Starbucks’ U.S. stores make a big splash with their themed coffee drinks and cups every holiday season, but the celebration isn’t limited to our shores.
The coffee giant’s locations around the world offer their own holiday collections—some unique to individual countries, others promoted by entire regions or continents. Each reflects the culture or taste preferences of that part of the globe.
China's Apple Joy Latte
This year, China is offering the Apple Joy Latte, a beverage that combines the sweet flavor of apple pie with a classic latte. Apple pie is served around the holidays in China, and the latte replicates the dessert with a combo of caramel, espresso and steamed milk topped with diced apples. Moving over to Japan, the new Strawberry Merry Cream Frappuccino is on the menu, featuring strawberry pulp and a topping of mascarpone cream in Starbucks’ signature Frappuccino.
Traveling through the same region to locations in Asia Pacific, guests can order the Chestnut Mont Blanc Oatmilk Latte, a spin on a French holiday dessert, the Mont Blanc. It’s made with sweetened chestnut puree topped with whipped cream. The Starbucks’ adaptation combines espresso, oatmilk and toasty chestnut syrup, topped with chestnut whipped cream, sweet chestnut drizzle and a chestnut-shaped chocolate. Chestnut also appears on Starbucks’ menus in the U.S., Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean in the form of the Chestnut Praline Latte. It’s back for its 10th year, hot, iced or as a Frappuccino.
The Chestnut Mont Blanc Oatmilk Latte served in Asia Pacific.
Throughout Asia, the Toffee Nut Crunch Latte and Cold Brew is available for the holidays, along with the Peppermint Mocha, a perennial favorite in the U.S. and Canada.
Hazelnut is a popular seasonal ingredient in Europe, flavoring the new Hazelnut Crunch Hot Chocolate. The drink is a blend of cocoa powder and steamed milk, finished with chocolate whip and a crunchy chocolate and hazelnut topping. Hazelnut is also showing up in Latin America and the Caribbean as a Hazelnut Caramel Latte, made with espresso, steamed milk and hazelnut syrup with a crown of whipped cream, caramel sauce and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Hazelnut Caramel Lattes in three variations.
Cinnamon is also trending in Latin America and the Caribbean, a sweet spice used in many applications in those regions. The Holiday Cinnamon Latte combines espresso, steamed milk and cinnamon dolce, topped with whipped cream and a dash of nutmeg. But rivaling this flavor favorite is red velvet. Stores in this part of the world are offering the festive Red Velvet Latte, made with a creamy red velvet syrup missed with espresso and steamed milk, then capped with whipped cream and red velvet sprinkles.
And Starbucks locations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa are tapping into a Dutch tradition with a Caramel Waffle Latte. Inspired by Dutch stroopwafel cookies, the holiday beverage blends espresso roast and steamed milk with waffle sauce, then tops the mug with caramel whipped cream and spiced caramel waffle crunch.
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