the use of plastic straws by 2020, which speaks about their visionary cosmopolitan worldview.
Starbucks menus are different all over the world and some options that we see make us either envious or force us to add some new positions to our foodie bucket lists. Consider that Starbucks is presented in so many countries, you can imagine the number of unique menu items. To help you understand how wonderful and weird Starbucks stuff can get, I have compiled this list of 25 unique Starbucks menu items around the world.
You will read about 10 offbeat frappuccino recipes, 4 unique latte options, 6 unusual food items, 2 mind-boggling espresso-based beverages and 4 other drinks that have nothing to be compared to. You will also find out what a "one bean theory" is and will get an opportunity to check if it works for yourself.
WARNING: This article has a strong mouth-watering effect.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Not all of these drinks are available right now because Starbucks is constantly updating their menu.
25 Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew (United States, Canada)
This Starbucks menu option is only available in Canada and the United States. The recipe is an easy one: they take the cold brew coffee (not to be mixed up with iced coffee) and top it with housemade vanilla sweet cream. It's more than just a cold brew coffee because you can taste every component and it mixes up excellently.
If you choose to order it, I would advise you to look at how barista is making it, because it's a sort of coffee meditation magic that you get as a free bonus when ordering the drink.
24 Lucuma Crème Frappuccino (Peru)
Too bad they don't serve it in the United States and Europe, but I can understand why. This frappucino is made with Lucuma, which is a tropical fruit from Peru, so it would be problematic to export it to different parts of the world.
On the other hand, it makes the drink exclusive and adds one more reason to go to Peruvian Starbucks.
The taste of the fruit can be compared to maple flavor or butterscotch and this frappucino itself is creamy and sweet as a Peruvian treat should be.
23 Sakura Blossom Creamy Latte (Japan)
You can write a separate article about offbeat Starbucks drinks from Japan or the whole of Asia because they have all kinds of unique menu items which easily boggle the imagination of a true coffee lover.
The beautifully stylized sakura blossom creamy latte you see on the picture was presented in Japanese Starbucks to celebrate cherry blossom festival (Sakura Matsuri). Japanese people love this festival very much, so it's no wonder that Starbucks created a drink like that. It was a limited-edition creamy brew with cherry petal sauce and white bean paste.
22 Matcha Espresso Infusion Drink (Asia)
Another interesting Starbucks menu item available only in Asia that can make us think that we have missed something. This combination of colors mesmerizes so much that I don't know what's better, to look at this drink, or to actually drink it. No wonder it quickly became an Instagram star.
As you may have understood from its name, matcha espresso infusion drink is a hybrid of espresso and green matcha powder layered with milk. A great mix if you like matcha tea.
21 Butterscotch Brûlée Latte (UK)
This latte is actually being brewed not just in the UK, but in other countries and parts of the world as well. The trick is that it has different names. In the UK it is known as a Butterscotch Brûlée Latte and in the rest of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East it is called Creamy Caramel Latte.
Starbucks recommends to drink it to beat the winter blues and I think it's an excellent advice. Espresso with butterscotch sauce, steamed milk, and brulée topping creates a harmony in your mouth which can slowly be extended to the harmony in your heart and eventually make you smile and beat the blues.
20 Labneh Sandwich (Middle East)
Starbucks is not just about tasty coffee, even though many of us associate it only with this awakening drink. There are many tasty food options around the world that you can try at Starbucks. One of them is Labneh sandwich served in the Middle East. No matter how strange it may look at the first glance, this sandwich is a tasty one and it's a great option for vegetarians.
Labneh is the main component of this sandwich. It's a soft cheese obtained from strained yogurt. The sandwich consists of labneh spread on two slices of bread, cucumbers, black olives and fresh mint leaves.
Give it a try next time you go to the Middle East region.
19 Blossoming Rose Tea Latte (Canada)
This is a totally new drink which was presented in Canada in July 2018. The coffee giant added a blossoming rose tea late to make our summer more tasty and enjoyable. It can be served with Rooibos, Black Tea or Matcha according to your wishes.
Tea Lattes presented at the beginning of the year were only served hot and now we have finally received an iced version. Another tasty item which was added this summer is vegan ice cream pops that you can get at Los Angeles Starbucks store.
18 Avocado Yogurt Blend (South Korea)
If you're looking for healthy options, South Korean Starbucks can offer you some. You can postpone going to a fancy organic grocery store to drink a glass of eco-juice from guava (or whatever you prefer) because you can now buy an avocado yogurt blend in Starbucks. Now that's an unusual menu item!
Avocado yogurt blend is prepared with low-fat yogurt, kale, avocado, and coconut milk. Looks like the healthiest option on the list.
I can imagine how great it tastes with the addition of coconut milk!
17 Cherry Pie Frappuccino (Japan)
This item is being included in all "unique Starbucks menu items" articles, but I can't help but include it in this list too, just to celebrate the imagination of Japanese people and the look of this super-yummy eat-and-drink-me-now-or-choke-with-your-saliva monster drink.
Just take a look at the list of ingredients: vanilla-flavored froth, whipped cream, cherry compote and a pie pastry dome. I don't know who made this recipe but they must have been struck with an imagination gift from a gastro muse.
It seems that rumors about the food cult in Japan are true.
16 Churro Frappuccino (Latin America)
Scroll further if you're reading this article to find some low-fat options because this one is all about calories and sweetness.
Churro Frappuccino served at Starbucks all over Latin America includes cinnamon sprinkling, whipped cream, white mocha syrup, and a churro. Churro is a cinnamon sugar covered deep fried treat that you see on the picture. The Starbucks version of Churro is as good as its analogs which you can buy on the streets of Latin America.
Even if you prefer a healthy lifestyle, I don't see a reason why you can't treat yourself with Churro Frappucino at least once.
15 Halloumi, Kashkawane, & Zaatar Wrap (Middle East)
Let's take a closer look at another peculiar item that you don't expect to see in a Starbucks food menu. Halloumi, Kashkawane, & Zaatar Wraps are served all over the Middle East and I think many of us wouldn't mind if we could order them in local Starbucks outlets, too.
These are the tortilla wraps, where the main ingredient is called halloumi, which is a brined cheese made with sheep and cow milk, similar to mozzarella. Other ingredients include sliced black olives, tomato, and zaatar, which is a special spice mix from the Middle East. The final "gastro-cord" of this dish is a mayonnaise dressing.
I'd better proceed to the next item to stop the mouth-watering effect.
14 Double Chocolate Green Tea Frappuccino (Australia)
Come food fanatics, Starbucks has prepared more unique options so you can join the cult.
Double Chocolate Green Tea Frappuccino is basically a Green Tea Frappe that has a thick chocolate sauce on the top and at the bottom of the cup, crunchy java chips and whipped cream dusted with a green tea powder. Local people say that you can feel the chocolate sauce better than matcha flavor, although it doesn't make the overall taste worse.
I think it can get a prize for one of the most creative Green Tea Frappe variations. Seriously, who comes up with all these recipes?
13 Brigadeiro Frappuccino (Brazil)
This frappuccino was born to honor the love of dulce de leche flavored ice creams which all Argentinians share. Dulce de leche is a traditional Latin American dessert that is prepared by slowly heating sweetened milk until it changes its color and gets a flavor similar to caramel.
Brigadeiro Frappuccino blends coffee with milk, ice, chocolate chips, whipped cream and spirals of caramel which you can see on the picture above.
I can imagine that it tastes even better than it looks.
#Delicious #Sweet #Yummy #Starbucks #Brazil
12 Chocolatey Banana Cocoa Frappucino (Japan)
Getting back to Japan again, I can't allow myself to make such a horrible omission and not to include the Chocolatey Banana Cocoa Frappucino. Everybody knows (ok, almost everybody) that banana and chocolate is an outstanding mix, but for some reason, only in Japan, you can get a drink like this at Starbucks.
This beverage has plenty of creamy chocolate and includes tasty toppings with crumbed banana sponge cake pieces, whipped cream and chocolate sauce. Banana pieces were roasted with sugar which makes them crunchy and adds a very intense aroma of banana to the drink.
Writing this without an opportunity to taste is a real torture. I guess you feel me. But brace yourselves, we have 11 more items on the list.
11 Iced Sparkling Espresso With Mint (Seattle, USA)
Finally, a simple recipe, to give you and me a little break. But simple doesn't mean tasteless, because if you have ever tried a mix of espresso and mint, then you know that it's an elegant combination.
It's an ideal option if you want to refresh yourself on a hot day or just reload your brain which suffers from the effects of multi-functionality which most of us suffer because of the crazy pace of our lives.
Classic, simple and smart recipe which you can even try at home.
10 Cheese Savoury (Turkey)
Ok, and now a bagel! But not a traditional one which you can find in every New York bakery. This one combines olives, walnuts, poppy seeds, crusty bagel and cream cheese. Being a foodie, I can admit that it's an excellent combination.
If you have ever been to Turkey, then you know how popular simits are. I guess, knowing this, Starbucks decided to pay respect to the cherished simit and offer Cheese Savoury.
I think this is a bagel-like pastry which every one of us could enjoy. Provided we go to Turkey.
9 Red Bean Green Tea Frappuccino (China)
It's difficult for me to understand the nuances of Asian bean-loving soul. For this reason, I consider this item to be the strangest on the list.
There are so many delicious dishes with beans all around the world, but why, oh God, why mixing them with green matcha powder, milk, and ice cream? My emotional outburst clearly shows how different the tastes of a European and an Asian person are, when it comes to beans. But, we're living in the world of diversity, so let everyone enjoy their favorite food specialties.
8 Chocolate Black Tea Frappuccino with Earl Grey Jelly (Philippines)
Let's take a look at another interesting option from the Asian region. Chocolate Black Tea Frappuccino with Earl Grey Jelly swirled with java chips and finished with chocolate-tea powder is an option that mixes the best of tea and chocolate world. It's all topped with whipped cream to make the beverage look and taste even more delightful.
I have to admit that the idea to pair rich chocolate with thirst-quenching tea to delight both chocolate and tea lovers is a brilliant one.
I wish more coffee makers around the world had an imagination like this.
7 Apricot and Peach Yogurt Frappuccino (Singapore)
Starbucks lovers from Singapore are happy because last month they were presented with Apricot and Peach Yogurt Frappuccino and the Ruby Red Grape Blended Juice Drink.
Speaking about the contents of the former:
- on the bottom, you have an aromatic peach jelly with peach
- in the middle, there's a yogurt
- on the top, you have a yummy apricot sauce
Needless to say, it's an Instagrammer's dream. Luckily, not only your Instagram account will benefit from it, as your mouth receptors will also burst with joy.
6 Purple Yam Cheesecake (Philippines)
A purple cheesecake? No problem! You can get this beautiful example of culinary genius in Philippines Starbucks outlets. According to the company it is:
"A silken smooth, light cheesecake swirled with purple yam, red mung bean, and macapuno coconut"
I guess now you understand me better when I'm writing about the Asian bean-loving soul. Could you imagine that this beautiful cake has beans in it? After being to several Asian countries I'm now suspecting that every dish has at least one bean in it. I call it a "one bean theory".