Starbucks Korea Spring 2015

Hello from Korea! 

After avoiding Starbucks in Thailand (too expensive, no wifi, etc), I was craving it by the time I got off my five-hour flight from Chiang Mai to Seoul. Thankfully, I was just in time for this year's Spring edition, featuring the Cherry Blossom Latte, and Cherry Blossom White Chocolate. I sampled both in the hot form, as the Seoul Airport was too freezing cold to inspire me to order a frappuccino. 

I must say that I don't mind long layovers when they are accompanied by coffee and a magazine...

Cute sleeve with Cherry blossom design

Pink chocolate shavings

Toppings match the sleeve

Awesome coaster I bought for my sister-in-law

Of course, no trip to Seoul is complete without Nylon Korea

Sakura Season at Starbucks

It’s back! Each spring Starbucks releases a new beverage and merchandise with a sakura (cherry blossom) theme. It’s a wonder how they can keep coming up with new drinks using the same flavor year after year, but it seems that whenever spring comes around, bigger and bigger crowds flock to Starbucks for the new latte.

This year, the flavor is Sakura Chocolate Latte. Strawberry flavor has also been a big trend, so Starbucks added strawberry toppings to their seasonal spring latte. Unfortunately the strawberry flavor overwhelms the sakura flavor, so that’s all I taste.

In hot form, it tastes like a strawberry white mocha. I don't like it much actually. The warm-fruit taste kind of grosses me out. Sorry Starbucks. 

Sakura Chocolate latte

In frappuccino form, its like a strawberry vanilla bean frappuccino. I like this drink a lot, but it's too summery considering that it snowed last week in Japan. 

Sakura Chocolate Frappuccino

Another source of excitement is the sakura merchandise. This year the design of the cherry blossom is juxtaposed with a geometric checkered background, creating a very edgy look. Most of the mugs and tumblers are already sold out around the country, but fortunately I was in Fukuoka for its debut (February 15^th) so I grabbed a tumbler and mug.

Mugs and tumblers, most already sold out