With the holiday season approaching bringing along the Christmas spirit, Christmas lights and movies are often associated with the festivities, but so are the drinks that come by for a limited time only! Just like how Christmas decorations start coming out of hiding during November to December, popular drink brands release their special flavors as well. Whether you like your drinks hot or cold, some common flavors seen are peppermint, cranberry, gingerbread, caramel, and much more. These flavors are associated with the holiday season since they bring a warm sweet flavor to counter the cold air outside.
Starbucks is the most popular coffee shop in the world, so of course, they would have a special menu just for the holidays. Starting November 7th and lasting throughout December, new drinks and returning favorites have made a comeback. Some of the returning drinks include the Peppermint Mocha, which has been a returned favorite for more than 20 years, the Caramel Brulée Latte with Starbucks signature espresso, Chestnut Praline Latte, Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte, and the Iced Gingerbread Oat Milk Chai. SHS junior, Kaley Stokes, discusses how the holiday menus make her feel, “When it’s the holiday season I love to order the Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte from Starbucks. I love the Christmas vibes the menu brings, and I enjoy the holiday spirit.”
Returning drinks aren’t the only addition to the menu, Starbucks has added a trio of refreshers! These include the new Cran-Merry Orange Refresher, the new Cran-Merry Orange Lemonade Refresher which combines the previously mentioned drink but adding lemonade, and the new Cran-Merry Drink which includes coconut milk. These new refreshers all include real cranberries adding onto the holiday vibe. Seminole High School Health Academy junior, Sophie Spera, shares her favorite holiday order: “My favorite holiday drinks are the iced gingerbread latte and the sugar cookie almond milk latte! I like their taste and the way they make me feel after I down them. Whenever I go to Starbucks during the holidays, I always get one of those drinks, and it makes me so excited for Christmas!”
Starbucks isn’t the only coffee shop with a new holiday menu. Another beloved coffee shop, Dunkin Donuts, took their spin on some festive drinks. Making a return from their previous holiday lineup is the Cookie Butter Cold Brew, the Peppermint Mocha Signature Latte with a blend of mocha and peppermint topped with even more mocha drizzle, and the Toasted White Chocolate Signature Latte. A new drink addition to their menu is the Spiced Cookie Coffee, which features brown sugar and vanilla notes combined with oat milk.
If coffees or lattes aren’t your particular favorite, holiday drinks aren’t only limited to those but apply for other drinks like sodas as well! An iconic drink returning every winter is the Sprite Cranberry, known for its catchy commercial lyrics and sweet cranberry taste. Some other brands bringing back holiday flavors include Canada Dry with their Cranberry Ginger Ale and Blackberry Ginger Ale, 7UP with the Shirley Temple flavor, Starry’s Cranberry Blizz, and Alani’s Winter Wonderland. Another fun twist on the holiday flavors is the Jones Soda Advent Calendar that comes with a 24-day supply of soda and merchandise, although the cost is $150, consider your soda options wisely.
It seems like the most popular flavors this season are cranberry, gingerbread, and sugar cookies. While the holiday season is still ongoing, make sure to go try a new drink or pick up a returning favorite of yours since they are only around for a limited time!