I Tried Starbucks' Pumpkin Cream Matcha and Other New Fall Beverages
Here's my honest review.
Photo Courtesy of Starbucks
As someone who has spent the last 12 years of her professional career writing about food, I’ll be the first to admit that very little surprises me — or my palate — anymore. To put it simply: I'm a tough sell. So, when I heard that Starbucks was including a pumpkin-matcha mashup on its fall beverage lineup, I was extremely skeptical. As a matcha purist, I just couldn't fathom how the grassy green tea could taste good when paired with sweet and spicy pumpkin. But as a longtime PSL lover, I also knew I couldn't pass up the opportunity to try it.
After getting an early taste of Starbucks’ Iced Pumpkin Cream Matcha, and some of chain’s other autumn releases, I can confidently say, not only does the drink work as a flavor combination, but it may just be my new favorite way to get my annual pumpkin spice fix. I liked it that matcha!
Here's what I thought about the Iced Pumpkin Cream Matcha and some of Starbucks’ other fall drinks.
What does Starbucks’ Iced Pumpkin Cream Matcha taste like?
The first thing I'll note is that the drink has an Instagram-worthy appearance. A light green matcha base and a luscious and fluffy orange-hued cold cream make this beverage super eye-catching and totally worthy of a picture before drinking.
Photo Courtesy of Michelle Baricevic
Next, there's the taste. While I feared that the matcha and the pumpkin would compete with, and overpower, each other, I found the spiciness of the pumpkin cream to hold its own against the earthier green tea. The combination is smooth and velvety, resulting in an ultra-creamy, dessert-like afternoon pick-me-up. (I'm not embarassed to admit I scooped up the pumpkin spice cream that was left in my cup with a spoon!) Though this drink is sweet, it’s definitely a must-try if you’re a fan of matcha or pumpkin, or if you just want something visually striking to post on your social media feed.
What else is new at Starbucks this month?
Starbucks' autumn lineup doesn’t stop with the Iced Pumpkin Cream Matcha. In addition, I was also able to taste the coffee chain's brand-new Iced Banana Bread Latte and Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso. Both drinks completely dazzled me for different reasons, and I will be ordering them again throughout the fall.
Photo Courtesy of Starbucks
Though Starbucks might be a little late to the banana-flavored coffee trend, sipping on the Iced Banana Bread Latte was enjoyable, nonetheless. I'll admit the overall banana flavor is rather subtle — to me, cinnamon shines through the most — however, the drink is a nice way to change up your go-to coffee order. I tried it with 2% milk, but I have a sneaking suspicion that oatmilk would be even better here.
In a similar vein, the frothiness of the Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso was extremely satisfying. The pumpkin notes were much stronger than I was anticipating and elevated the espresso nicely. Of the three beverages I tried, this one spoke to my inner pumpkin stan the most.
Here are some other new and returning Starbucks food and beverage releases to look forward to:
- Iced Banana Bread Chai (New)
- Pumpkin Spice Chai (New)
- Chaider (New)
- Hedgehog Cake Pop (New)
- Chicken Bacon Protein Pocket (New)
- Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew (Returning)
- Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai (Returning)
- Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino ® Blended Beverage (Returning)
- Pecan Cortado (Returning)
- Iced Pecan Crunch Latte (Returning)
- Pecan Crunch Latte (Returning)
- Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin (Returning)
When is Starbucks’ fall beverage lineup available for purchase?
In addition to the beloved PSL, coffee drinkers, tea fans, and matcha-lovers alike can purchase an Iced Pumpkin Cream Matcha at Starbucks locations nationwide starting tomorrow, Tuesday, August 25. The date also marks the return of several pecan-flavored beverages and an expanded lineup of other pumpkin spice drinks, plus the arrival of Chaider, a cozy chai-inspired cider. A handful of food items and limited fall merchandise, including hot and cold drinkware and "an iconic hat made for PSL lovers everywhere," will also be available for purchase, per a press release shared by the brand.
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