Provided by Starbucks
To celebrate the Lunar New Year, Starbucks has launched a “braised pork latte” at Reserve stores across China.
Editor’s note: Sign up for CNN’s newsletter “while in china,” which explores what you need to know about the rise of China and its impact on the world.
Hong Kong
CNN
—
Who doesn’t like braised pork with coffee?
Starbucks (SBUX) is betting on an unusual combination with a new drink launching in China to commemorate the Lunar New Year. Dubbed Abundant Ear Savory Latte, the brand describes it as having an “interesting” flavor.
According to Starbucks’ delivery app, the drink is a combination of Dongpo pork braised sauce, espresso, and steamed milk, with additional pork sauce and pork breast added as garnishes.
According to the app, the drink costs 68 yuan ($9.45).
A photo of the drink posted by Shanghai Starbucks Reserve Roastery on Chinese social media platform Weibo shows a latte with a dark red sauce on top of the foam and a skewer on the rim of the mug. Accompanied by square pork slices.
“Eating meat means prosperity in the coming year,” the roastery posted on Weibo on February 5, a few days before the start of the Lunar New Year.
It added that the drink brings “New Year’s traditions to coffee” and creates “unexpected flavors and sweetness.” This latte is available at Starbucks Reserve stores nationwide.
Provided by Starbucks
Drinks cost approximately $9.45.
Chinese New Year is one of Asia’s biggest annual holidays. People across China return to their hometowns to celebrate with their families during this period. A total of 474 million trips were made within the mainland during this year’s travel season, according to government data.
The dishes served at New Year’s feasts vary by region, but braised pork is often featured. Named after the ancient poet, painter, and politician Su Dongpo, “Dongpo Lou” is a dish made with stewed pork belly, rock sugar, soy sauce, yellow wine, and other seasonings.
The result is a very tender cut of pork that is full of flavor and easily flakes with chopsticks.
China is the world’s largest branded coffee shop market, overtaking the United States last year, according to a report published by World Coffee Portal in December.
Starbucks announced that it will open 785 stores in Japan in 2023. China has long been one of Starbucks’ most important growth drivers, serving as its second-largest market in the world and its top market overseas.
However, there is also fierce competition from companies such as Luckin Coffee. The Chinese startup is the country’s largest coffee chain with more than 13,000 stores, offering drinks at a much lower price point than its American competitors.
Starbucks’ pork latte quickly gained traction on Chinese social media, with the topic receiving more than 476,000 views on Weibo by the time this article was published. While some users expressed curiosity, others were skeptical, pointing out the high price and wondering why people would drink a latte instead of eating real pork chops. .
One Weibo user wrote, “For 67 yuan, you can eat a plate of braised pork, then go to Luckin and have two lattes.”
Another user quipped, “Allowing both (pork and coffee) to exist in your stomach at the same time, but not in your mouth at the same time.”
According to Nine Cup News, a website affiliated with the state-run Yangtze Daily, the drink has already sold out at one store in Wuhan, with customers commenting on its rich, smooth texture and “unique taste.” It is said that there is.
According to Shanghai Reserve Roastery’s Weibo account, Starbucks will also launch other new holiday-themed flavors across China in February, including New Year’s cake-inspired jujube macchiato and almond tofu macchiato. It is.