Starbuck’s described their new Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha as “springtime in a cup” and I knew I had to try it.
For a long time, I felt like I was on the outside of the world’s biggest inside joke - that matcha was a suitable replacement for coffee. To me, anyone claiming to enjoy the taste of matcha was fooling themselves and everyone around them. It was grassy, earthy and didn’t come close to my afternoon cappuccino, no matter how many syrups I tried to dress it up with.
But after some very convincing Tik Tok reviews, and falling victim to Starbucks’ marketing, I decided to give it another go - this time, iced and layered with lavender cream.
Walking away from the pick-up station, I decided if nothing else, it was beautiful to look at - almost as aesthically pleasing as the Valentine's drink from last month which combined a blonde latte with pink strawberry cold foam. The pale green contrasted against the lilac color and certainly lived up to the “springtime in a cup” description.
My initial reaction to the taste was shock. I couldn’t believe how creamy it was for a drink with a dairy-substitute as the base. The flavor was almost similar to melted ice cream, and reminded me of a very specific ice-cream I used to eat as a child - after a quick call to my sister, we figured out it was the humble Irish ‘Maxi-Twist.’
The ice cream flavor persisted, and I waited for any hint of earthy bitterness, but it never came. To me, the lavender cream completely overpowered the taste of the matcha, which I wasn’t mad about.
I did expect a stronger floral taste from the lavender, or even that mildly soapy taste that it can sometimes have, but it was surprisingly light and refreshing. For others online this also seemed to be true.
“This drink literally tastes like a bouquet of flowers,” one user wrote under a TikTok review, and while I definitely got a floral taste, I didn’t totally agree. Another comment read, “Why punish yourself with matcha when you can have a perfect espresso latte?” And, admittedly, I agreed.
The matcha and lavender combination was definitely pleasant, but overall, I found myself wishing it was a real lavender latte, and craving the coffee taste. My mid-afternoon drink typically contains a lot more caffeine and I felt myself wondering, ‘what’s the point?’ without the much-needed kick - which I definitely got from the Starbuck's Cortado.
Overall the drink is light, easy to sip and begs to be enjoyed on a summer’s day. It might not be an everyday order, but it is certainly a treat that I think many Starbucks’ customers will be disappointed to see go.
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