On February 3rd, Starbucks released a Valentine’s Day Menu to celebrate the cherishing and lovely dovey holiday. To Valentine’s Day-themed drinks and treats, I’m here to review this yummy menu!
The first and most popular drink is the Iced Double Berry Matcha, which is known for its very sweet, very earthy taste. Some people have mixed opinions about the matcha not tasting like anything but milk. “Doesn’t taste like matcha. It tastes like straight milk,” said Teacher Choi. But other than that, I liked this drink. It was a little earthy, but the hint of strawberry made it better.
The Iced Banana Bread Matcha includes a blend of matcha green tea, creamy milk, and brown sugar syrup with ice. It’s topped with velvety banana cold foam and finished with a crunchy caramel sugar topping to create a sweet and bakery taste. I don’t know about you, but banana-flavored things are not my favorite. In my opinion, most banana-flavored treats are too sweet.
The Strawberry Shortcake Frappuccino is a popular, creamy Starbucks “secret menu” item and tastes like a “strawberry sundae,” according to Milena Moya, a junior at Clifton Central High School. It is typically ordered as a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino blended with strawberry puree, hazelnut syrup, and topped with whipped cream. Even though it looks fun, “This drink could’ve been better if something else had been added to it. It’s too boring,” said Kerstyn Lagutap.
The Starbucks White Chocolate Strawberry Cream Cold Brew features a smooth cold brew sweetened with vanilla syrup, topped with pink strawberry-infused chocolate cold foam, and finished with chocolate curls. Teacher Choi commented, “It tastes like coffee but has the slightest taste of strawberry in it.” If you like coffee and strawberry-flavored things, this is the drink for you, but I’m not a coffee fan like Teacher Choi.
Treats
Dubai Chocolate has been a popular snack since last year and is still an ongoing trend. So, Starbucks came out with this Dubai Chocolate treat. “The top part was very dry, and it didn’t taste like a brownie; it has more of a cookie texture,” says Sophie Wheeler, a senior at Central High School.
The Berry Blondie is a buttery, golden, baked treat that includes white chocolate chunks, topped with a tangy, swirled with a raspberry and blueberry jam inside it, which offers a sweet and tarty flavor. A junior at Central High School named Lucky Hennigan said that, “There were a bit more berries than I was expecting, but other than that it was good.”
The new Cookie Crossiant Swirl is a new favorite among people all around the world. It has a buttery, flaky croissant swirled with real cocoa and topped with a chocolate streusel and cookie pieces. Elle Benso, a sophomore at Central High, says, “I think it’s pretty similar to the chocolate croissant. It just has more salt and more toppings. But overall, I like it.” In my opinion, it was a little dry and had barely any chocolate in it, but it was still good.
A new bakery item at Starbucks, called the Strawberry Matcha Loaf, is already a hit. It features a soft and fluffy texture with an earthy taste and a sweet strawberry flavor, topped with a distinctive strawberry glaze. “I really like this snack. I would definitely come back and get it again,” says Milena Moya.
Despite there being a few days left of Feburary these drinks and treats won’t be available after this month. So, if these drinks and treats are to your taste, get these snacks and drinks while you still can. “I’m so glad I got these drinks and treats before they left the menu,” said Elle Benso.