STARBUCKS have unveiled a new drink just in time for Fall – and customers can get their hands on it from today.
But the cozy Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte is only available for early birds at one very specific spot.
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The new drink flavour works to bring together “pecan flavors, baking spices and rich brown buttery notes”, Starbucks said.
Customers can get it today but only if travelling on Delta Air Lines – which has paired up with the coffee giant to offer flyers a first sip before it hits stores.
Travellers heading through Seattle-Tacoma airport and LaGuardia on September 18 can grab a cup at a pop-up tasting.
From September 19 the Pecan Crunch will be available at US stores for a limited time while stocks last.
Starbucks interviewed over 40 baristas and store managers around the country before debuting the new flavour.
Patrick Penny, lead beverage developer for Starbucks, said: “We were really focused on what people are thinking, feeling, and doing during the holidays.
“We asked questions like, where are you going? What inspires joy
“How could Starbucks play a role in uplifting your day during the season?”
Penny said he took inspiration from his own grandmother’s pecan pie for the recipe.
After “dozens of tests”, the team decided on a non-dairy recipe, using their trademark Blonde Espresso.
The hot version comes with oat milk foam on top, and the iced with a sweet vanilla-flavored cold foam.
“Both are finished with a few shakes of sweet and savory pecan crunch topping,” Starbucks revealed.
The company usually roll out a festive Christmas drink later on in the year, but despite looking at this for a holiday beverage, customers associated it more with Fall.
Penny said many consumers said during the testing phase: “Oh, I could see this on a walk in the park on a crisp day with autumn leaves.”
They decided to release the new drink in September instead.
“The Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte joins seasonal favorites such as the iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte and Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato,” Starbucks said.
“It’s fitting to these cooler days and feels like the perfect transition from classic fall beverages into holiday beverages.
“We’ve got pumpkin, we’ve got apple, and now we’ve got pecan. It’s the ‘pie-fecta!’”
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