Starbucks Is Introducing a New Iced Cherry Chai Drink for Spring — and We Tried It

Mar. 15, 2025

Starbucks' new Iced Cherry Chai.Photo:Starbucks

Starbucks

Starbucks has a sweet and spiced new sip to welcome spring.Starting on Tuesday, March 4, customers can order the new Iced Cherry Chai, a black tea infused with cinnamon, clove and other spices, combined with milk and ice and topped with cherry cream cold foam and a cherry crunch topping.PEOPLE got an early taste of the buzzy new beverage and was impressed with how well the warm spices complemented the fruity flavor of the foam and crunch.The coffee chain notes that the cherry drink is its first springtime chai release. Starbucks’ fall 2024 menu included an Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai and Iced Apple Crisp Nondairy Cream Chai, and its festive holiday offerings featured the Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai.Starbucks' lavender beverages.StarbucksThe Iced Cherry Chai isn’t the only seasonal addition to Starbucks’ spring menu.A trio of colorful beverages is returning: the Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha, Iced Lavender Oatmilk Latte and Lavender Crème Frappuccino.The Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha and Iced Lavender Oatmilk Latte, which feature subtle floral notes, bothhit storesin March 2024. Later that month, Starbucksrolled outthe decadent Lavender Crème Frappuccino, in which lavender and vanilla syrup are blended with milk and ice and topped with whipped creamCustomers can customize most drinks with the Cherry Cream Cold Foam or Lavender Cream Cold Foam.Jalapeño Chicken Pocket.StarbucksStarbucks is also adding a newbie to its permanent food menu: the Jalapeño Chicken Pocket.The savory pocket is filled with diced chicken, charred poblanos, green jalapeños, three-chile-pepper cheese and jalapeño cream cheese, wrapped in a toasted chile lavash flatbread.For a limited time, orders of any breakfast sandwich, breakfast wrap, egg bites, bakes, lunch sandwiches or pockets will come with a free packet of Truff Original or Jalapeño Lime Hot Sauce.While these springtime treats are available nationwide, there are several tasty items coming exclusively to Starbucks Reserve Roasteries in Chicago, New York City and Seattle. There, fans can sip on the new Lavender Matcha Malt, Iced Ube Coconut Latte or Sakura Float. For food options, customers can opt for the Twice Baked Pistachio Rose Cornetto, Blueberry Lavender Donut or Butterfly Pea Swirl Cake.Starbucks is also treating fans of blonde roasts to its new Sunsera Blend, which it calls its “smoothest, brightest and most versatile coffee yet.”Truff Original Hot Sauce.StarbucksSunsera, which has notes of citrus and toasted almond, will be the hot brewed light roast Coffee of the Day in Starbucks stores starting March 4 and will also be available as packaged coffee at grocery stores in the U.S.Tuesday also marks the day Starbucks isremoving a selectionof less popular drinks from its menu.The coffee chain said in a statement shared with PEOPLE that the departing drinks are “not commonly purchased, can be complex to make or are similar to other beverages on our menu.”During Starbucks’ earnings call on Jan. 28, CEO Brian Niccol announced a “roughly 30% reduction in both beverages and food.“The drinks that are being removed are: Iced Matcha Lemonade, Espresso Frappuccino, Caffè Vanilla Frappuccino, Java Chip Frappuccino, White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino, Frappuccino Crème Blended Beverages, White Hot Chocolate, Royal English Breakfast Latte and Honey Almondmilk Flat White.

Starbucks has a sweet and spiced new sip to welcome spring.

Starting on Tuesday, March 4, customers can order the new Iced Cherry Chai, a black tea infused with cinnamon, clove and other spices, combined with milk and ice and topped with cherry cream cold foam and a cherry crunch topping.

PEOPLE got an early taste of the buzzy new beverage and was impressed with how well the warm spices complemented the fruity flavor of the foam and crunch.

The coffee chain notes that the cherry drink is its first springtime chai release. Starbucks’ fall 2024 menu included an Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai and Iced Apple Crisp Nondairy Cream Chai, and its festive holiday offerings featured the Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai.

Starbucks' lavender beverages.Starbucks

The Iced Cherry Chai isn’t the only seasonal addition to Starbucks’ spring menu.

A trio of colorful beverages is returning: the Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha, Iced Lavender Oatmilk Latte and Lavender Crème Frappuccino.

The Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha and Iced Lavender Oatmilk Latte, which feature subtle floral notes, bothhit storesin March 2024. Later that month, Starbucksrolled outthe decadent Lavender Crème Frappuccino, in which lavender and vanilla syrup are blended with milk and ice and topped with whipped cream

Customers can customize most drinks with the Cherry Cream Cold Foam or Lavender Cream Cold Foam.

Jalapeño Chicken Pocket.Starbucks

Starbucks is also adding a newbie to its permanent food menu: the Jalapeño Chicken Pocket.

The savory pocket is filled with diced chicken, charred poblanos, green jalapeños, three-chile-pepper cheese and jalapeño cream cheese, wrapped in a toasted chile lavash flatbread.

For a limited time, orders of any breakfast sandwich, breakfast wrap, egg bites, bakes, lunch sandwiches or pockets will come with a free packet of Truff Original or Jalapeño Lime Hot Sauce.

While these springtime treats are available nationwide, there are several tasty items coming exclusively to Starbucks Reserve Roasteries in Chicago, New York City and Seattle. There, fans can sip on the new Lavender Matcha Malt, Iced Ube Coconut Latte or Sakura Float. For food options, customers can opt for the Twice Baked Pistachio Rose Cornetto, Blueberry Lavender Donut or Butterfly Pea Swirl Cake.

Starbucks is also treating fans of blonde roasts to its new Sunsera Blend, which it calls its “smoothest, brightest and most versatile coffee yet.”

Truff Original Hot Sauce.Starbucks

Sunsera, which has notes of citrus and toasted almond, will be the hot brewed light roast Coffee of the Day in Starbucks stores starting March 4 and will also be available as packaged coffee at grocery stores in the U.S.

Tuesday also marks the day Starbucks isremoving a selectionof less popular drinks from its menu.

The coffee chain said in a statement shared with PEOPLE that the departing drinks are “not commonly purchased, can be complex to make or are similar to other beverages on our menu.”

During Starbucks’ earnings call on Jan. 28, CEO Brian Niccol announced a “roughly 30% reduction in both beverages and food.”

The drinks that are being removed are: Iced Matcha Lemonade, Espresso Frappuccino, Caffè Vanilla Frappuccino, Java Chip Frappuccino, White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino, Frappuccino Crème Blended Beverages, White Hot Chocolate, Royal English Breakfast Latte and Honey Almondmilk Flat White.

source: people.com