The views expressed in this Opinion article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
Hey there, Starbucks lovers — spring is about to get delicious, and it's going to smell wonderful too.
Starting on Thursday, March 7, Starbucks Canada is debuting two new beverages that are the perfect way to welcome in the new season as they have a decidedly floral element in them.
Narcity got a sneak peek at the new beverages ahead of their launch and here's what I thought of the new additions to the seasonal menu: the Iced Lavender Cream Oat Matcha and the Lavender Oat Latte.
“Lavender is the perfect flavour to transition us from the winter season into spring,” said Patrick Penny, Starbucks beverage developer. “Its soft sweetness, light floral notes and beautiful colour ignite feelings of rejuvenation and awakening associated with the change of seasons.”
The Lavender Oat Latte
The Lavender Oat Latte at Starbucks.
The first thing that struck me about the lavender oat latte is how deliciously floral it smells. You definitely get the fragrance of the lavender very clearly, which is wonderful, but it had me worried as I wasn't sure if such a perfumed scent would taste pleasant.
As it turns out, I didn't have anything to be worried about as this drink is lovely. While it does have a floral taste, it's a much more subtle flavour than the scent, and it reminds me quite a bit of the chain's London Fog Latte: fragrant and comforting.
“We aimed to create a really balanced, delicious beverage,” Penny said. “The oat beverage and the Blonde Espresso make a lovely pairing, providing a smooth, well-rounded profile that is complemented by the floral, and vanilla flavours of lavender.”
This drink also reminds me a lot of the Oleato — which is a similarly crafted drink with a hit of olive oil in it — in that it's a subtle flavour that's doing a lot of work without being overpowering.
The Iced Lavender Cream Oat Matcha
The Iced Lavender Cream Oat Matcha.
I love a cold matcha drink, but I do find it can sometimes be a little too bitter for my liking, so I was intrigued to try the drink with some lavender cream cold foam on top.
Like the first drink, it's made with oat milk, which I personally love, and the cold foam stirs nicely into the drink as opposed to whipped topping which just sort of sits on top of the beverage.
I really, really liked the balance of this drink — it starts with the sweet, floral smell and subtle taste of lavender and then is balanced out but the somewhat bitterness of the matcha at the end.
"When creating the new Iced Lavender Cream Oat Matcha, we wanted to capture the uplifting energy of spring in a cup,” Penny shared. “The vibrant green matcha topped with lavender-hued cold foam delivers a delightfully colourful and unexpectedly delicious flavour combination.”
I absolutely agree that it's giving spring in a cup, and I can see it as the perfect beverage to sip on while on a walk and getting those first whiffs of earthy spring notes as the ground starts to dethaw.
Lavender Crème Frappuccino
Lavender Crème Frappuccino.
My favourite beverage I tried was the Lavender Crème Frappuccino which looks so Insta-worthy with its light purple hue that it gets naturally from the lavender flavour.
As my barista said, it kind of tastes like the milk that you get at the end of your bowl of Fruit Loops and it's definitely more of a sugary treat.
"Sweet and subtle notes of lavender blended with vanilla syrup, milk, and ice, topped with whipped cream," says the Starbucks team of this drink. "A delicious blend of floral lavender and sweet vanilla in every sip!"
The vanilla in the drink really brings out the flavour of the lavender, and to me, this is a 10/10 and is the beverage I'm most excited about ordering again — it's seriously yummy.
Iced Strawberry Oat Matcha Tea Latte
A variety of drinks at Starbucks.
In addition to the new drinks, Starbucks is permanently bringing back a menu item that initially debuted on their spring menu last year: the Iced Strawberry Oat Matcha Tea Latte.
I'll admit, this item wasn't my favourite, but out of all the drinks we tasted, it was the one the barista most enjoyed and it's actually a drink that's available exclusively in Canada.
To me, the flavour of the strawberry sort of took over the flavour of the matcha, and I found the pieces of strawberry floating on top to be more of a nuisance than anything else, but again, that's just me — if it's coming back to the menu permanently, I must be in the minority of people who don't like it!
The barista mentioned I might like it more if it was combined with a half-white mocha, so maybe that's the next thing I should give a shot.
“It is clear customers love the taste of matcha and strawberry together as we add the Iced Strawberry Oat Matcha Tea Latte to Starbucks menus in Canada,” said Matthew Thorton, Starbucks senior product developer. “Combining the grounded earthiness of matcha, that first bite into a ripe, juicy strawberry with subtle notes of cucumber and a hint of lemon delivers a refreshing beverage that can now enjoyed year-round.”
Starbucks Anniversary Blend coffee
Starbucks Anniversary Blend coffee.
And lastly, it wouldn't be Starbucks without some coffee!
Also coming back to the menu is the Starbucks Anniversary Blend whole bean coffee, and I have to say, it packs quite a punch.
"Starbucks Anniversary Blend is intense yet elegant, featuring aromatic notes of smoked cedar and allspice, alongside accents of black truffle and fresh tarragon," says Starbucks of the offering.
It's very bold and tastes like a darker roast than many of their coffees with a full, smooth body that feels like the perfect antidote to a sleepy morning.
This coffee will get you moving in the morning because sometimes that's exactly what you need to give you that little boost to start your day!
Like many of their seasonal drinks, the spring menu items will only be around for a limited time, so if you want to try them, you'll have to give them a go before they disappear.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.