Starbucks adds two green tea beverages to its spring menu

The drinks are Tazo Green Tea Latte and Tazo Blackberry Green Tea Frappuccino blended creme. Starting April 4, Tazo Green Tea Latte and the original Tazo Green Tea Frappuccino blended creme will be regular additions to Starbucks year-round menu, while the Tazo Blackberry Green Tea Frappuccino blended creme will be available through May 16, 2006. (Starbucks PR)

Comments

[yuck]

green tea latte sounds disgusting...

[JinSanFran]

It is disgusting. They couldn't give it away (& they tried) at the *$ near my office here in San Francisco

Green tea is very icky-- especially the iced one, since nothing cold will melt the matcha powder.

Blackberry syrup isn't that bad in Black Tea Lemonades-- but I can't handle it the Green Tea Frap, waaaaaay too sweet for me. It did have a weird effect in our steamed milk, so it won't be used in hot drinks.

[NJBaristaChick]

The green tea latte tastes like a green tea frap that sat inside someone's car at high noon in the middle of August...YUCK! The blackberry has a funny (not funny haha, funny ew) taste in the frap, but I took the advice and tried it in the black tea lemonade...That's quite tasty...

green tea latte= new stuff to sanitze at night...

anyone found a good way to make the iced green tea latte and either not spend 10 minutes stirring and pouring into a new cup or not end up with green yuck at the bottom of the cup? i called my dm who forwarded the word to seattle but so far no fixes. we've tried making it syrup and powder; milk, syrup, then powder; milk, powder, then syrup; shaking it like the iced tea/coffee. it was to no avail.

[Fat Little Pug]

The green tea latte is actually pretty tasty, and I think it's really good iced. It's sort of how iced chai, and hot chai taste totally different. The Blackberry Green Tea frap is AWESOME, and the blackberry syrup tastes great in lemonades and other drinks. Green tea lattes don't actually require any more stuff be sanitized at night. Unless you count that tiny little stirring spoon.

[James the Barista]

The Blackberry Surup is too strong, even for me and I like a lot full amounts of everything thing. The Green tea Lattes is a lot more work and will be a mess causing slower bar times and a lot of service recovery in itself. Its going to be a bomb, it doesn't even taste good in Soy and most anything does.

[Sheik]

I'll tell you one thing, I'm definitely going to be 100% more sympathetic to customers when they come up to me and say "I didn't like my drink yesterday... it was that new green tea latte"

If anyone says that to me I will instantly make them anything they want ... regardless of price.

[Christy]

"I didn't like my drink yesterday... it was that new green tea latte"

Sheik...isn't the onus on the customer to let you know *that day* if they didn't like their beverage? Do Barista's seriously give a replacement the next day?

(cue the plethera of people who will now be running to the tils to say they didn't like their drink last week...LOL)

Just curious...thanks! :)

[416barista]

I wish I could just dump the matcha down the drain....

it's all disgusting.....The frap sucked, the latte sucks (and is a pain in the a$$ to make) and I can only guess that the blackberry green tea frap will be bad too, but keep the blackberry for the iced tea (yummy!!)

[JustSomeBarista]

I don't know why they are all hard over this Matcha powder in Seattle. I remember when we had the Matcha Chai Concentrate like the regular Chai is, they could do something similar with this beverage. It would improve both quality and bar times.

[bytheway]

BTW, the mixing question above. Isn't hot water part of the recipie? Isn't it powder, syrup, hot water, then steamed milk?

[Lauren]

Above and above above.

Yes, hot water is part of the HOT version of the latte. What I do is grab a coffee shaker and put a bit of hot water in the bottom (nowhere near what they put int he hot) and swirl -- does the trick and as long as your milk is in the fridge you're kosher. We just keep one at the bar now.

And in response to bad drinks the next day...

People are busy. They walk out without tasting their drink. They also expect us to replace it because they stepped outside of their box to taste it (and to be honest that's how most people order our new creations). So in short, yes, the next day, a week later, sure, free drink. You got it at another store? Sorry their work wasn't perfect, ours will be.

Just a stabucks motto they keep close to their heart. Yes.

[DT]

ugh. matcha is disgusting. i agree with the person above who wondered "what is the hard-on they have in seattle for matcha?" it's just really not that good at all

[Ryan]

The blackberry syrup is indeed very gross. It tastes exactly like Blackhaus. The blackberry topping is awesome though, just make sure you guys are keeping it refrig. I velcro'd it to the inside of one of the doors.

[Sarah]

The green tea powder is like making a frink with soilent green .... yuk. We are 40K store and sell only about three of these ickie drnks a week.

[Dot]

The blackberry syrup is good in a black iced tea lemonade, agreed. I can't stand it in the frappuccino; there's something about the aftertaste? This is the first time I've absolutely writhed in disgust after trying a new drink. Oy.

[Dot]

P.S., I'm thinking there's not much stock being put in the blackberry -- we're being autoshipped another pair of blackberry topping jugs soon (tasty), but *not* the blackberry syrup.

[mike]

i work for starbucks and found out tonight about the new - Green Tea Latte. And I just wanted to first say, I've been a green tea fantatic for years and I dont drink coffee. But I tried it and thought it was awful. My co-workers and managers have said its better iced, which I will try tommorrow. But I tried it hot and found it to be terrible..I read a previous comment that its like having a green tea frap which has been sitting in a hot car for days..and I agree. And I enjoy the green tea frap without any whipped cream or that melon syrup crap (ah)- it basically tastes like green tea ice cream to me. And I also was informed of that Blackberry Syrup..and Im not even going to bother to try that. The concept of a Blackberry Green Tea Frap..doesnt sound appealing to me.

[rkrchk]

I was allowed by my local barista friend to try the blackberry syrup in a white mocha a few days ago. YUMMY!! I also got an advance taste yesterday of the green tea frapp, I found it amazing. I love blackberry and find none of the above to be true about the syrup. Also not bad in an iced caramel macchiato (you can say EWWWWWWWWWWWWW!! now). Quad shot venti evens out the sweetness.

[Boston Starbucks Rebel]

I like to make frappuccinos with all the syrups in them. They are very sweet!

I tried the hot green tea latte, and immediatly brought it back. It was like drinking a cup of green pepto bismal. I did like it as a Frap, though. For me the question is; when are they bringing back the vanilla tea latte???

[Kenenth]

Personally, I like hot green tea, not iced. Meanwhile, they had a Tazo Blackberry Green Tea Frappuccino blended creme trial out weeks ago at the local Starbucks. I tried it and it tasted pretty good. I will order one without whip cream.

Tazo Green Tea Latte.. not a big fan of latte, so I'll pass.

[hmnbmb]

the bgtf takes away the melon flavor I didn't like, and added a blackberry flavor that is awesome!

i tried the green tea latte, and with the blackberry it's not bad, but otherwise tastes like grass clippings.

(try one with the blacberry sauce on top or in the frap)

[hazardbliss]

ugh. I can not stand them. The Blackberry drizzle tastes like cheaply made jam, and leaves a HORRID aftertaste. The Blackberry syrup me and some of the other Barista's fooled around with making basically every drink concoction we could think of [blackberry mocha, white mocha, latte.. you name it].. none of is was tastey :/ I was so excited when I knew we were getting it too!! so bummed. :(

[Britany]

I love SOY green tea lattes. Yes, it does taste good with soy.

I think grtl is just one of those drinks that you either really like or really hate.

The blackberry syrup is AWESOME if you blend it in with lemonade and strawberry sauce. SOOOOO good.

[Boston Starbucks Rebel]

Yes, I agree soy green tea lattes are quite delicious!

[Rae Whitlock]

The blackberry sounds like "Son of Tazoberry & Cream" to me.

[Theolaxor]

the only good thing to come out of these new drinks is the blackberry syrup... its pretty good in the BSL and the iced tea lemonades

[kitten]

I love the green tea latte but with soymilk and vanilla syrup. I'd be curious to try it with the white mocha stuff just because green tea and white chocolate are pretty good together. But for now, I'll stick to the vanilla.

[Sheik]

I completely retract my previous feelings on these two new drinks. I like them a lot now! Green Tea Latte isn't that bad--just takes some getting used to. Blackberry Green Tea is surprisingly refreshing. And I don't think making the GTLatte is all that difficult.

[Mini]

I love green tea ice cream and thought that the green tea latte would have a yummy similar taste. Boy, was I wrong! Nice try but I could not finish my drink.

[Jennifer]

The Green Tea Latte is my new favorite drink. It is delicous!!!

[Kat]

I tried the blackberry green tea fraps on a complete whim the over the day mainly b/c I love green tea anything...and I am in love with them. I went back three days later and convinced my mother to get one and she likes them too and she really isn't a big fan of green tea. Green tea really isnt for everybody. Sometimes if you brew green tea to long it does get a slight fishy taste, maybe you should just tell your barista to brew the tea less or use less of it..or whatever.
The blackberry syrup taste like blackberry syrup..I love blackberries, so ya.
A blackberry green tea frap is the perfect drink to sip while sitting on your deck watching the world go by.
The green tea latte, I need to try, but I might just make those at home so I can get the brew and amountage just right, b/c everybody has a different preference when it comes to the brew flavor of their green tea.

The green tea latte is really good with no foam. I don't know if it's just the machine or what but the foam tastes really diffrent from the rest of the drink. The milk itself mixed well tastes pretty good.

The Blackberry green tea frap is pretty good but I like to add extra matcha powder to really get that herbal grassy green tea flavour. The blackberry taste is really good too in a plain old latte. It's a great new syrup option.

[imabarrista]

Kat, if the foam tastes so bad, my guess is that the drink is made improperly.

[jabanga]

in my opinion the drink team lost it quite a few years ago. all the new drinks consistently suck. maybe they are just trying to test the marketing teams ability to drive sales even when the product stinks. or testing the bad taste of the buying public. its time to get back to basics. too bad it will never happen.

[kelly]

of course you stupid americans dont like green tea. For one its much too healthy for you fat people and second of all your all just boring coffee obsessed losers

[patrick]

i agree!!!! Americans only like coffee and beer!!!

[Sheik]

"All the new drinks consistently suck"

Hell-oooo... Did you even try the Cinnamon Dolce Latte? Did you know that this was the #1 highest grossing new beverage in over 15 years?

I agree that some of the new drinks aren't too good but come ON... that's why there's a whole menu out there for you to choose from.

If you don't like new beverages, don't buy them.

[jabanga]

yes, i tried the cinamon dolce latte and it was way too sweet. yes i know that i can get less pumps or not drink it (i don't). of course, i will say that i don't like sweet drinks and have worked at starbucks since the whip cream was still unsweetened. all of the new drinks are overly sweet and many of them just taste bad. whether they sell well or not does not mean they are good to me. some of the worst music in the world is consistently at the top of the charts and some of the worst movies have the best ticket sales. part of the reason the new drinks "break sales records" is because they have so many more stores to sell in. as for the green tea latte, i do like the oregon chai version of it it is very tasty. the version we are serving at starbucks now is quite simply disgusting. what kind of reactions do you get when you sample it?

[KristaBlair]

Hmmm, mixed reviews. Green tea, definatly not my fav to drink (and such a pain to make!!!! Back and forth between hot and cold bars!! Dangerous when you've got a cup of hot water in your hands ...) but come on people. Nothing, I repeat, NOTHING is as bad as Chantico!!!!!! Does anybody remember sampling that every hour and recommending it was a straight face? Oh my god, cringe! And it took them a full year to realize how horrible a drink it really was!

[deena]

Blackberry Green Tea Frap. is 8th wonder of the world! Love It, Absolutely LOVE IT....

[Melissa]

Okay, so for my past few visits to Starbucks, I've seen the nice little picture of their new frappuccino...Balckberry Green Tea.

Well, I like berries...and I like Green Tea. Besides, I like the colors...pretty!

So, I tried it...

YEah! Pretty f**N' GROSSSSS!! Who invented this sh*t? *GAG* I paid $4 for this nauseating concoction of vomit in a cup? *YUCK!*

This thing tastes like dental jelly! The gross imitation fruit-flavored flouride they put on a retainer and make you bite onto for 30mins as a kid!!! Sip more than one sip within a minute, and it has the after taste of sweet liquor right before you hurl up big chunks!!! Oh, it's sooooooooooooooo nasty!

Oh, I just took another sip...now that the ice is melting it tastes like cough syrup! :(~

Okay, just sharing my experience with you....so you don't waste $4! From now on, if I'm getting a frappe...I'm sticking with Java Chip or Brownie.... :(~

M

[Joe Erickson]

Both drinks are amazing... I'm amazed at some of you people. But everyone has different taste, so to each their own :) Good job Starbucks! Great drinks!

[cc24]

I personally don't care for either new green tea drink..I saw some posts about adding the BB syrup to white mocha and believe me I'm a huge fan of adding any of the new syrups to a white mocha. However you can't add the BB syrup to a hot steamed milk drink. The real BB juice curdles the milk. I did try it and can vouch for that info. But I do reccommend adding it to an Iced white mocha. I will have to try it in the black tea lemonade now though thanks for the tip.

[kelly]

I LOOOOOOVE the green tea frappachino.....all of you who don't SUCK!!!!

[B-Rob]

I am in love with the Blackberry Green Tea frap. Haven't tried the others, and probably won't.