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With all the calamities and the pandemic that continues to rage on, preventing most of us from leaving our homes and even being with loved ones and friends, I’ve been worried about not feeling the Christmas spirit this year.

Yet I know there’s still so much to be grateful for—and that even if this Christmas will only be spent with only my husband and baby instead of us joining my whole family, relatives, and friends as was customary, I’m still so blessed to celebrate with my little family of three, with our little one experiencing Pinoy Christmas for the first time.

Simple things quickly reignited the Christmas spirit in me: singing and dancing to Christmas carols with my baby, writing my Christmas list, planning Christmas decor with my husband, and of course, sampling Starbucks’ holiday drinks and food, and aiming to get my hands on the 2021 planners and organizers that are oh so pretty, I can’t wait to start writing my to-dos and goals for next year.

A (quick) visit to your favorite Starbucks branch will reassure you that Christmas is here with these things in store:

New and Returning Favorite Drinks in a Holiday Cup

For 18 years now (can you believe it?), my Christmas hasn’t been complete without my cup of Peppermint Mocha—hands-down my favorite Starbucks holiday beverage. Thank goodness it’s still available this year, so that’s a check on my Christmas must-haves list. Inspired by the flavors of traditional holiday candies, the Peppermint Mocha is made with Starbucks signature espresso and steamed milk, mocha sauce, and peppermint, then topped with whipped cream, mocha drizzle, and my favorite: candy cane pieces.

Peppermint Mocha and Toffee Nut Crunch Latte

There’s another returning favorite that has just as many fans: the Toffee Nut Crunch Latte. This fan favorite has comforting layers of buttery toffee nut balanced by subtle sweet notes of toasted nuts, Starbucks signature espresso, and steamed milk. The beverage is finished with a whipped cream peak and a sprinkle of crunchy toffee nut topping.

Apart from returning favorites, Starbucks fans always look forward to what new holiday drink Starbucks would introduce each year, and this year’s version is truly promising: the Jolly Baked Apple Latte. It’s a blend of Starbucks signature espresso and steamed milk topped with a whipped cream dome, a delicate drizzle of baked apple sauce, and candied apple sprinkles for the perfect holiday touch.

All drinks are available for a limited time only in hot, iced, or as a Frappuccino for P180 for Tall, P195 for Grande, and P210 for Venti (prices will vary when availed via GrabFood).

Holiday Bites

Besides the drinks, I always look forward to all the sweet and savory new and returning favorite food options that Starbucks brings out during the holiday season.

My husband and I always look forward to Starbucks’ Chicken Fajita Roll (P125) that is only available during the holidays. We’re happy to report that it’s back! We can’t get enough of the tortilla filled with mouth-watering Mexican flavored chicken breast fillet.

Other returning favorites are the Chocolate Chip Overload Cookie (P95) and the Chocolate Crepe Cake (P200/slice, P1,600/whole).

Chocolate Crepe Cake (Whole)

Besides the Chicken Fajita Roll, I can’t wait to get my hands on the new food items on Starbucks’ display case:

Apple Berry Crumble Cheesecake (P200/slice, P2,000/whole). It seems Starbucks has apples on its mind this holiday season, with apples on their new beverage and this creamy cheesecake. It’s also loaded with blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries then topped with butter crumbles. It’s making my mouth water already.

Triple Chocolate Cake made with Belgian chocolate (P200/slice, P1,600/whole). Chocolate lovers will love its layers of gooey brownie, rich chocolate cake, light vanilla cake, velvety dark and milk chocolate mousse, finished with dark, milk, and white chocolate cream frosting.

Holiday Coffee Cake (P200/slice, P1,600/whole). On the other hand, coffee lovers will dig these layers of moist coffee cake, soft-to-chew meringue, smooth coffee mousse, finished with white chocolate cream icing.

PBJ Doughnut (P75). PBJ stands for peanut butter and jelly, in case you didn’t know. This fluffy doughnut is stuffed with creamy peanut butter and strawberry jam rolled in powdered sugar.

Prosciutto Cotto and Mozzarella Panzerotti (P110). This soft and crispy fried dough is stuffed with gooey mozzarella and prosciutto cotto.

2021 Planners and Organizers

This holiday season, the 2021 Starbucks Planners and Organizers come in four Philippine-exclusive designs that serve as a fresh canvas for people to chronicle dreams, hopes, and whims for a brighter year ahead.

The Starbucks Siren (Green) Planner comes in a hardbound recycled PU (synthetic) leather cover in the brand’s signature color, with meticulous details of the Siren debossed on its front cover. The Starbucks Teavana Youthberry (Yellow) Planner features intrinsic details of the Siren Tail in gold embossed on its recycled PU leather cover. The pages of both planners are produced with eco-friendly paper in a facility certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)—an independent, non-profit organization that promotes responsible management of the world’s forests.

The Starbucks Frappuccino Coral Pink Organizer with multifunctional carrier pops in a posh and youthful color, laced with a premium rose gold Starbucks logo zipper pull. It has several built-in pockets where people can conveniently place IDs, credit cards, Starbucks Cards, and even hand sanitizers—pretty much our daily essentials.

The Starbucks Reserve Black Organizer with multifunctional carrier is classy and minimalist. Take it with you as your lifestyle companion that houses your essential items.

Fill your upcoming year with heartwarming stories of hope and passion with the 2021 Starbucks Planner and Organizer. All of this year’s planners and organizers come with more blank pages to fill so people who love to journal, write, or draw can satisfy the creative junkie in them. To complement all the unique features of the 2021 Starbucks Planners and Organizers, each choice provides a bookmark, a set of fun and colorful stickers, along with tear-off vouchers that people can use throughout the year as they spend it with Starbucks.

To get a planner or organizer of your choice, collect a total of 18 stickers using either the paper promo card or the e-promo card in the Starbucks Philippines Mobile app, with one sticker awarded for any purchase of a Tall, Grande, or Venti Starbucks handcrafted beverage in stores. The collection of stickers has begun and will last until January 4, 2021 in all Starbucks stores nationwide. Learn more about it here.

Gift Ideas

1. Merry Starbucks Cards. We may not have our usual Christmas reunions with family and friends this year, but we can always gift them a Starbucks treat through the holiday Starbucks Cards. The Maligayang Pasko, Snowman, Holiday Tree, and Holiday Animals Cards are available for an initial activation amount of ₱300. The Red Cup 2020 Card is available for an initial activation amount of ₱500.

2. Starbucks Christmas Blend (P595 for Whole Bean, P450 for VIA, P450 for Origami, also available via GrabFood—prices will vary). Let your loved ones celebrate the holidays with the Starbucks Christmas Blend, a spicy and sweet coffee made with dark roasted beans from Guatemala, Colombia, and Papua New Guinea that come together to highlight the hero of this cup: rare aged Sumatra. Notes of herbs, baking spices, and a rich chocolate finish will fill each cup with festivity. This year’s Starbucks Christmas Blend whole bean coffee is offered in ground version as well as VIA and Origami variants. The ground version was created to provide convenience and an easy gifting opportunity for customers. It also allows you to purchase the coffee and bring it to a dinner, party, or home for brewing without owning a grinder. The grind is best as a drip but could be used for a press.

3. Starbucks 23rd Anniversary Collection. Any Starbucks collector or journaling junkie will love this collection with Siren and water elements in a sea foam blue color, with accents of gold to mark Starbucks Philippines’ 23 years of giving warmth and joy, one cup at a time. There’s a special 23rd Anniversary Card + Journal & Clutch set for Php2,700 (the Starbucks Card already has an initial activation of Php1,000; the mug and tumbler is not included in the set).

4. Starbucks Pearl Hot Cup, 16oz. Those who collect Starbucks’ sanitized and ready to use reusable cups would love this holiday take. Each cup has a glossy pearl effect to make drinking more festive & sparkling, available in blue, pink, green, and silver for Php125 each.

Starbucks Rewards members can order their favorites via the Mobile Order & Pay feature of the app. Starting November 17, they can place their beverage orders using the Starbucks app or mobile device and claim them safely in-stores. To know more about how Starbucks ensures a safe ground for its customers, read their Safety Measures here.

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