If you thought Starbucks secret menu Pink Drink was worthy of an Instagram post, just wait to see the colorful new summer drinks the coffee giant is now selling.
Starbucks has extended its menu to include more drink options that will help cool consumers off from the heat of the summer sun. And we aren't talking about just some new Frappuccino flavor.
The coffee giant created a brand new frozen drink called a Granita, which is aimed to be a thirst quencher for the mid-afternoon.
So what's exactly in a Granita? The sound of the new drink alone may be music to those who love Italian cuisine ears. A Granita is a semi-frozen Italian dessert that originated in Sicily and can best be described as a slushy meets shaved iced treat.
The Granitas at Starbucks stay true to this. As its base, the drink consists of a scoop of finely shaved iced. The ice is then lightly sweetened depending on the flavor. There are three flavors added to the menu, which include: Caramel Espresso, Teavana Youthberry White Tea and the most frozen drink of the three, the Strawberry Lemon Limeade.
A photo posted by Amber (@amberstarbucksmanager) on Jun 14, 2016 at 6:44am PDT
The new drinks consist of the following:
Caramel Espresso Granita: Shaved ice with a shot of espresso for a slight pick-me-up, splash of cream and caramel drizzle.
Teavana Youthberry White Tea Granita: Shaved ice with Teavana Youthberry white tea that includes fruity and refreshing pineapple, acai and hibiscus flavors.
Strawberry Lemon Limeade Granita: Shaved ice blended with slices of strawberries and topped with limeade.
The new Granitas are available starting Tuesday, June 14, at participating Starbucks locations throughout the U.S. and Canada during the summer. But there is one slight catch. These drinks are part of Starbuck's Sunset Menu, meaning they are only available after 3 p.m.
"Our Sunset Menu is a refreshing way to jump-start your evening and take you into a long summer night," Michelle Sundquist from Starbucks beverage development team said in a press release.
But since only the Caramel Espresso Granita has caffeine, consumers don't have to worry that waiting until the late afternoon to sip on these will cause them to be up all night—just go for the other flavors. And since these drinks are ice based and don't include milk, they are more suitable for cooling off after a day in the sun as a delicious treat instead of filling the consumer up before dinner.
A photo posted by @amberluo on Jun 14, 2016 at 6:57pm PDT
Unless they do want a snack, then Starbucks has their back. The chain also added a new dessert to the Sunset Menu called Trifles. Customers can order a Chocolate Brownie Trifle, which consists of a warmed brownie with whipped cream and mocha drizzle, or the Strawberry Shortcake Trifle, which is made up of vanilla bean scones, whipped cream and strawberry drizzle.
Get these new items from now until the sun sets on the season.
Source: Starbucks
