I Tried Starbucks’ New Dubai Chocolate Drinks — And They’re as Decadent and Delicious as They Sound
We got an advance taste of the chain’s 2026 Winter Menu.
Image Courtesy of Starbucks
We’re on the other side of the winter holidays and into a new year, but we still have plenty of cold days ahead. Starbucks is set to help you get through them with a seasonal menu featuring several new beverages.
Hitting U.S. locations nationwide tomorrow, January 6, the drinks draw their inspiration from two timely trends: the mania for Dubai chocolate and the thirst for everything high-protein.
Starbucks announced the new drinks a few weeks ago, but it didn’t share too many details. Now I’ve actually had a chance to try some of the most exciting new beverages myself, ahead of their release. Here’s what you have to look forward to.
What are the new drinks on Starbucks’ 2026 Winter Menu?
The new menu features two “caramel protein” beverages that will stick around on Starbucks menus year-round: Caramel Protein Matcha and Caramel Protein Latte. Each is available with either classic caramel syrup or Starbucks’ new sugar-free caramel syrup and can be ordered hot or iced.
It also includes two new trend-inspired Dubai Chocolate drinks, which will be available only for a limited time this winter: Iced Dubai Chocolate Matcha and Iced Dubai Chocolate Mocha.
Starbucks is also bringing back its pistachio flavor — and keeping it around after the winter season wraps up.
“Starting this year, it will stay on the menu long after the snow has melted, giving customers the chance to enjoy this cozy flavor in their favorite beverage or as a cold foam throughout the year,” the brand says.
Pistachio-flavored winter beverages will include a Pistachio Cortado, Pistachio Cream Cold Brew, Pistachio Latte and Pistachio Frappuccino.
Image Courtesy of Starbucks
What do the new Starbucks 2026 winter drinks taste like?
I tasted four of the new drinks, prepared and proudly presented to me at my local Starbucks: Caramel Protein Latte, Pistachio Cortado, Iced Dubai Chocolate Matcha and Iced Dubai Chocolate Mocha. That pride was justified.
A fan of all things Dubai Chocolate, I dove into the Iced Dubai Chocolate Mocha first. Talk about decadent. Combining Starbucks Espresso Roast, chocolate mocha sauce and milk over refreshing slivers of ice and topped with pistachio cream cold foam and a sprinkling of “salted brown-buttery” crystals, it had a super-rich mouthfeel. It was basically like drinking a chocolate bar in liquid form — sweet, but not cloying. Luxurious and hard to stop sipping.
I moved on to the Iced Dubai Chocolate Matcha — and actually liked that drink even more. Starting with “vibrant” unsweetened matcha, the drink also features pistachio sauce, milk and ice, with chocolate cream cold foam and those same “salted brown-buttery” sprinkles on top. It was tasty from the first sip, and then got better over time, as the chocolate cream cold foam sank down and mixed with the matcha. It was silky and subtle and just sweet enough, with a nutty, green, fresh flavor. Matcha always feels virtuous, but this felt indulgent at the same time — a heady mix.
Next I went for the Caramel Protein Latte. Made with Starbucks Espresso Roast, “protein-boosted” milk and caramel syrup (I had it with the classic, not the new sugar-free), it packs as much as 29 grams of protein into a grande size — either hot or iced — according to the brand. I tried it hot, and my main impression was: buttery. It was almost like drinking movie popcorn — or, I guess, caramel corn.
I preferred the Pistachio Cortado — served in a cute little nine-ounce “short cup.” It features “three bold and slightly sweeter ristretto shots of Starbucks Blonde Espresso” that complement “the sweet flavors of pistachio and steamed milk,” and it’s “finished with a salted brown-buttery topping,” according to the brand’s description. This new Starbucks cortado is subtly nutty and gently sweet, and it made for a nice, comforting winter sip.
What about the other drinks on Starbucks’ 2026 Winter Menu?
There are four other drinks I didn’t get to taste. The Caramel Protein Matcha starts with unsweetened matcha and adds “protein-boosted” milk and caramel syrup; it features as much as 31 grams of protein in a grande — hot or iced.
Pistachio Cream Cold Brew pairs Starbucks signature cold brew with vanilla syrup and tops it with pistachio cream cold foam and “salted brown-buttery” sprinkles.
Pistachio Latte — served hot or cold — combines pistachio sauce, espresso and milk and tops it with “salted brown-buttery” sprinkles.
And the Pistachio Frappuccino is an icy, creamy blended beverage combining sweet pistachio syrup, coffee, milk and ice and topped with whipped cream and, yes, “salted brown-buttery” sprinkles. You can get a version without coffee by ordering a Pistachio Crème Frappuccino.
Image Courtesy of Starbucks
Is there any new food on the Starbucks 2026 Winter Menu?
Yes, the 2026 Winter Menu does feature some new food items. New Truffle, Mushroom & Brie Egg Bites will be on the menu for a limited time. Valentine Cake Pops will make a return ahead of romance’s big day.
Starbucks is also adding individual size bags of Khloud Protein Popcorn and Khloud Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn Protein Popcorn (Khloé Kardashian’s brand) and two flavors of Ellenos Greek Yogurt — No Added Sugar Muesli yogurt and Strawberry Shortcake yogurt — to its menus.
What about Starbucks winter merch for 2026?
New seasonal merch, including some marking the Lunar New Year and some themed for Valentine’s Day, will also be on offer at participating Starbucks locations starting January 6 — for a limited time, while supplies last.
Try These Recipes
Dubai Chocolate Tart
Inspired by the viral Dubai chocolate bar trend, this tart transforms the flavors and textures of the beloved confection into a stunning, sliceable dessert.
Dubai Chocolate Crêpe Cake Roll with Strawberries
This indulgent dessert is inspired by Dubai chocolate’s unique mix of flavors and textures: rich pistachio cream, crispy shredded phyllo dough (kataifi) and comforting milk chocolate.
Related Content:
