![]() Starbucks Peppermint Mocha may be one of the most beloved of holiday beverages, but it wasn’t actually the first. But for many, the arrival of the holidays is marked by that first taste of Starbucks Peppermint Mocha and its rich, full-bodied espresso mingled with the flavour of chocolate, peppermint and whipped cream. ![]() ![]() When does it officially feel like the holidays? For some it could be hearing the first notes of holiday music or seeing that first flurry of snow. Learn the story behind the classic Starbucks holiday beverage Its recipe has changed only a little it’s now made with 2 percent milk as the standard and with dark chocolate curls on top instead of red sprinkles.Celebrating 20 years of a holiday favourite It’s still among the most loved holiday beverage on the menu today and is available hot, iced and blended. The beverage was introduced to Starbucks customers for the 2002 holiday season, and quickly became the most popular holiday beverage in Starbucks history. From there, the team refined the recipe, finding the perfect combination of rich Starbucks espresso with bittersweet mocha sauce, peppermint syrup, and steamed milk, topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of red sugar sprinkles. But they quickly landed on a peppermint-flavored twist on the classic Caffè Mocha inspired by the flavors of traditional holiday candies. The team tried a few different flavors that would resonate with customers during the holiday, including an idea for a white chocolate cranberry beverage. The group was truly cross-functional – including partners from operations, finance, supply chain. Dukes remembers being invited to the R&D team’s Liquid Lab to be part of a team of about 10 partners who tasted new beverage concepts. “I think was a good introduction for a lot of people back then to lattes and espresso.”Īfter successfully launching Gingerbread Latte (now available in Canada and select international markets) in 2000, the R&D team was tasked with exploring ideas for the next holiday beverage. “Customers’ understanding of espresso and lattes was really in its infancy,” said Peter Dukes, who joined Starbucks as a product manager for espresso beverages in 2001. Ten years later, the first red Starbucks cup made its appearance and, as the company expanded into Europe, Asia and the Middle East, Starbucks created its first beverage research and development team. Then came the first handcrafted holiday beverage in 1986, created behind the espresso bar at Il Giornale (which merged with Starbucks in 1987) by Dave Olsen, who steamed up a pitcher of eggnog and milk to make the first Eggnog Latte. Christmas Blend coffee made its debut in 1984, hand-scooped and packaged in brown kraft paper coffee bags to be brewed at home. ![]() Starbucks Peppermint Mocha may be one of the most-loved of holiday beverages, but it wasn’t actually the first. But for the last two decades, the arrival of the holidays can be marked by that first taste of Starbucks Peppermint Mocha and its rich, full-bodied espresso mingled with the flavor of chocolate, peppermint and whipped cream. 20 years already? Learn the story behind the most beloved of beverages, Starbucks Peppermint Mocha
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