Starbucks has brought their Oleato drinks to Canada and I got to try the two olive oil-infused beverages, which I'll admit I was a little skeptical of going into the process.
Given that it's received mixed reviews in the other countries it's debuted in, I was very pleasantly surprised by the two new menu items — and there's one I'd order again.
"Starting January 30, Starbucks Oleato beverages will be available at all stores across Canada for the first time," Starbucks says of their new offerings. "Oleato brings together Starbucks coffee and Partanna extra virgin olive oil to create a velvety smooth, deliciously lush coffee for customers to enjoy an elevated coffee experience."
Here's how I got on with the national launch of the Oleato Oat Latte and the world debut of the Oleato Golden Foam Iced Shaken Espresso with Toffeenut.
What does the Oleato Oat Latte taste like?
An Oleato Oat Latte in a glass beside a sign describing the drink.
The first drink I tried was the Oleato Oat Latte, which was served warm but can also be enjoyed iced.
"The beverage is made with Starbucks Blonde Espresso Roast, a light roast that is smooth and subtly sweet, is infused with Partanna extra virgin olive oil and steamed with creamy oat beverage to create a velvety smooth, deliciously lush latte," says Starbucks of the drink.
I'll admit, when I took my first sip, I was a bit confused as I was expecting a bold coffee flavour like you'd normally get with their Pike roast and so I at first found it to be lacking.
However, after I took a few more sips I was able to taste the nuance in the drink. The Blonde coffee is pleasantly mild and the olive oil adds a subtle richness to the oat milk that can sometimes be lacking in non-dairy products.
The pepperiness of the olive oil starts to shine through the drink as you continue to sip it, and I found myself actually craving more of the flavours of the oil.
The drinks are customizable, so if I were to order this again, I'd add a second pump of olive oil, which is a statement I didn't think I'd ever say.
"The alchemy of Starbucks arabica coffee and premium Partanna extra virgin olive oil creates an entirely new experience, taking on a depth and dimension that must be tasted to be believed," says Starbucks of the Oleato experience, and I'd have to agree.
I love it and I'm not sure how to articulate why I love it, so if you're a fan of lighter, savoury drinks, you might want to give it a try!
What does the Oleato Golden Foam Iced Shaken Espresso with Toffeenut taste like?
An Oleato Golden Foam Iced Shaken Espresso with Toffeenut in a glass beside a sign describing what it is.
The Oleato Golden Foam Iced Shaken Espresso with Toffeenut is a delightful treat and it's something I'll definitely order again.
It's also made with Starbucks Blonde espresso and oat milk and has notes of warm toffeenut, but it's the foam on top that makes it super interesting.
The Oleato Golden Foam is "lush vanilla sweet cream that is infused with Partanna extra virgin olive oil" and it's so yummy. Although I like a sweet drink every once in a while, I often find some of the more over-the-top Starbucks drinks to be too much for me and the foam adds a savoury element to the sugariness of the drink that really rounds the whole thing out nicely.
This tastes like a nice 3 p.m. treat or something to sip on after dinner, and I'll absolutely be picking this up to accompany me on my next road trip.
What Starbucks drink has olive oil?
Partanna olive oils and bags of Starbucks Blonde Espresso on a shelf.
In Canada, the Oleato Oat Latte and the Oleato Golden Foam Iced Shaken Espresso with Toffeenut have olive oil in them and will be available as of January 30, 2024, in company-operated stores, Starbucks licensed cafés in grocery stores, airports and universities, along with Starbucks Reserve locations," says the company.
The drinks are also available in 8 markets around the world.
If you want to try out the olive oil alongside a drink you're more familiar with like a Pistachio Frap or an Iced Brown Sugar Oat Shaken Espresso, you can get it added on.
"Any Starbucks iced beverage can also now be customized with Oleato Golden Foam, a lush vanilla sweet cream infused with Partanna olive oil," Starbucks said in an email to Narcity. "Recommended customizations are available in the Starbucks app, including an Iced Chai Tea Latte with Oleato Golden Foam and a Dragon Drink Starbucks Refreshers Beverage with Oleato Golden Foam."
They'll also be selling little cans of the olive oil used in drinks in the store, so you can grab one and add it to your salad dressings, to top your pizza, or in whatever place you'd normally use fancy olive oil.
"Partanna created a highly curated blend of extra virgin olive oil from the finest Mediterranean olives, including the high-quality Nocellara del Belice (also called Castelvetrano) olives from Partanna, Sicily," says Starbucks of the product. "The blend was thoughtfully selected to pair perfectly with Starbucks Blonde Roast, which is then skillfully infused in the beverage to unlock a smooth and delicious experience like no other."
In terms of what else Starbucks has recently debuted in Canada, the coffee giant recently launched the Iced Hazelnut Oat Shaken Espresso, which they describe as "hazelnute-rly delicious."
"Crafted with Starbucks Blonde Espresso, hazelnut syrup and smooth, creamy oat beverage, this plant-based delight eagerly joins the beloved Iced Shaken Espresso lineup, available year-round at Starbucks locations across Canada," says the company.
They also recently brought back two fan-favourite items: the Pistachio Latte and Pistachio Cream Cold Brew.
Maybe add some Oleato Golden Foam to it? Who knows, it might be your new favourite!
The new Iced Hazelnut Oat Shaken Espresso.Starbucks Canada
A person ordering a drink on their Starbucks app requesting to use a personal cup. Starbucks Canada
Starbucks Chocolate Cream Cold Brew.