Why Does the Luckin Coffee Winter Pear Americano Taste Different?

Luckin Coffee has launched its winter limited-edition Big Winter Pear Americano, but returning fans say the taste no longer matches last year's Big Frozen Pear Americano. The difference comes down to the recipe: the new version uses seasonal fresh pear juices such as Akizuki pear and Dangshan pear, not the pear-flavored concentrated fruit puree that defined the original drink.

The original frozen pear Americano grew out of a viral trend around the Northeastern fruit, and its refreshing flavor built a loyal following that pushed for its return. In the new americano drink coffee format, some new customers find the fresh pear juice overpowers the coffee, comparing it to rock sugar snow pear, while longtime fans want the earlier formula back.

Last winter, the Northeastern specialty fruit frozen pear unexpectedly went viral, and Luckin seized the trend with its "Big Frozen Pear Americano," winning over a large group of loyal fans with its refreshing taste. As this year's cold winter arrives, many "frozen pear heads" have taken to the official comment section to call for its return, and Luckin, ever responsive to feedback, promptly launched the winter limited-edition "Big Winter Pear Americano." However, delighted fans who placed orders soon noticed the taste didn't match their cherished memory, and only upon closer inspection did they learn that the new version uses seasonal fresh pear juices like Akizuki pear and Dangshan pear, completely different from last year's pear-flavored concentrated fruit puree formula. Longtime fans are crying foul and urging the brand to bring back the original, while new customers feel the fresh pear juice greatly overshadows the coffee, making it taste more like rock sugar snow pear. Is this winter limited edition a pleasant surprise or a letdown? Let's take a look.

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Last winter, a fruit with a pitch-black skin called "frozen pear" from Northeast China quickly went viral online, becoming a hot topic among netizens nationwide and catching the attention of chain brands' R&D teams. Riding this trend, the frozen pear Americano was born as a seasonal limited-edition drink, attracting many consumers curious about Northeastern specialty foods to place orders and give it a try.

Interestingly, many customers who initially just wanted a taste were conquered by the refreshing flavor of Luckin's "Big Frozen Pear Americano," and even after it was discontinued, they couldn't forget it. So when this year's cold winter arrived again, a large number of "frozen pear heads" spontaneously flocked to the official comment section, pleading with the brand to bring back their beloved "Big Frozen Pear Americano."

Thus, Luckin, always willing to listen to consumers, recently launched a winter limited-edition drink called "Big Winter Pear Americano." As soon as the official promotion was released, eager fans didn't even bother to read the poster carefully, chanting "Big Frozen Pear Americano is back" while rushing to place orders as soon as the new product launched.

But before long, the first batch of "frozen pear heads" who tried it discovered that this year's winter limited edition from Luckin seemed to have changed in taste, not matching the "Big Frozen Pear Americano" they remembered.

Sensing something off, consumers then carefully read the official product description and noticed that the new product is actually called "Big Winter Pear Americano," using seasonal fresh pear juice made from varieties like Akizuki pear and Dangshan pear, rather than last year's pear-flavored concentrated fruit puree. The ingredient ratios and other details are also different, making it a completely new product distinct from the "Big Frozen Pear Americano."

With their once-beloved drink suddenly "changing flavor," many "frozen pear heads" expressed their inability to accept it. Many admitted that when ordering, they thought it was the return of their favorite drink from last year, and only upon tasting did they realize it was a drink that was "similar in name but not in spirit," their disappointment palpable.

Some fans were even more blunt: "Luckin! Give me back my Big Frozen Pear Americano," "So mad, Big Frozen Pear and Big Winter Pear are two different things," "How did Frozen Pear Americano become Winter Pear Americano after a year?" They called on the official brand to revert to the original "Big Frozen Pear Americano."

Interestingly, new users also have their own opinions on Luckin's newly launched winter limited edition. They said that "Big Winter Pear Americano" uses ristretto espresso, and when mixed with the prominently flavored fresh pear juice, it greatly diminishes the presence of the coffee, making the overall drink taste too sweet and very similar to rock sugar snow pear drinks on the market. They even joked that they might have bought a cup of "coffee-flavored rock sugar snow pear."

However, although Luckin's winter drink this year falls a bit short of fans' expectations, some consumers still fell in love with this limited-edition drink after their first try, hoping that "Big Winter Pear Americano" will stay on the menu a while longer so they can buy a few more cups.

Image source: Xiaohongshu

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