With pumpkin spice season slowly coming to an end, Starbucks welcomes their new holiday menu. As a two year Starbucks barista, the holidays are always a fun time of year where the only drinks I end up making are peppermint mochas and caramel brulee hot lattes. However, this year Starbucks has introduced new items to their holiday lineup which sound better than ever. 

The drink I was most excited about was the new gingerbread oat milk chai latte. This new drink comes hot or iced and with a brand new seasonal gingerbread syrup. While doing my winter training, I was able to sample an iced gingerbread chai with its new cold foam. When I had my initial taste of this new beverage, I was disappointed and underwhelmed. Although this was the item I was most excited for this holiday season, the flavor in my opinion was lacking because the only gingerbread component of this drink was the oat milk froth that has the gingerbread syrup; otherwise, this drink is just a spicier and warmer tasting chai with pumpkin spice topping. Instead, I would recommend either just ordering the syrup in the drink or getting the syrup inside of the standard vanilla sweet cream cold foam instead of the oat milk bubbles. When asking junior Haley Flaherty about her thoughts on the new drink, she said, “I’m really excited to try the new drink later. It’s nice to see Starbucks have new drinks including non dairy options.”

Secondly, Starbucks has introduced their new seasonal bakery items including the peppermint brownie cake pop and the gingerbread iced loaf (RIP red velvet load). I haven’t tried the new food items yet, but I definitely expect the new cake pop to be a hit especially for mint chocolate lovers. Additionally, I would get these items as fast as you can from your nearest Starbucks because they definitely won’t be in stock by 3pm

 Junior Nora Kerrigan stated, “I will definitely be trying the new cake pop tomorrow after school tomorrow with a nice peppermint mocha.”

While Starbucks is introducing brand new items and concepts to their menu, unfortunately, syrups like toasted white mocha and the irish cream cold brew will not be returning this year (Thank god because I don’t think I’ve ever made the Irish cream cold brew right in my life before). But, we still have the classic peppermint mocha, chestnut praline, and caramel brulee, and my personal favorite, sugar cookie. Out of all the holiday items, my recommendation would be to order a grande iced sugar cookie latte with oat milk instead of almond milk and ristretto shots.