Starbucks began offering its trio of holiday drinks just around Veteran's Day--the eggnog latte, the peppermint mocha, and the gingerbread latte. This event begins my celebration of the holiday season. While I'm not an eggnog drinker, and I don't do peppermint, I put aside my preoccupation with caramel sauce lattes and mochas with a hint of nutmeg to indulge in the limited-time offering of gingerbread lattes. I let Michael have one several years back, and he was hooked. Mid-October, he will start asking the baristas when the gingerbread lattes will arrive, even though he knows the answer. When they finally are allowed to start making them, it marks the beginning of lights, presents, Thanksgiving, Christmas, shopping, and all.
Way back when, I didn't even drink the coffee as much as I drank the Chai Teas. Then one day without warning, Starbucks completely changed the recipe. I was lost. Then three years ago, I tried the gingerbread latte, and omigod. If there was a way to liquify gingerbread and drink it, Starbucks found it.
The very first one of the season is special; the smell hits me, and I know I'm home. And I'll be the one finishing off the last syrup bottle in January store by store, long after the stores take them off the menu boards. I've even been sad enough to ask if my regular stores knew of which stores had too much syrup so I could order them later in the season.
As much as I am enjoying the gingerbread lattes, I will say I'm very disappointed in this year's version of Christmas Blend. While I expected a brew reminiscent of holiday spices, my first two cups have been far too common--something I could have bought at Trader Joe's any time of the year. I even ordered one today after my first one last night, because I was sure the store I went to had mislabeled a batch of something South American.
It's ok, though, because I don't really need to be going to Starbucks TWICE a day, nor do I need the feeling of being torn between the drip and the gingerbread latte. There are only five weeks left in the year, so I will be happy with one holiday drink during that time.
Posted by Angel Zobel-Rodriguez at November 25, 2003 07:50 PM