Starbucks : Frappuccino beverages provide three new sensory experiences for customers in Asia

Blended coffee pudding. Jelly in a Frappuccino. A drinkable banana split. A great beverage isn't always just about taste. It can be a whole sensory experience including a tantalizing aroma and appealing appearance. And for customers across Asia, now it can also be about a wider range of unique textures.

Starbucks is introducing today (June 6) three Frappuccino blended beverages that are fun twists on classic tea and coffee favorites infused with unexpected ingredients. The new beverages are available for a limited time at participating Starbucks® stores across Asia. They include:

Starbucks® Irish Cream Coffee Pudding Frappuccino® blended beverage: A coffee pudding base is infused with rich Irish Cream flavor, then topped with fluffy espresso whipped cream and finely ground espresso powder.

Starbucks® Matcha Earl Grey Jelly Frappuccino® blended beverage: A bright layer of green tea gives this beverage its distinctive summer color, and traditional Earl Grey tea is transformed into a delightful jelly layer and finished with fluffy whipped cream and Matcha powder.

Starbucks® Banana Split Frappuccino blended beverage®: Like a drinkable ice cream sundae, this beverage combines sweet strawberry whipped cream and refreshing banana and mocha, which is blended and topped with a fluffy vanilla whipped cream. Chunky and crunchy waffle pieces complete this nostalgic summer treat.

'We experimented with different combinations of flavors to create new sensory experiences,' said Michele Waits, vice president, Marketing & Category, Starbucks Asia Pacific. 'The striking layers, textures and flavors make each Starbucks Frappuccino distinctive.'

'That's something that consumers across Asia report they appreciate,' said Davina Patel, global food and drink analyst at Mintel, the global market intelligence agency.

'And while it seems that consumers in Asia Pacific are demanding for more rich flavors, as reflected in Mintel's 2017 Global Food and Drink Trend, 'In Tradition We Trust', they are also finding comfort in modernized updates of age-old formulations, flavors and formats.'

''According to Mintel Global New Products Database, Asia Pacific accounted for 88 percent of all global drink launches between 2012 and 2016 that feature the words 'chewy' or 'jelly, making it the most active region for drinks that come with a bite,' she said. 'In addition, there seems to be a growing demand for more rich and indulgent flavors within the region and as such, cream flavors have really started to play on that need.'

Availability of these beverages vary by country. More information can be found on Starbucks.com.

For more information on this news release, contact the Starbucks Newsroom