Monday, July 11, 2005

Breaking the Boycott

Starbucks is set to debut its Green Tea Creme Frappuccino to the American market sometime this week. According to one source the new drink premieres on the 13th, according to another on the 16th (these information discrepancies happen when you're tabling at an event and have to keep sending an emissary to the back of the Starbucks van to get you the free samples every couple of minutes).

The Panama Hotel Teahouse (which I am glad to hear is finally, finally, finally serving coffee!) serves a heavenly green tea latte with little nori sprinkles on the foam. The new Sbux drink reminds me of it. Except that it's cold. And blended. And has whipped cream. And isn't anything like the Panama Hotel Teahouse green tea latte, really. But it's the closest commercial substitution.

The new Frappuccino (if the free small samples are any indication) is definitely inferior to the Panama Teahouse drink. However, it will soon be available on every corner starting July 13th. Or 16th. Whatever.

Apparently the drink has been on the market in Asia and Australia for a while. It might prove to be the opiate that lures me to the Gospel of Starbucks! (See funny animation regarding Starbucks' coffee language revisionism.)

2 comments:

Micaela said...

I didn't see you at the ID fair?! I kind of looked too!

Rainster said...

Was only there from 3-5 on Saturday.