Starbucks Canada Handcrafts New Blossoming Peach Tea Latte in Celebration of Chinese New Year


Starbucks Canada Handcrafts New Blossoming Peach Tea Latte in Celebration of Chinese New Year

Starbucks brings newest global taste inspiration to Toronto and Vancouver to mark the year of the Horse in Canada

TORONTO/VANCOUVER, January 27, 2014 - For the first time, Starbucks Coffee Canada has created a special, limited time tea latte in celebration of Chinese New Year, which takes place January 31, 2014. Beginning today at participating stores in the Greater Toronto and Greater Vancouver areas, customers can order the new Starbucks ® Blossoming Peach Tea Latte – an uplifting, aromatic blend of Earl Grey tea and peach flavour, directly inspired by a popular handcrafted beverage made in Starbucks® cafes in China.

“At Starbucks, we continually draw inspiration from seasons, cultures and traditions to create delicious, new handcrafted coffee and tea beverages,” says Richard Burjaw, vice president, Marketing, Starbucks Coffee Canada. “Creating moments of connection is the hallmark of the Starbucks Experience. With beverages like the new handcrafted Blossoming Peach Tea Latte, we’re excited to connect our customers with global experiences in a way that is customized for Canadian tastes. It’s Starbucks Canada’s homage to Chinese New Year and this year we’re proud to bring this to Canada’s largest cities and Starbucks largest Canadian markets. ”

Peach Blossom is a traditional flower in China and a symbol of beauty, love and longevity. A popular Chinese New Year celebratory beverage in Starbucks China stores since 2008 made with black tea, Starbucks Canada’s interpretation caters to the country’s palate. The beverage begins with mellow and soothing Earl Grey tea and the delicate aroma of peach, combined with the richness of freshly steamed milk, topped with whipped cream and peach blossom sugar crystals.

While Canada is known as one of the biggest coffee markets in the world with Canadians consuming 2 billion servings of hot coffee last year according to NPD Group data[1], Canada is also an important and growing tea market. NPD’s research also found that Canadians consumed 372 million servings of hot tea in the last year.

The new Starbucks® Blossoming Peach Tea Latte joins other specialty tea beverages that are gaining popularity in Starbucks® stores including the Starbucks® Green Tea Latte , which reflects its Japanese influence, made with matcha – and Starbucks® Chai Tea Latte – a customer-favourite, which invokes the flavours of India and South Asia. Starbucks® Chai Tea latte is the leading tea beverage in the company’s Canadian stores and one of the top five-selling beverages in the country alongside Starbucks® espresso-based beverages and brewed coffee.

The Greater Toronto and Greater Vancouver areas are the first cities in North America to offer the Starbucks® Blossoming Peach Tea Latte, which will be available for a limited time in participating stores starting today until February 16 while quantities last. Starbucks has also launched a 2014 Chinese New Year Starbucks Card available in participating Starbucks® stores across Canada and as an eGift online. The Starbucks Card celebrates the joyfulness and self-reliance of the horse, this year’s honored animal of the Lunar New Year. Customers with a Twitter account can also tweet a beverage through Starbucks Tweet-a-Coffee program. Visit www.starbucks.ca/tweetacoffee for details.

For more information, please visit Starbucks.ca.

[1] The NPD Group/CREST® year ending November 2013

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