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Press photo of the new Starbucks creation: "Available until next Monday or while stocks last"
Photo:
Starbucks
“Java Chip Cream Frappuccino”, “White Chocolate Mocha”, “Iced Signature Chocolate”: The menu at a Starbucks branch in Germany can be confusing for some people. On the occasion of Chinese New Year, the coffee house chain has now come up with something very special for selected stores in the People's Republic: the "Abundant Year Savory Latte". This is, if you want to put it more mundanely, a pork-flavored coffee.
In Starbucks' words, however, it sounds much more glamorous. In response to a request from SPIEGEL, a spokesman for the company's headquarters in Seattle said the new creation "combines the aroma of braised Dongpo pork into a creation of salty and sweet taste that celebrates the traditional New Year festival." The drink is part of a campaign to “highlight local tastes and underline traditional customs” in 25 selected branches across the country. The offer is limited in time – “available until next Monday or while stocks last.”
As an illustration, the coffee chain sent SPIEGEL a press photo of the “Abundant Year Savory Latte.” It shows a coffee with perfect crema in a simple black cup. Floating in the center of the composition is what could be a strip of flesh. The spokesman did not say what flavors are included in the coffee other than the Dongpo-style pork.
Gigantic market, strong competitive pressure
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Photo: Starbucks
The US broadcaster CNN reports that the variety is available for 68 yuan, or around 8.75 euros. In an analysis, the medium also attributed the introduction of such unusual varieties to the extraordinary competitive pressure on the Chinese market: China is now the largest market for branded coffee shops in the world since it overtook the United States last year. Starbucks has a strong presence in China, but has strong competition, including from the local chain “Luckin Coffee,” which offers its drinks at lower prices.
Sol