THIS CHRISTMAS, THE BLEND IS THE MAGIC AT STARBUCKS
Christmas isn’t Christmas without traditions — family reunions, misa de gallo, the singing of carols, exchanging of gifts and lavish feasts. Add to that the excitement of what this year’s iconic red cup brings!
Starbucks kicked off the holiday season last Nov.2 with the launch — and return — of delicious beverages that have become a tradition around the globe. “At Starbucks, the blend is the magic this Christmas,” enthused Keith Cole, Starbucks Philippines marketing head, during the launch at the Activity Center of SM Mall of Asia. “It’s where all of the things we love about the season come together to make our Christmas experiences extra-special.” As they say, you know it’s Christmas when Starbucks rolls out its red cups. This year, however, the cups aren’t all red. The 2018 cup variations include minimalist red stripes, holly leaves (intended to mimic coffee cherries), red houndstooth and green stars. As for the holiday beverages, there are two returning blends: the subtle caramel sweetness of Starbucks Toffee Nut Crunch Latte topped with cream and toffee crunch; and (be still my chocolate-guzzling heart) Peppermint Mocha, a combination of espresso and milk sweetened with flavors of chocolate and peppermint. There are two new blends as well: the Snowy Cranberry White Mocha, which is your favorite white mocha with special toasted white mocha sauce and candied cranberries; and the Snowball Dark Mocha, which will be launched on Dec. 4. The holiday beverages are not only delicious, they also look as festive as the season because of the red and green toppings.
“That’s because this year, we want to go overtly green and red,” added Silva. Looking at the setup during the launch, there’s definitely a sense of nostalgia. It’s like the Starbucks’ peeps snipped pieces from Starbucks holidays past.
There’s a magical blend of nostalgic (American) traditions. Two giant nutcrackers stood at the lighted entrance of the enchanting Christmas village replete with a massive Christmas tree made with red cups and the adorable Starbucks Barista Bears. The Starbucks Express train spread holiday cheer as it circled around the Christmas village.
FESTIVE EATS
“Nothing brings people together than food. Add to that, good coffee,” said Silva. “This year, we’re offering 15 promotional sweet and savory food items.” There’s a combination of indulging cakes, a lot of decadent pastries, exciting donuts (matcha), savory items, Christmas-edition flatbreads and the Cereal Milk Pudding cup. The Chocolate Toffee Nut Loaf (P70/slice, P625/whole) is a better and delicious alternative to the traditional fruitcake. This moist and decadent chocolate loaf is topped with chocolate and toffee.
Complete your choco indulgence with the Chocolate Crepe Cake, 17 layers of crepe with Belgian chocolate cream filling. No wonder it’s one of the returning favorites.As for the savory items, Starbucks had me at Cranberry Pistachio Turkey Flatbread (P105/each). The soft and chewy flatbread with topped with delicious chicken, turkey sausage, spinach and cheese. Also try the Baked Burrito, a tortilla bowl filled with a heart and flavorful Mexican-flavor rice dish. I’m not a fan of burrito but this one is really good.
Share some holiday cookies like the Choco Chip Overload Cookies with milk and dark chocolate chunks and chips, and the decadent Chocolate Cracked Cookies covered in confectioner’s sugar.
As for coffee, Starbucks brings back the beloved Christmas Blend, “showcasing our artistry in roasting and blending with some of the finest aged Sumatra beans and lively Latin-American coffees,” noted Jamie.
This year’s Christmas blend lineup includes: Starbucks Christmas Blend, which is available in a variety of formats (whole bean, Starbucks Origami pre-portioned ground coffee with single-use filters and the Starbucks Via Christmas Blend); and Starbucks Christmas Blend Espresso Roast, which is customized for espresso but taste just as great with any brewing method. It is a combination of Latin American and Indonesian with rare aged Sumatra for a nuanced flavor profile with deeper sweetness and hearty spiciness. “These new coffee variants are something that we are very excited for you to try
They’re bold, exotic and rare, just as all Reserve coffees are,” enthused Jamie. This Christmas, the blend is, indeed, the magic at Starbucks — a blend of cheerful music, decor and service to inspire moments of connection. “A blend of styles, cultures and traditions to bring the common joy of the season, and a blend of espresso, flavor, care and attention in each cup to deliver a holiday moment just for you,” added Cole.
* * * Savor Christmas at your favorite Starbucks store nationwide.