Yesterday afternoon I went into Starbucks and ordered the Peppermint Mocha, which has as a tagline, “Sip a cup of magic”. After discussing the logistics of making such a drink with the barista, we settled upon making the drink with just one pump of mocha sauce and peppermint syrup, as opposed to the usual three pumps of each. The two syrups are combined and added to espresso and steamed milk, and the beverage is then topped with whipped cream and dark chocolate curls, giving it the appearance of an after-dinner dessert coffee.
I made the case that calling it a cup of magic was an overstatement on Starbucks’ part. The barista---who possibly writes drink descriptions for Starbucks in her spare time---said something like, “Does sipping it make you remember sitting by the Christmas tree and waiting for Santa Claus to come down the chimney? If so, I’d argue that it really is a cup of magic.”
I closed my eyes, took a sip. The chocolate and peppermint flavours invaded my senses and I could remember opening presents on Christmas morning, eating candy canes by the fire, and singing Christmas carols. Yeah, life was simpler in those days. Back then, “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” was just a heartwarming ballad in which a small boy discusses in a forthright manner witnessing his mother cheating on her husband by kissing---and presumably later having sex with---Santa Claus.
But then I grew up and my innocence faded. I realized the Santa in the song was just the boy’s dad dressed in a Santa suit. Later still, I understood that the song probably doesn’t even take place during the holiday season and the kid’s dad just has some bizarre Santa fetish that his wife indulges every other Tuesday after they come home from their biweekly date night at Applebee’s.
But, yeah, I get it: the Peppermint Mocha is a drink that evokes this childhood nostalgia that transports the consumer to a happier and more innocent time. It truly is a cup of magic. Or at least it would be if it weren’t totally gross.
OK, I’m kidding. The drink isn’t really gross—the flavours work well together, in fact. But I nevertheless found it hard to finish after lunch. This would be great at home after dinner with some Baileys or Kahlua added, but it has too much of a dessert vibe to be a sensible go-to drink on your way to work at 8:30 in the morning. Still, it’s delicious and makes for a perfect treat during the holidays when you have nowhere else to be.
Verdict: Pretty good, but not quite magical.
Score: 5 Stars and 5 Bucks out of 10.
I like peppermint tea, I like mocha but I don't like peppermint mocha. I tried the regular one though, maybe 1-pump one would taste better. However, I don't think I will bother buying it.
ReplyDeleteIt also depends on where the childhood took place. I don't think if your childhood took place in a country in war, then pepp mocha wouldn't take you to your childhood. I guess you wouldn't want to go back to your childhood anyways in that case. And you certainly wouldn't be able to relate peppermint/mocha with magic. Is there even any Starbucks in Syria? I don't know and I don't think so. I know that there is no Starbucks in Italy (cuz they are so good at making coffee they don't need Starbucks--at least that's what the article I read claimed). But kids in Italy had Christmas. I wonder if they have an equivalent drink which would be a "sip of magic".
Yes, that's a great point. It would be a a bad tagline if Starbucks said, "It will take you back to your childhood---even, unfortunately, if your nation was at war during your childhood."
DeleteI think in Italy the "sip of magic" drink is probably Grappa, although the magic can easily turn into regret, and, later, shame if one is not careful.