Coffee-soaked sponge pieces are just one of the many reasons to fall in love with this new dessert beverage.

Starbucks has been known to push the envelope in Japan, creating a variety of unique flavour combinations showcasing ingredients like sakura, sesame, and even Christmas cake. Sometimes, though, the coffeehouse chain will appeal to more classic tastes, and that’s exactly what they’re doing this month, with the new Classic Tiramisu Frappuccino.

▼ The new Frappuccino is said to replicate the Italian dessert perfectly, only in drinkable form.

Our resident Frappuccino expert K. Masami was keen to get a taste of the exciting new beverage, so she stopped by her local Starbucks to pick one up as soon as they were released. And when she laid eyes on the new Frappuccino in person, she was happy to report that it looked just as good in real life as it did on the promotional poster.

▼ The whipped cream and cocoa-powder topping looked gorgeous too.

Peering into the drink, Masami could see there would be some surprises in store for her, with tasty chunks of sponge hidden inside the drink’s mascarpone and egg custard base.

Using a spoon, Masami dove into the beverage immediately, scooping up a generous spoonful of liquid and cream. She then placed it all in her mouth and paused as she waited for the flavours to meld on her tongue.

Her eyes widened with surprise when she tasted the familiar flavour of…tiramisu! In fact, it was so faithful to the original taste of the dessert that she dove around for a bit, digging her spoon into the drink to find out how it could contain such an authentic flavour.

That’s when she discovered the small chunks of sponge inside, which had been soaked in coffee, just like a classic tiramisu. These sponge pieces oozed coffee syrup out onto her tongue as she devoured them, enhancing both the flavour and the fun enjoyment of the drink.

The drink got even better when she put down the spoon and slurped on the straw, as all the flavours of coffee, mascarpone, cream and cocoa powder rushed into her mouth at once. The coffee-soaked sponge pieces provided some textural contrast to the otherwise smooth and creamy beverage, and made her feel like she was enjoying a classic tiramisu.

▼ The thing that really messed with her mind, though, was the fact that she was drinking the tiramisu, instead of eating it.

Masami loved the new drink, and recommends everyone give it a try, especially those who have a sweet spot for coffee flavours. All the ingredients were well-balanced, with none overpowering the other, and the refreshing coffee aftertaste made this a perfect choice for an afternoon pick-me-up.

The Classic Tiramisu Frappuccino will be sold in a tall size only, for 590 yen (US$5.30) plus tax, and will be available at Starbucks outlets around the country from 20 March to 10 April.

Photos © SoraNews24
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