Starbucks offers a wide variety of matcha drinks, including classic matcha lattes and frappuccinos. However, strawberry matcha is not currently on their menu. As a popular coffee chain, Starbucks has the potential to add new seasonal drinks like a strawberry matcha latte or frappuccino, but they would need to consider a few factors before deciding to offer this drink.
What is matcha?
Matcha is a powdered green tea made from specially grown and processed tea leaves. Traditional matcha preparation involves whisking the bright green powder with hot water to make a frothy beverage. Unlike brewed green tea, matcha contains the entire ground tea leaf, so it provides higher concentrations of caffeine and antioxidants.
Matcha has a smooth, vegetal flavor that is often described as ‘grassy’ or ‘earthy’. When added to lattes and blended drinks, it creates a vivid green color and lightly bitter, potent tea taste.
What are the ingredients in a strawberry matcha drink?
A strawberry matcha latte or frappuccino would contain a few main ingredients:
- Matcha powder – 1-2 teaspoons typically provides enough green tea flavor.
- Milk – dairy or non-dairy milk gives the drink a creamy texture.
- Sweetener – sugar, honey or other sweeteners balance out the bitter matcha.
- Strawberry flavor – this could come from strawberry puree, juice or syrup.
- Ice – blended strawberry matcha drinks have ice to make them thick and frosty.
Additional ingredients like vanilla extract or protein powder can also customize the beverage.
What are the potential benefits of strawberry matcha?
Combining matcha and strawberries could offer several health advantages:
- Antioxidants – Matcha is packed with antioxidants from green tea called EGCG. Strawberries also provide antioxidants like vitamin C.
- Fiber – Matcha powder contains fiber. Strawberries have 3 grams of fiber in one cup.
- Vitamins & minerals – Strawberries have vitamin C, manganese and folate. Matcha is rich in vitamins A and C, plus minerals like selenium.
- Phytonutrients – Strawberries contain beneficial plant compounds like anthocyanins, which give them their red color. Matcha has catechins, a type of phytonutrient.
By combining two antioxidant-rich ingredients, a strawberry matcha drink could offer a nutritional powerhouse in one cup.
What are some potential strawberry matcha recipes?
If Starbucks added a strawberry matcha drink, they could experiment with recipes like:
Strawberry Matcha Latte
- 1-2 shots of espresso
- 1 teaspoon matcha powder
- Steamed milk
- Strawberry syrup or puree
- Ice (optional)
The espresso, milk and matcha would create a creamy latte base while the strawberry flavor could come from syrup or blended fresh strawberries.
Strawberry Matcha Frappuccino
- Matcha powder
- Milk
- Frozen strawberries
- Ice
- Sweetener
- Whipped cream topping
Blending matcha powder with frozen strawberries and milk would result in a vibrant green, thick and icy frappuccino. Topping it off with whipped cream would add even more sweet strawberry flavor.
Iced Strawberry Matcha Lemonade
- Matcha powder
- Lemonade
- Frozen strawberries
- Mint leaves
For a refreshing twist, matcha could be paired with zesty lemonade and blended strawberries. Fresh mint adds a burst of herbal flavor and aroma.
What factors would Starbucks consider before adding it?
Starbucks has a meticulous process for developing and launching new drinks. Before greenlighting a strawberry matcha latte or frappuccino, they would likely evaluate:
Ingredient Quality and Supply
Any new ingredients like matcha powder or strawberry puree would need to meet Starbucks’ standards. There would need to be enough supply available to stock drinks across 20,000+ stores.
Equipment and Operations
Staff would need the proper blenders, espresso machines, recipe cards and training to prepare an unfamiliar beverage like strawberry matcha. It impacts workflow when new drinks are added.
Consumer Demand and Profit Potential
Market research helps predict if a drink will be popular and profitable enough. Surveys could assess if strawberry matcha appeals to consumers and how much they are willing to pay.
Seasonality
Strawberry flavors shine in spring and summer. Starbucks may determine that strawberry matcha has the highest sales potential as a limited seasonal offering.
Is strawberry matcha popular at other coffee shops?
While not yet available at Starbucks, strawberry matcha drinks have popped up at other trendy coffee chains and cafes. For example:
| Coffee Shop | Drink Name |
|---|---|
| DAVIDsTEA | Strawberry Matcha Smoothie |
| Peet’s Coffee | Strawberry Matcha Latte |
| Hype Coffee | Strawberry Matcha Lemonade |
The popularity of these drinks at competitors indicates rising consumer interest in strawberry matcha flavor profiles. Starbucks may want to test it as a limited time offer.
What are the potential drawbacks?
However, Starbucks will also have to evaluate some potential drawbacks of adding strawberry matcha to menus:
Complexity for Baristas
Asking baristas to master yet another new recipe complicates operations. Strawberry matcha may slow down service when drinks have multiple steps.
Higher Costs
Strawberry puree and high quality matcha powder add more costs compared to standard ingredients. The price of a specialty drink like strawberry matcha would likely be higher.
Limited Appeal
While the drink caters to health trends, some customers find matcha’s bitter taste unappealing. Strawberry flavor may only attract a niche market.
Difficulty of Pairing with Food
Customers frequently enjoy Starbucks drinks with baked goods and sandwiches. But green, fruity strawberry matcha may not complement food pairings.
Conclusion
Starbucks is renowned for their innovative drink menu, so a seasonal strawberry matcha latte or frappuccino has potential to be a big hit. The vibrant pink and green colors and antioxidant-rich ingredients are photogenic and on-trend. While logistics around ingredients, training, pricing and consumer demand need consideration, Starbucks has the scale and R&D to successfully test and market a new strawberry matcha offering. Their avid customer base is always eager to try the next new Starbucks drink craze!