As spring breaks through and the sun starts to shine, Starbucks are getting coffee lovers into the seasonal mood with their brand new drinks launch. Mirror writer Niamh Kirk decided to give some of them a try
Starbucks has launched a range of brand new drinks ahead of the arrival of spring – and it’s safe to say it’s getting people ready for some sunshine. The lavender collection features a Lavender Velvet Latte, Iced Lavender Latte, Iced Lavender Matcha Latte and a Lavender Cream Frappuccino.
The new beverages promise the same loved taste, just with a hint of lavender, and have been finished with a seriously aesthetically pleasing purple tint. But how do the new coffees compare to the well-loved classics? Following rave reviews in the US last spring, I decided to order a few and see what the fuss was about.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I do love a coffee whether its hot, iced or blended, but I am definitely not a coffee connosieur. However I can’t help but appreciate a nice looking coffee for my Instagram story. So when I saw these on TikTok, I knew I had to try, but I wasn’t sure I’d be a fan of the flowery taste with my coffee. But with spring on it’s way, I thought it was time to get in the spirit…
Iced Lavender Matcha Latte
Iced matcha has sent coffee fans into a frenzy recently and it seems as if every one has jumped on the matcha bandwagon. For Starbucks to launch a lavender matcha shows they truly have their finger on the pulse when it comes to trends – and this one didn’t disappoint. Aside from it possibly being the most aesthetically pleasing drink, it also tasted pretty good.
While matcha itself is quite a strong taste, there was a nice little blueberry hint in the aftertaste, although it wasn’t as strong as I’d have hoped. I don’t think if I was drinking this blindfolded I’d be able to tell it had lavender in. I’m not sure if it will replace my usual oatmilk matcha order, but this isn’t bad.
3/5
Lavender Velvet Latte
I was excited to try the velvet latte as I am a huge latte fan. It was the blonde roast with oat milk and the lavender flavouring. I have to admit, again I didn’t get a strong taste of lavender straight away, only a hint in the aftertaste. . Similarly to the matcha, I could taste blueberry -and while it doesn’t look as pretty as the other two, it definitely tasted good.
The smooth velvet coffee combined with oatmilk and the sweet syrup made it a real treat, and I really enjoyed it as a twist on the classic latte. While again it was quite subtle and I had hoped it would have been a little stronger, it’s definitely a nice mix up from my go-to regular latte order.
4/5
Iced Lavender Latte
The iced version is definitely going to be a popular choice for the warmer days, and it certainly looks the part. The purple foam on top makes it look pretty, but the taste was even more subtle than the hot version. I was a little disappointed as I feel like this could have been a strong winner for me, but it tasted just like a regular iced latte.
Even when the ice had melted a little, I still couldn’t get even a hint of flavouring. While I am a huge iced coffee fan, if I am judging on the lavender taste, it isn’t pulling through. However, a bonus point for the presentation.
2/5
While all three drinks were tasty, I can’t say they were as strong as I’d hoped. I like that there is also a matcha version available, but for me, the winner was definitely the Velvet Latte.