I Tried the Two NEW Starbucks Iced Drinks for Spring — Here’s What I Thought

Isadora Baum
Isadora Baum
Isadora Baum is a freelance writer, content marketer, and author of 5-Minute Energy. She can't resist a good sample, a margarita, a new HIIT class, or an easy laugh. She writes for various magazines, such as Men's Health, Women's Health, Well+Good, LIVESTRONG, POPSUGAR, SELF, Health, Cooking Light, Eating Well, and more.
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updated Mar 5, 2020
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spring drinks from starbucks 2020
Credit: Isadora Baum

Calling all Starbucks fans: The cult-favorite coffee spot announced their spring menu this week, and it includes two NEW iced drinks. They’re both super colorful — the Iced Pineapple Matcha is a light green, and the Iced Golden Ginger is a vibrant yellow.

Both use coconut milk as a dairy-free creamer. The former is made with premium matcha green tea and flavors of pineapple and ginger, while the latter has ginger, pineapple and turmeric. Both are shaken to perfection for a refreshing springtime iced drink. They’re perfect for when you want something lighter, somewhat fruitier, and lower in caffeine than your typical cold brew. 

I Was Excited and Nervous to Try Them 

Okay so upon first glance, the Golden Ginger was alarming — it looks kind of chalky (and to be honest it tastes a little chalky, too) and it is a bright, bright yellow. I’ve never had golden milk lattes before, and do not often drink turmeric juice shots, so I was definitely outside of my “norm” for Starbucks orders. 

Yet the Iced Pineapple Matcha one excited me — I happen to love matcha, ginger, and pineapple, so together I figured it would be pretty good!

My Thoughts

The Golden Ginger is weird at first, but it’s delicious once your palate gets used to it. My first three sips? Not great. I did not like it. I told my barista friend when he asked my thoughts, since everyone on staff today also had similar feelings. Yet, I sort of liked the little bit of aftertaste of pineapple, and the turmeric notes started to become a bit milder as I got used to it. 

At first, it was super chalky-tasting and really spicy — but then those sweeter notes came out and it started to blend together. If you want to try this drink, give it a few more sips to see if you like it. I bet if I kept ordering it, I’d start to LOVE it in time. Really. 

As for the Matcha Pineapple, I liked it but it wasn’t as flavorful as I was expecting. Don’t get me wrong — it is not bad at all. It is refreshing, it has good matcha notes, and no chalky texture. Yet, the ginger and pineapple are not super pronounced. I am a huge fan of both flavors and I would’ve loved a bit more in there! Overall though it did hit the spot and I finished it. It is definitely NOT sweet, so if you thought the pineapple would make it sweet over matcha-like, think again. 

I’d be into getting both again when I have a craving in the spring for something that is a little milky but not coffee. Overall I am pleased with Starbucks’ creativity and fresh collection!