As the snow begins to melt and the flowers begin to bloom, my coffee order is slowly shifting from hot pistachio lattes to iced floral beverages. Luckily, Starbucks understands the assignment. Beginning Tuesday, March 4, Starbucks will say hello to a new spring menu including a new Iced Cherry Chai and Jalapeño Chicken Pocket, as well as returning lavender beverages. I tried the two new Starbucks spring menu additions, and let me just say, these new items can’t come fast enough.
What is the new Starbucks Iced Cherry Chai?
The Starbucks spring menu includes a new Iced Cherry Chai beverage, which puts a springtime twist on the fan-favorite Chai latte. The Iced Cherry Chai latte begins with black tea infused with cinnamon, clove and other warming spices combined with milk and ice, and it’s topped with cherry cream cold foam and a sprinkle of cherry crunch topping.
The Iced Cherry Chai is Starbucks’ first springtime twist on the Chai (other iterations include the Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai and Iced Apple Crisp Nondairy Cream Chai on the fall menu and Iced Gingerbread Chai on the holiday menu), and the cherry spin is delightful. To me, a Chai latte is a cozy beverage, but the bright and sweet cherry flavor complements the robust spice of the tea. On its own, the Cherry Cream Cold Foam was a little sweet for my liking (I’m a black coffee girl through and through), but it was great once mixed with the Chai tea.
Are lavender drinks coming back to Starbucks?
Beloved among baristas and customers alike, lavender is returning to the Starbucks menu beginning March 4 in three springtime drinks. First, the Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha features Starbucks smooth and creamy matcha and oatmilk, served over ice and topped with sweet and subtle floral notes from lavender cream cold foam (which contains dairy).
My personal favorite, the Iced Lavender Latte (which is also available hot) is made with smooth and subtly sweet Starbucks Blonde Espresso, creamy oatmilk, ice, and the sweet and subtly floral notes of lavender.
And, if coffee or tea aren’t your thing, the Lavender Crème Frappuccino Blended Beverage blends sweet and subtle floral notes of lavender with vanilla syrup, milk and ice, topped with a swirl of whipped cream. This drink is incredible, and almost tastes like a lavender milkshake — and, you can always customize it by adding coffee if you need an extra kick.
What are the Starbucks spring cold foams?
Customers can also add the bright flavors of the season by customizing almost any beverage with new Cherry Cream Cold Foam or Lavender Cream Cold Foam. So if you, like me, love your new Starbucks Matcha Latte, you can easily customize the drink of your choice with Cherry Cream Cold Foam to enjoy the spring vibes.
What new food is on the Starbucks spring menu?
The Starbucks spring release includes the new Jalapeño Chicken Pocket, which will be joining the permanent menu. The Jalapeño Chicken Pocket is stuffed with diced chicken, charred poblanos, green jalapeños, three-chile-pepper cheese and jalapeño cream cheese, wrapped in a toasted chile lavash flatbread.
I loved this new chicken pocket. The spices were flavorful, but not overpowering, and the balance of chicken to cheese was perfect. My only complaint is that it felt like 75% bread to 25% filling ratio, so there were bites of just straight chile lavash flatbread (which was delicious!) at some points.
In addition to the new Jalapeño Chicken Pocket, Starbucks customers can also get one free packet of Truff Original or Jalapeño Lime Hot Sauce with any breakfast sandwich, breakfast wrap, egg bites, bakes, lunch sandwiches or pockets from March 4 to April 1. To try the truffle hot sauce (which is amazing with the egg bites, IMO), customers can request a packet of Truff when ordering in-café or drive-thru, or by customizing a qualifying item in the Starbucks app or with Starbucks delivery partners.
What food and beverage items are on the spring menu at Starbucks Reserve locations?
Beginning March 4, customers can indulge in a refreshing lineup of botanical beverages, including the new Starbucks Reserve Iced Ube Coconut Latte, Lavender Matcha Malt, Sakura Float and the Citrus Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Tasting Journey. I tried the Iced Ube Coconut Latte and Lavender Matcha Malt, and both were so delicious, indulgent, springy, and 100% worth the trip to a Reserve if you’re close enough.
In addition to these beverages, customers can enjoy new floral-inspired treats like the Rose Pistachio Twice-Baked Cornetto and Fig Walnut Ricotta Toast, and discover striking new cocktails, like the Sakura Blossom Negroni and Butterfly Tea Spritz.