This week, the viral pistachio-filled Dubai chocolate bar that was TikTok famous in August is trending again — but this time, in latte form. Starbucks matcha lovers have taken inspiration from the pistachio chocolate bar’s rich and nutty flavor profile to create their very own Starbucks dupe. The Starbucks Dubai chocolate matcha latte is now taking off on social media and garnering millions of views across platforms, with many users raving about the chocolatey, pistachio combo. Given that the nutty beverage has been all over my For You Page on both TikTok and Instagram, I knew I had to try the viral Starbucks Dubai chocolate matcha latte for myself.
How do I order the Starbucks Dubai chocolate matcha latte?
While the Starbucks Dubai chocolate matcha latte is not currently an official menu drink, the coffee chain spilled the (matcha) tea on how to enjoy the trending flavor combination, both in Starbucks stores and via the mobile app, and tbh, it’s pretty simple.
First, start by ordering a Grande Iced Matcha Latte. Next, add two pumps of pistachio sauce, and top it off with chocolate cold foam. If you want to try a Tall sized, order just one pump of pistachio sauce; for a Venti, add three.
Some users are divided on whether or not to keep the standard Classic syrup that comes in the latte by default; others are ordering the drink sans Classic (aka unsweetened) and subbing it out for pistachio sauce instead. I, personally, chose the latter.
For my Starbucks Dubai chocolate matcha latte taste-test, I ordered a Grande Iced Matcha Latte with almond milk instead of regular milk (which, lucky for us lactose intolerant girlies, didn’t add to the price now that Starbucks doesn’t charge extra for non-dairy substitutions). Next, I subbed out the standard three pumps of Classic syrup for two pumps of pistachio sauce, which is a current flavor on the Starbucks winter menu. To top it off, I added the recommended Chocolate Cream Cold Foam.
What does the Starbucks Dubai chocolate matcha latte taste like?
I’m not going to lie, my heart sank a little when the barista handed me my drink. Yes, I am fully aware that it is a first-world problem to be unhappy with a Starbucks bev, but I was disappointed to see clumps of matcha powder and a pool of pistachio sauce at the bottom after braving the single digit temps and snow to venture out for the Starbucks Dubai chocolate matcha latte. Not to mention the absurd price I paid for a 16-ounce tea latte.
By the time I got to take a first sip, most of the chocolate cream cold foam had sunk through the bev and looked like, for lack of a better word, swamp water. My roommate said it was “giving vomit vibes.” But, knowing how much I love the new Starbucks matcha formula, I remained optimistic — even though the sight wasn’t necessarily appealing, I knew that the flavor very well could be spot-on.
After giving it a little shake, the first taste was a delightful combination of creamy chocolate, nutty pistachio, and an earthy matcha finish to complement the richness. Off the bat, I was impressed. Not only did the drink taste just like a Dubai chocolate bar, it was delicious when mixed with the matcha. As I kept sipping, though, I was increasingly disappointed — some sips were straight pistachio sauce, and others were just dry clumps of matcha powder.
Overall, I’d say that the good sips had a delicious combination of pistachio, chocolate, and matcha that were reminiscent of the pistachio-filled Dubai chocolate bar. At its best moments, the drink was an easy eight or nine out of ten, and I’d definitely order again. The bad sips, though, were really bad. One of my notes literally says “the middle tastes like grass water.”
I will give Starbies the benefit of the doubt, though. I understand the matcha is notoriously difficult to mix properly, and that non-dairy cold foam doesn’t typically hold up as well as the standard milk version. Plus, the pistachio wasn’t mixed in all the way, and that flavor was definitely missing on some sips.
Is the Starbucks Dubai chocolate matcha latte worth the price?
I ordered the Starbucks Dubai chocolate matcha latte in a Grande size, and the drink set me back a cool $9.25. (I will note that it was NYC-area prices.) Personally, I don’t think that any Starbucks drink is worth that much to me, and that includes my beloved holiday Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte. At the end of the day, I’d rather have $10 in my bank account than any Starbucks drink, Dubai chocolate matcha latte included.
That said, a Grande iced matcha latte on its own is $6.80 including tax, so the customizations only make for a $2.45 difference. If you look at the price of the customizations alone rather than the cost of the drink overall, I 100% think that the added flavor is worth an extra two bucks — especially if it’s made better than mine was. And, while it may not be an everyday splurge, I’d say that the Starbucks Dubai chocolate matcha latte is definitely worth a try at least once — especially for matcha lovers, and for fans of the Starbucks pistachio latte slash the nutty chocolate flavor profile.