Holiday Drink Review

Several local cafes have begun the 2024 winter season early with exclusive holiday menus. Popular locations with these seasonal drinks include Starbucks, The Coffee Bean, and Makenna Coffee. Are these once-a-season beverages as delectable as they look in the advertisements, or are they overhyped? 

Starbucks: Iced Gingerbread Oat Milk Chai

Rating: 6/10

This drink was pretty mediocre, there wasn’t much of a gingerbread taste at all. Overall, it just tasted too much like regular iced chai.

Havana Savannah: Red Velvet Hot Chocolate

Rating: 8/10

The hot chocolate had a good flavor, very similar to red velvet cake. It wasn’t too sweet or too watery, either.

Bodhi Leaf: White Chocolate Peppermint Cocoa

Rating: 9/10

Cocoa was super flavorful! Reminded me of liquid peppermint bark in a way. 

Along with seasonal menus, all of these cafes and breweries supply a wide variety of sugar-free syrups, as well as non-dairy milk. The majority of these places listed have syrup options which include sugar-free vanilla, chocolate, caramel, and hazelnut. Non-dairy milks include oat, soy, almond, and coconut. Even if you are lactose intolerant or trying to cut back on sugar, there are still many ways to enjoy a delicious beverage during the winter season!