It’s our second summer in lockdown, and I’ve lost count of the things I miss about life pre-pandemic. Some I miss more than others. One of them is beach trips. Another one is going to the nearest Starbucks branch for my daily caffeine fix, usually in the form of a Frappuccino when it gets too hot, often with a snack when I’m not on a pre-beach trip crash diet.
Hello Summer Card, one of the two new Starbucks card designs
But I do treat myself to a rare Starbucks visit once in a while (unfortunately, there’s no GrabFood in our area). There are three Starbucks branches in Iloilo City, so when I get the chance to leave the farm to do rare errands I can’t delegate to my husband (our official quarantine tribute), I treat myself to a quick Starbucks visit (fully garbed in PPE, face shield, and face mask, plus hand sanitizing galore).
Even if I can’t hit the beach this summer, I just may treat myself to one of my rare Starbucks stops to sample their new drinks and delicious new food items.
Must-try tea concoctions in hip reusable cups
Even if I’m not really a hot tea drinker, I’m definitely an iced tea drinker, so I’ll definitely sample the newest Teavana beverages served in fun reusable cups: Sunshine Pineapple Oolong, Sunshine Peach, Triple Golden Monkey, and Cocoa Golden Monkey. Made with two premium full-leaf teas, Zen Clouds Oolong and Golden Monkey, the new iced Teavana beverages are sure to refresh senses and uplift spirits. All are now available in Starbucks stores nationwide and for delivery via GrabFood.
Two sweet fruity blends are made with the soothing and aromatic Teavana Zen Clouds Oolong tea with fresh floral notes. The Sunshine Pineapple Oolong comes with real golden pineapple chunks, pineapple sauce, and fluffy honey cold foam for that extra burst of summer freshness. The Sunshine Peach Oolong is made with refreshing peach juice and white peach jelly chunks, then finished with velvety honey cold foam.
For more indulgent flavors, try two innovative beverages made with the bold and revitalizing Teavana Golden Monkey fragrant black tea. The smooth Triple Golden Monkey is layered with mellow malty oat milk, silky tea foam, and crunchy tea-flavored cookie crumbs for an intricate iced milk tea that’s meant for warm summer days. Meanwhile, the Cocoa Golden Monkey will satisfy your chocolate craving with the addition of decadent mocha sauce that pairs well with the aromatic tea foam to complement the smooth texture and earthy flavor of the oat milk, garnished with crunchy tea-flavored cookie crumbs.
All four new Teavana beverages are available in Grande size and iced format only, and will be served in the fun limited edition reusable cups for P175 each.
New snack options
I always look forward to the new Starbucks Frappuccino for summer, and this year, it’s the indulgent Cocoa Caramel Coffee Frappuccino (pictured above), which is essentially Caramel Frappuccino with chocolate chips, topped with espresso whipped cream and caramel drizzle. It’s available in Tall (P170), Grande (P185), and Venti (P200) sizes.
Milk Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake
I look forward to pairing this Frappuccino with the new sweet treats and plant-based bites offered at Starbucks. The new cakes—Milk Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake (P195/slice, P1,950/whole), Banana Cream Cheesecake (P195/slice, P1,950/whole), and Zebra Cake made with Belgian Chocolate (P195/slice, P1,560/whole)—will leave your taste buds happy and satisfy your sweet tooth.
Zebra Cake made with Belgian Chocolate
The Calamansi Chia Loaf (P75/slice, P600/loaf) just might somehow satisfy your craving for Boracay’s calamansi muffin (maybe not quite, but it’s a good alternative until we can go to Boracay again).
Calamansi Chia Loaf
I’m especially looking forward to sampling the soft and chewy Cinnamon Swirl Cookie (P65) that’s filled with cream cheese frosting, and Blueberry Peach Pie (P95), with a buttery and flaky crust filled with creme, blueberries, and sliced peach.
Cinnamon Swirl Cookie
Also exciting to try are the new savory plant-based pastries that serve as delicious meat alternatives, as both are made with plant-based meat that’s vegetarian-friendly. The Mince Veggie Focaccia (P85) is soft and crusty, with mouthwatering plant-based patty, zucchini, peppers, mushroom, mozzarella, parmesan, and cheddar cheese. The Oh! Quesadilla (P115) is made with tasty and zesty plant-based carnitas with beans, mashed potatoes, and cheese stuffed in a tortilla.
Oh! Quesadilla
While you’re there, avail the two new Starbucks card designs to capture the spirit of the season: Hello Summer and Happy Hedgehog—both with a minimum activation amount of P300, which you can use to sample these new drinks and food items.
Happy Hedgehog Starbucks Card
You can also enjoy these treats from home by ordering through take-out, drive-thru, Mobile Order and Pay, or delivery via GrabFood.
To complete the summer vibe within the comforts of home, scan the Spotify code below to play summertime tunes as you take a sip of your new Starbucks Teavana beverages.