Excited about that Pumpkin Spice Latte you’ve been dreaming about since last fall? Good news: it’s on sale now! But before you dive into the warm depths of your latte’s embrace, consider trying the store’s new Toasted Graham Latte, which is supposed to taste like the milk left over from sweet cereal. You know, the stuff that you can actually feel giving you cavities (AKA the best part of the cereal-eating experience).
It’s going to be a difficult decision (and you can just order one of each), but the newest offering from the coffee chain sounds pretty good. Here’s what the drink is like, via a Starbucks statement:
When Starbucks beverage R&D manager Yoke Wong set out to create the new beverage, she found inspiration in an unusual place.
“I thought about the back-to-school season and looked at the latest food and beverage trends,” said Wong. “What I found to be quite popular in the U.S. is the taste of cereal milk, the delicious leftovers in your breakfast bowl.”
Intrigued by this trend, Wong soaked graham crackers in milk to replicate the taste of cereal and learn more about the milk’s texture. For additional insight, she explored the culinary world in Europe. “I learned that many Italian gelato shops serve a flavor called Fior di Latte, which means the ‘flower of milk,'” said Wong. “It’s like a smooth vanilla crème and is very popular.”
That actually sounds like an amazing job, to be honest. Sure, Wong is probably just a little bit sick of the drink after working on it for so long, but she says that the beverage—Starbuck’s first new autumnal offering in four years—elicits feelings of warmth and comfort in those that have already downed a cup. And if you’re a Pumpkin Spice hater, this drink might get you into the spirit of spending an inordinate amount of money on a coffee drink, which is one of fall’s greatest traditions!
Here’s what reporters from People thought when they tried the concoction:
Upon first sip, the first thing that hit us was the toasted aspect. The bitterness of the espresso combined with the graham cracker flavor gives a gloriously toasty — almost burnt, but in a good way — flavor.
Secondly, the sweetness factor is more subtle than its pumpkin spice cousin. If you like it really sweet, you may want to ask for an extra pump of that sugar syrup stuff.
That’s exactly what I’m going to do. It’s not “cereal milk” until you can feel the diabetes coming on, so don’t be shy to stand at the counter and demand more syrup until your teeth feel like they’re going to fall out of your head.
(Via People)
