Starbucks, one of the biggest coffee chains in the country, is well-known for its rotating menu of drinks. Whether it’s the floral notes of a lavender latte or the nutty warmth of a pecan cortado, the brand knows how to nail the feel of each season for its customers. This year, in addition to its famous winter menu, Starbucks is partnering with Target to bring out an exclusive beverage just for the holiday season: the Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate.
What is the Starbucks Target-exclusive drink?
The limited-edition drink, a twist on Starbucks’ own Crème Frappuccino, highlights cool notes of peppermint while balancing out the flavor with a combination of mocha sauce, milk, and ice, and is topped by Starbucks’ holiday-exclusive red and green sprinkles. The freshness of the peppermint combined with the bold, velvety nature of the mocha perfectly pairs to create a drink that, if nothing else, is quintessentially winter.
Compared to Starbucks’ other holiday beverages, the Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate fits perfectly into the renowned winter collection. The brand already offers a hot chocolate and a variety of peppermint-flavored beverages — including the popular Peppermint Mocha drink, which is available hot and iced and with a similar flavor profile to the new hot chocolate.
So what makes the Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate different from anything Starbucks already offers? Unlike their other drinks, this new beverage includes a Frappuccino base sandwiched between two layers of flavor. The Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate starts with a base of peppermint whipped cream, topped with the mocha Frappuccino blend, and is finished off with another layer of the peppermint whipped cream.
The Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate is a perfect festive substitute for the Peppermint Mocha for Starbucks lovers who aren’t fans of coffee or just aren’t in the mood for a highly caffeinated drink. While the Peppermint Mocha incorporates the classic chocolatey and minty flavors, the coffee itself lends a bit of a bitter flavor to the beverage that some buyers might be looking to avoid. The Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate is smoother and more subtle, while the Peppermint Mocha’s inclusion of coffee causes a starker flavor.
Where can I get the Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate?
The Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate, in partnership with Target, isn’t available in just any Starbucks location across the country. The festive drink drops on November 17 in all Target stores with a Starbucks inside, but is only for Target Circle 360 subscribers for the day. Don’t have a membership but still want to try the new drink? Not a problem. Starbucks’ newest holiday beverage will be available to all Target shoppers on November 18, and as a peppermint lover and Starbucks fanatic myself, I’ll be sure to be first in line to grab a Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate at my local Target as an accompaniment to my holiday shopping.