How Does This Mint Drink Fit Into Coffee Culture?

Chabaidao launched an iced mint iced milk co-branded with the movie Frozen, made with fresh mint leaves, green grapes, lemon, matcha liquid, and milk. The drink was meant to deliver a cooling sensation, but consumers reported that the freshly squeezed mint juice tasted grassy rather than refreshing. Reviews split between people who felt they were chewing on grass and those who enjoyed the plant's fresh aroma.

The launch followed the seasonal withdrawal of Chabaidao's lychee iced milk as lychee season ended. Staff prepare the mint drink by juicing washed fresh mint leaves with green grapes, then mixing muddled lemon, matcha liquid, milk, and mint juice with a tea base before shaking. The polarizing response highlights a challenge in specialty coffee and tea innovation: ingredient-forward drinks can deliver unexpected flavors.

After Chabaidao's lychee iced milk was discontinued seasonally, the brand quickly launched two new iced milk drinks, among which the iced mint iced milk co-branded with "Frozen" attracted a lot of attention thanks to the mint element and co-branded merchandise. However, this drink, made with fresh mint leaves, green grapes, lemon, matcha liquid, and milk, did not deliver the expected cooling sensation upon tasting. Instead, the grassy juice flavor of freshly squeezed mint juice sparked polarized reviews. Some described drinking it as turning into a cow chewing on grass, while others found the plant's fresh aroma uniquely appealing. Whether this cross-category mashup is creativity or a flop is worth exploring.

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As lychee season nears its end, Chabaidao's previously well-received lychee iced milk has been gradually withdrawn from stores nationwide. The brand seized the opportunity to launch two brand-new iced milk products, continuing to offer consumers refreshing choices. The new member, Iced Mint Iced Milk, quickly became a focal point of discussion as soon as it debuted.

(Image screenshot from official Weibo)

It is reported that this Iced Mint Iced Milk is a co-branded new product created by Chabaidao in collaboration with the popular IP "Frozen." The inclusion of the mint element naturally attracted a group of mint lovers. After its launch, many customers ordered it to experience it, either for the co-branded merchandise or simply out of curiosity.

However, the refreshing experience of "having an air conditioner in your mouth" that everyone fantasized about fell far short when actually tasted. Many people furrowed their brows after just one sip, unable to even tell whether they were drinking a mint beverage or sour grass juice.

From the production process shared by employees, it can be seen that during preparation, washed fresh mint leaves are first juiced together with green grapes, then muddled lemon, matcha liquid, milk, and mint juice are mixed with the tea base, and after shaking, a cup of Iced Mint Iced Milk is completed.

Judging by the ingredients alone, this new product seems fresh and clean. But some consumers reported that when the cold drink made with freshly squeezed mint juice enters the mouth, it is filled with the grassy, raw scent of chewing mint leaves, completely unlike the anticipated clear cooling sensation. Someone joked that after drinking this cup of Iced Mint Iced Milk, it feels as if you are standing on a green meadow, and you let out a "moo" as you transform into a calf, lowering your head to graze on the grass.

When the unexpectedly fresh grass juice flavor fills the mouth, many mint lovers who came attracted by its reputation bluntly said they were "heartbroken," lamenting, "So I only liked artificial mint flavor, not the taste of fresh mint leaves." They expressed difficulty accepting this new product that "only has mint bitterness, no cooling sensation," and reminded other fans who pursue the "air conditioner in the mouth after drinking" effect to try it with caution.

In addition, regarding the combination of "mint + perfume lemon + matcha liquid + milk," many tasters believed that each element is fine on its own, but together they are "somewhat evil." Some netizens described that after mixing in the sourness of lemon, the bitterness of matcha, and the sweetness of syrup, Iced Mint Iced Milk "lets you taste all of life's sour, sweet, and bitter in one sip." The叠加 of various ingredients creates too strong an impact on the taste buds, making this unimaginable combination truly hard to accept.

"It gathers all the shortcomings of mint plus lemon plus matcha while leaving not a single good-tasting point," "The taste of mint plus matcha is just weird," "Shocked, who came up with the combination of lemon + milk...," "The mint flavor isn't strong and a strange lemon flavor pops out," "Adding lemon in it is too jarring."

Although a quick search on social platforms reveals a large number of complaints about Chabaidao's new product, some challengers hold different opinions. They believe that the original mint juice carries a fresh plant aroma and can bring a special taste experience. This drink, described by others as "weird," is not as hard to swallow as rumored and is still acceptable.

Image source: Xiaohongshu

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