For the first time ever, the Frappuccino now comes with a domed pie crust lid, and it’s one of many reasons we’re in love with this new release.
Whenever we hear news of a new Frappuccino release in Japan, we diligently mark down our calendars so we can be sure we’re first in the door as soon as the drink appears on the menu at Starbucks.
When we found out that the newest Japan-exclusive offering from the global coffeehouse chain was to come with a never-before-seen domed lid made from pie crust, we couldn’t wait to see what it looked like in real life. We got out extra early to get our hands on this one, and it was every bit as good as we hoped it would be!
The American Cherry Pie Frappuccino takes the pie-eating experience to the world of beverages by recreating the flavours of the dessert in delicious drink form. Created as part of Starbucks’ vision to “Surprise & Delight” customers, no detail is spared in the stunning recreation, with the pièce de résistance being the beautifully flaky pie lid, which is designed to give customers the same feeling of cracking through a pastry with a fork, only this time it’s done with a straw.
▼ Piercing the pie with a straw is the start to the fun drinking experience.
Beneath the lid is a generous mound of freshly whipped cream, which lies on top of a layer of cherry compote. Underneath the cherry flavours is a vanilla-flavoured base filled with bite-sized pie pieces, designed to mimic a pie with a side of ice cream. Underneath it all, the drink is finished off with another layer of cherry compote.
You can choose to combine the pie lid with the drink in whatever way you like, but the staff recommend crushing it into the drink with the straw or a spoon. It’s best to use a spoon while enjoying the beverage, actually, as you can scoop up a variety of components and flavours and eat it just like you would a dessert.
The drink was packed full with cherry pie and vanilla flavours, which had us swooning with every mouthful. The texture of the juicy cherries, combined with the creamy vanilla base and crunchy pie crust flakes, was so wonderful it kept our tastebuds entertained the whole way through. The combination of sweet and sour here was also incredibly impressive, with the sour cherries giving the drink a delightful, refreshing aftertaste.
We give this new release a big thumbs up on all accounts – it’s fun, innovative, delicious, and delivers a great variety of textural sensations. Available from 13 April to 16 May, this delicious beverage won’t be around for long so be sure to stop by to try one while you can. Priced at 640 yen (US$5.88), it’s well-worth it for the unique experience of drinking an American Cherry Pie!
Photos © RocketNews24
[ Read in Japanese ]