On the heels of its Australian import, the flat white, Starbucks rolled out a new Italian dessert-inspired beverage: the tiramisu latte.
The drink, which debuted Tuesday, is a combination of the coffee chain's tiramisu syrup, shots of espresso, steamed milk and whipped cream, topped off with a generous sprinkling of cocoa for $4.25 (for a tall). With its frothy, chocolate-powdered topping, it bears a well-crafted resemblance to the dessert's light, creamy mascarpone top layer.
But unlike the Italian classic, where the strong, bitter espresso-soaked ladyfingers underneath provide that perfect contrast to the airy, mousse-like mascarpone, the rest of the drink is pure tooth-aching sweetness. The addition of the tiramisu-flavored syrup makes the latte such a sugary concoction that it was difficult to tell that there was espresso in the beverage. Overall, a decent effort at a drinkable dessert by Starbucks, but not suited for those who appreciate the real deal (or want to prevent cavities).
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