This Is What Starbucks' Horchata-Themed Frappuccino Actually Tastes Like

    Is this the perfect drinking for the dog days of summer, or will it just leave you panting?

    by Sam Stryker, Norberto Briceño, Pablo Valdivia

    Starbucks has introduced some pretty interesting drinks this year, from the Unicorn Frappuccino to the Ombré Pink Drink.

    Instagram: @frappuccino / Via @frappuccino

    So when they announced the newest addition to their menu, the Horchata Almond Milk Frappuccino, was launching TODAY, we knew we had to give it a try.

    Starbucks

    According to Starbucks, this drink is made with "almond milk, coffee, cinnamon dolce syrup and ice blended together." The drink is finished with whipped cream topped with caramel sauce and cinnamon sugar sprinkles.

    Would it perfectly tickle our taste buds? Or would we be leaving in need of an immediate dentist visit to alleviate potential new cavities? There was only one way to find out!

    E!

    FYI, here's what the drink looks like in real life.

    Sam Stryker / BuzzFeed

    Pablo's thoughts on the drink:

    Pablo Valdivia / BuzzFeed

    Here's what he thought: It’s definitely tolerable and can satisfy even the biggest sweet tooth, but it’s not horchata as I know it. I can best describe it as sweetened almond milk soaked in Cinnamon Toast Crunch. That might be someone else’s taste, but not mine. Should you try this? Sure, IDK what you're into. But if you’re expecting to experience the magic that is horchata, I’d recommend drinking actual horchata first, and then maybe grab this frap for dessert.

    Rating: 2.5/5

    Norberto's thoughts on the drink:

    Norberto Briceño / BuzzFeed

    Here's what he thought: I'm just gonna say that I was intrigued by the idea of an horchata frap. As a Mexican, I was NOT expecting horchata, but I expected some sort of delicious beverage that has a hint of horchata flavor. I think Starbucks missed the mark and failed to recreate the horchata flavor, resulting in a beverage that tastes a little too synthetic. Also, the aftertaste lingers in the back of the throat for far too long and it's a bit unpleasant.

    Rating: 2.5/5

    Sam's thoughts on the drink:

    Sam Stryker / BuzzFeed

    Here's what he thought: Frappuccinos are definitely not for the faint of heart: They're usually very sweet! Sometimes that means it's the perfect treat, while other times it makes you want to immediately brush your teeth after. Here's the deal: The initial taste is actually pretty good — like a liquid Cinnamon Toast Crunch, or CTC — but then it is followed up by this aftertaste that's sort of like the burnt part of a crème brûlée, but a little more artificial. The whipped cream on top is a bright spot. I think I'll just continue to take my coffee black, like my soul.

    Rating: 2.5/5

    Overall, we didn't *LOVE* the drink — but die-hard sweet tooths should give it a try!

    Sam Stryker / BuzzFeed

    It was a little too sweet for our tastes, but if you crave all things sugary, you might want to go test it out for yourself! At the very least, you'll get a cute 'gram out of it.

    CORRECTION

    The whipped cream, caramel sauce, and cinnamon dolce topping all contain dairy and therefore the Horchata Almond Milk Frappuccino is not dairy-free. An earlier version of this post incorrectly claimed the drink was the first specifically dairy-free Frappuccino from Starbucks.