This past year has brought about an assortment of new delicious Starbucks drinks. These seasonal delights that come out every few months are one of the things that makes Starbucks – well, Starbucks! The return of annual holiday favorites is one of the things that keeps us customers coming back to the most popular coffee shop in the world. Throughout this year, I’ve tried a lot of new Starbucks drinks. Here are my top 5 picks from 2024.

#1 – Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha

• My Stars Rating : ★★★★★
• Launch Date: March 7th, 2024
• Season: Spring
• Features: Limited edition vanilla lavender foam

The Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha is my all-time favorite drink at Starbucks. Although a lot of people may be averse to it, I really like matcha. The first time I tried this drink, I was on my way to a sports tournament and needed a new drink to boost my energy. This drink had just come out, and though I had no idea what lavender-flavored foam would taste like, I ordered it. Calling it delicious would be an understatement. Matcha has a naturally sweet flavor with hints of earthiness—that might not sound good now, but try it before you decide! The lavender foam really elevates the drink; it further sweetens the matcha to create an amazing blend of both flavors. I quickly grew to love this drink and I am so excited for it to come back this spring.

#2 – Iced Apple Crisp Nondairy Cream Chai

• My Stars Rating : ★★★★☆
• Launch Date: August 7th, 2024
• Season: Fall
• Features: Apple brown sugar-flavored syrup

As a lover of all things chai related, I can say that the Iced Apple Crisp Nondairy Cream Chai feels like a sip of cool fall air. This drink brings something new to the table that a normal chai latte doesn’t – sweet apple flavoring. Of course, this flavoring adds a sugary aspect, but the apple brown-sugar syrup makes this drink taste absolutely delectable. In fact, it did so well this fall that it’s still on the menu! Hopefully it will become a permanent staple so we can all enjoy this drink year-round.

#3 – Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai

• My Stars Rating : ★★★☆☆
• Launch Date: November 7th, 2024
• Season: Winter
• Features: Gingerbread-flavored cold foam & spice topping

I rated this drink three stars because I felt like it was missing something. When I tried it, I was expecting a sweet and spicy chai. Unfortunately, my expectations weren’t met. It was still a good chai, no doubt, but for a featured beverage like this, I thought that it needed a bit more of that gingerbread and spice flavor that would’ve set it apart from other drinks. I felt like I had ordered a regular iced chai because I didn’t really taste any of those features I mentioned above, even though I knew they were there. I would recommend getting this drink as a latte, though, because the unique flavoring is highlighted more when it’s hot.

#4 – Summer Skies Drink Refresher

• My Stars Rating : ★★★☆☆
• Launch Date: May 7th, 2024
• Season: Summer
• Features: Raspberry flavored pearls

The Summer Skies Drink Refresher is the ultimate summer-time beverage. I first ordered it after coming back from overnight camp and was delighted by the raspberry pearls. I drank the entire thing just so I could get to the add-ins at the bottom! The drink itself was good, but I especially enjoyed the tasty bubbles. Although I enjoyed the drink, it would have been better without so much coconut milk in it. The milk diminishes the strong flavor of the fruit so it tastes like you’re drinking straight coconut milk with raspberry pearls. Overall, though, the Summer Skies Drink successfully satisfied my craving for something cold and seasonal.

#5 – Cran-Merry Orange Lemonade Refresher

• My Stars Rating : ★★★☆☆

• Launch Date: November 7th, 2024

• Season: Winter

• Features: Cranberry inclusions

Rounding out the list at number 5, the Cran-Merry Orange Lemonade Refresher missed the mark, at least for me. Some of my friends loved it, and others didn’t. This drink seems to be a hit or miss for everyone. After taking my first sip, the only thing I could taste was that it had way too many flavors. The cranberry, orange, and lemonade competing in the beverage completely overpowered each other. While I commend Starbucks for their ability to seamlessly incorporate lemonade into most Refreshers, I feel this one could benefit without it. What’s more, the cranberry inclusions were very tart and didn’t contribute much to the drink as a whole. I appreciate Starbucks’ originality and vision, but the execution wasn’t there. 

Ultimately, 2024 has been an exceptional year for Starbucks, with several new drinks being introduced each season. Flowery spring flavors, new summer add-ins, autumn chais, and tangy winter refreshers show the year’s variety of new and delicious drinks, and the company’s ability to keep consumers on their toes. With each drink they release, Starbucks shows their creativity and the effort they put in to make sure that there’s a new drink for everyone.