Starbucks Launches Color-Changing Butterfly Pea Cold Brew

The regional beverages line up with this year’s spring trends.

By Ethan L. Johns
February 19, 2018

Image: Starbucks

The days are getting longer, and with temperatures roller-coastering up and down over here on the East Coast, it seems like spring might, at last, be just around the corner.

In anticipation of that most pastel-colored season, Starbucks on Monday announced a new, colorful collection of coffees, which will be available for a limited time in select Asian markets, beginning February 20th. The global coffee giant will also be offering some classy new edible options.

The first new product harnesses the captivating, color-changing power of butterfly pea flower, which has seen a spike in popularity to to the world’s current obsession with visually appealing food and drink. When you add water to the flower, it bleeds a vibrant, natural blue. Yet, when you add citrus, the color changes to purple. Starbucks has jumped on the opportunity and created a “Butterfly Pea Lemonade Cold Brew,” which features a bottom layer of the butterfly pea flower tea on the bottom, topped with a dose of lemonade, and a layer of cold brew coffee to top it all off.

Starbucks is also playing with a nuttier version of the cappuccino. The “Macadamia Cocoa Cappuccino” mixes espresso with a chocolate and macadamia syrup, which gets topped off with foamed milk. The drink’s froth gets a swirl of chocolate syrup and crumbled up macadamia nuts and graham crackers for a bit of crunchy texture.

Last but not least, Starbucks brings back the popular “Tahitian Vanilla macchiato,” which is an espresso drink featuring vanilla syrup, vanilla bean and a vanilla drizzle. Because who said vanilla had to be boring?

The coffee shop is also releasing two flatbreads—California Chicken, as well as Roast Chicken and Baked Potato—and a Roasted Chicken Wellington, the poultry version of Gordon Ramsay’s most famous pastry-encrusted beef.

Though these brews won’t be available in the US, you never know if they might be popping up soon. This is 2018, after all, and food trends these days have no issues flitting from place to place—almost like butterflies.

Can't wait for the trend to reach you? Try this color-changing Witch's Brew, made with butterfly pea flower tea.

Still hungry? Follow Genius Kitchen on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for even more fresh food news, served daily. Use #GeniusKitchen to let us know what you're sharing!

get the Food.com app.

Watch on your iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Android, Roku, or Fire TV.

Learn More

About Ethan L. Johns

Ethan is the Food News Writer at Genius Kitchen. An expert on the Parisian bistrot, he likes bitters and salted butters, and is no fan of dessert unless it's made with fruit. His hobbies include reading up on the history of borscht and attempting to roll perfect couscous by hand. Twits & Instagram @EthanLJohns