The holidays have officially arrived at Starbucks stores in the U.S., and Starbucks is kicking off the season Thursday with its holiday beverage Share Event and an interactive Facebook Live broadcast inspired by this year’s holiday theme, “Give Good.” Customers can enjoy Starbucks full selection of holiday beverages, food and merchandise, including two new holiday beverages, Toasted White Chocolate Mocha and Chestnut Praline Chai Tea Latte.
Share Good, Give Good Facebook Live Event
Today’s festivities begin with the Share Good, Give Good Facebook Live mural event in New York City at the 29th and Park store where a group of Starbucks muralists, illustrators and painters will create a mural inspired by the spirit of giving from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Eastern Time. Customers can watch from the street and on Facebook Live as the artists start with art from the Starbucks holiday cup on a large canvas, and then add to the 8-by-16-foot piece with ideas contributed by customers on Facebook using the hashtag #GiveGood.
“We love the idea that what the mural will become is up to our customers, and we think it will be an artful and interactive monument to all the ways we can express the season and give good,” said Leanne Fremar, executive creative director for Starbucks. “The Give Good Share Event and mural are just the beginning. We have many more good things planned this season.”
‘Give Good’ Share Event
Starbucks is also encouraging customers to Give Good to their loved ones by participating in its holiday beverage Share Event. Starting today through Nov. 13 from 2 to 5 p.m. each day, Starbucks customers who buy one holiday beverage will get another one free* to share at participating Starbucks stores in the United States (dates, times and locations in other markets vary).
The Give Good campaign encourages goodness throughout the holiday season. All goodness counts, the simple gesture of opening the door for a stranger, recognizing the people who enrich your life, or the generosity of volunteering in the community.
Throughout the year and into the new year, Starbucks and its partners will continue to give good in many ways, from donating unsold food to local food banks through Starbucks FoodShare program to youth training and job hiring programs, to its commitment to hiring veterans and military spouses, to connecting with the community every day in Starbucks stores.
New Toasted White Chocolate Mocha
Starbucks new holiday beverage starts with signature espresso poured over toasted white chocolate mocha sauce, followed by steamed milk and topped with whipped cream and candied cranberry sugar.
Erin Marinan, from Starbucks beverage development team, is one of the partners (employees) who created the beverage.
“When thinking about a new holiday beverage, we started with the idea of gifts from the heart, and how traditional recipes often become gifts to share,” Marinan says. “Chocolate is a part of many holiday traditions; it is also a wonderful complement to our signature espresso roast. We took white chocolate and applied a culinary twist by slowly roasting white chocolate to brown the cocoa butter and caramelize the milk and sugar. This deepens the flavor, makes it more complex and brings out toasted nutty notes that linger as you sip the beverage.”
The finishing touch is a sprinkle of candied cranberry sugar.
“The tartness of the sugared cranberries complements the creamy toasted white chocolate and adds a bling of holiday color,” she says.
The beverage is available hot, iced and as a Frappuccino blended beverage at Starbucks stores in the U.S. and Canada starting Thursday and through the holiday season, while supplies last.
New Chestnut Praline Chai Tea Latte
Also in participating Starbucks stores in the United States and Canada is a holiday twist on the classic Chai Tea Latte, with the Chestnut Praline Chai Tea Latte. The beverage begins with black tea infused with warming spices, steamed with milk, lightly sweetened with chestnut praline syrup and topped with a sprinkle of spiced praline crumbs. The spices in the chai pair perfectly with the caramelized chestnut notes, creating a warm and comforting beverage full of holiday flair.
Holiday Bakery
A new Candy Cane Whoopie Pie, made from sweet peppermint icing sandwiched between two rich chocolate cakes, joins returning favorites Gingerbread Loaf, Snowman Cake Pop, Peppermint Brownie Cake Pop, Snowman Cookie and Cranberry Bliss Bar.
New Holiday Merchandise
Starbucks stores are offering a wide collection of gifts, including new tumblers, mugs, cold cups and Starbucks Cards. The holiday gifts will be available in stores in the United States starting Thursday. For more information visit the curated assortment in this year’s gift guide.
