What is charcoal coffee doing in Halloween menus?

Every Halloween at the end of October, coffee chains release limited-edition drinks, and this year Starbucks, Peet's Coffee and Costa Coffee joined in. Starbucks China launched a Mango Purple Cloud Foam series of dragon fruit foam over latte or matcha latte, while Starbucks Japan put edible bamboo charcoal sauce in a Pumpkin Caramel Pudding Frappuccino, the item often called charcoal coffee.

Reviews are mixed. Some Chinese buyers said the purple cloud drinks just tasted like a plain latte or matcha coffee; the Japanese charcoal version drew jokes about dark cuisine, and Starbucks France offered a sesame almond tofu Frappuccino. The pattern each year is the same: visuals drive first purchases, while flavor decides whether a limited edition comes back.

Every year as Halloween approaches at the end of October, major coffee brands rush to release limited-edition holiday specials. This year, Starbucks, Peet's Coffee, Costa Coffee, and others have all launched new items. The visual designs are certainly eye-catching, but the flavors have left many consumers calling them downright "dark." From dragon fruit cloud foam tops to bamboo charcoal black sauce Frappuccinos, from sesame almond tofu to Pirate's Treasure Lattes — how do these Halloween special drinks actually perform? Netizens' reviews are mixed, with some buying in for the looks and others being put off by the taste. This article will review the highlights and gripes of these holiday new releases to see which one is truly worth trying.

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As the end of October draws near, the Halloween atmosphere is gradually building, and many coffee brands are seizing the holiday buzz to launch limited-edition specials. However, quite a few netizens on social media have said bluntly: innovation is worth encouraging, but can you make it taste good too?

Take Starbucks, for example. The large chain recently not only launched four new small green cups but also rolled out a Halloween series of special drinks — the Mango Purple Cloud Foam series. According to the official description, the series blends skim milk with dragon fruit pieces into a cloud-like foam topping, which is then layered over a latte or matcha latte, creating a visually striking layered effect.

After the new products hit the market, consumer feedback was less than ideal. Some commented, "Can't quite put my finger on it — it just tastes like a regular latte and matcha latte," while others bluntly said it was "not good." Since Starbucks has previously used dried dragon fruit in other products, some netizens speculated, "Are they just trying to use up leftover dried dragon fruit?"

By comparison, Starbucks products overseas seem more intriguing. Starbucks Japan recently launched a Halloween Pumpkin Caramel Pudding Frappuccino, with a middle layer made from edible bamboo charcoal sauce. The entire drink has a black-dominant color scheme, prompting netizens to joke about it as "dark cuisine" and even draw more exaggerated complaints.

Starbucks France, meanwhile, introduced a Halloween-limited sesame almond tofu-flavored Frappuccino. Its gray appearance led netizens to dub it "cement Meng Po soup." The taste also sparked considerable debate — some thought it tasted like roasted sweet potato, while others who tried it felt it was "not very good, like chewing ginger gum."

Compared to Starbucks' style, other brands' new releases seem much more conventional. Peet's Coffee, known as the "grandfather of coffee," launched a Pirate's Treasure Latte, said to blend apple cinnamon flavor, Earl Grey tea, and coffee with milk. However, due to the added cinnamon spice, some customers were deterred, while those who liked it praised it for having "a strong apple cinnamon aroma."

Although Costa Coffee didn't release a Halloween-limited drink, it organized holiday activities: during the two days of Halloween, any purchase earns a free pack of Halloween tattoo stickers, and buying drinks and food totaling 68 yuan during the promotion also gets you a pumpkin camping lantern. However, because the lantern is on the small side and the craftsmanship is average, some netizens joked that "the cup is made with much more care than the free lamp."

Overall, brands launch limited-edition new products for every holiday. The visual designs are indeed clever and can attract attention and prompt consumers to buy in for the looks, but the flavors often leave much to be desired. Hopefully, major brands will put more thought into future development — after all, tasting good is what matters most.

Image source: Internet

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The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.