Whoa! Starbucks Peppermint Drinks Available All Year Round?

Starbucks peppermint drinks may be a favorite during the holiday season, but you might not need to wait till the festive season to savor that minty taste.

Many Starbucks stores worldwide actually have peppermint as an add-on. 

That’s right. You might be able to ask for as many pumps of peppermint syrup as you like all year round! 

Topics Explored

1. What’s Really Peppermint Drinks?
2. 13 Best Starbucks Peppermint Drinks
   • Peppermint Drinks On The Menu
   • Secret Menu Peppermint Drinks
3. More Questions

Starbucks released its first peppermint-flavored drink in 2002 as a holiday menu offering. 

This happened after the company’s research and development team combined the festive flavor of candy canes with their classic Caffe Mocha. 

This drink soon became a worldwide hit and is now served in over 30,000 outlets worldwide. ⁽¹⁾

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Starbucks Peppermint Drinks – The 13 Best

As a self-proclaimed peppermint fan, I can proudly say that I’ve tried almost all of the Starbucks peppermint drinks from their existing and secret menu (thanks, TikTok!) 

Here’s a round-up of my favorites.

Standard Peppermint Drinks

1. Peppermint Mocha

I cannot start a peppermint list without mentioning the classic Peppermint Mocha. 

The original variety consists of their signature espresso roast, milk, plus a few generous pumps of peppermint syrup and mocha sauce.  

Order it with non-fat milk to trim the calories without sacrificing taste. You won’t notice the difference, trust me.

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The warm and bittersweet flavor of the mocha is nicely balanced by the sweet coolness of the peppermint syrup.

The drink has a bold and rich mouthfeel, perfect for having it hot.

2. Mint Majesty

Sometimes, I go to Starbucks craving something light. Good thing they also offer many tea varieties. 

This peppermint tea comes with an infusion of spearmint leaves, peppermint leaves, and lemon verbena.

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You can’t go wrong with a crisp, minty tea that smells as amazing as it tastes.

Since this drink is just a mixture of herbs, it’s an excellent guilt-free choice for the calorie-conscious. 

3. Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino

A popular drink during the holiday season, the Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino is basically the classic Peppermint Mocha in blended form.

The drink is smooth, chocolatey, minty, and icy! Oh, and don’t skip the whipped cream. It turns the drink from icy to creamy in two shakes.

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The classic taste of peppermint will linger on your tongue after the bittersweetness of the mocha dies down.

The drink isn’t too thick, making it a suitable sipping experience for those who prefer to have their coffee cold. 

4. Christmas Tree Peppermint Dark Mocha

The Christmas Tree Peppermint Dark Mocha Frappuccino is a fun drink only offered on the holiday menu in the Philippines. 

It combines decadent dark mocha with peppermint syrup and a green tea-flavored whipped cream. 

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Obviously, we didn’t try this one because some of the add-ons aren’t available in North America.

A friend describes it as a drink that balances the earthy hint of green tea with the bittersweet dark mocha.

Secret Menu Peppermint Drinks

5. Holiday Chai Latte (Secret Menu)

The Holiday Chai Latte isn’t on Starbucks’s official menu. However, tea lovers can still enjoy this festive peppermint drink.

Get an iced vanilla chai latte with peppermint syrup, and top it off with some cold foam & caramel drizzle. Thank me later!

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I was pleasantly surprised after the first sip. The spiciness of the chai and the cold foam boosts the refreshing peppermint taste.

The base drink is already sweet, so I only added one pump of peppermint.

6. Thin Mint Frappuccino (Secret Menu)

Girl Scout cookies only make a yearly appearance. Thankfully, we can custom-make a Thin Mint Frappuccino every day!

Start by ordering a Matcha Creme Frappuccino with mocha sauce, peppermint syrup, frappuccino chips, and mocha drizzle. 

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The mocha syrup and java chips lift its chocolatey taste over the earthy nuttiness of the matcha. 

Combine that with a delicate, minty finish, and you got yourself a little refresher that tastes just like a thin mint cookie! 

7. Toasted Peppermint Mocha (Secret Menu)

Can’t decide which holiday beverage to drink? Why pick one when you can combine two?

Just add a pump of peppermint syrup to your Toasted White Mocha, and viola, you just got yourself a Toasted Peppermint Mocha from the secret menu!

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The first thing I noticed was the sweet taste. It’s not for everyone, so if too sweet makes you sick, skip this drink.

The drink isn’t caffeinated, so your little ones can enjoy this festive treat!

8. Candy Cane Cold Brew (Secret Menu)

The Candy Cane Cold Brew may have a festive ring to its name, but you can order this concoction all year round, thanks to the secret menu hack. 

Ask for a cold brew with peppermint syrup, white mocha sauce, sweet cream, and sprinkles. So ‘gram it and enjoy! 

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Mellow meets minty is the perfect way to describe this drink. It tasted like a melted candy cane inside a slightly sweetened cold brew with a hint of vanilla.

9. Peppermint White Mocha Cold Brew (Secret Menu)

This secret menu drink will satisfy the caffeine junkie looking for a creamy, festive, and minty twist.

Ask your barista for a cold brew with white mocha and peppermint topped with cold foam. 

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If you’re a fan of Peppermint Bliss from Dutch Bros, you’ll love this!

It’s bitter but not overly bitter and sweet, but not too sweet. 

10. Peppermint Bark Frappuccino (Secret Menu)

A classic, elevated! I recommend this to those who want to add a thicker and creamier finish to the peppermint mocha. 

When you go to Starbucks, ask for a peppermint mocha frappuccino with half mocha sauce, half white mocha sauce with whipped cream, and chocolate drizzle. 

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It’s rich, festive, fresh, and flavorful without being too overpowering.

The creamy, luscious, and minty taste rolls off the tongue, similar to the pricey signature bark from Williams-Sonoma. IYKYK. 

11. Franken Frappuccino (Secret Menu)

First released in 2014 as a seasonal drink during Halloween, this throwback drink is no longer available.

Thankfully, Starbucks has confirmed that the Franken Frappuccino is something you can get with standard store ingredients!

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The drink reminded me of a thick mint chocolate milkshake blended into the perfect consistency. It’s sweet, thick, and, most importantly, minty. 

Visually, the color of the drink resembles Frankenstein in a non-scary way.

12. Shamrock Shake (Secret Menu)

There may not be an official St. Patrick’s Day special at Starbucks, but good thing the secret menu has us covered. 

There are several versions of the Shamrock Shake but I’m here to provide with the easiest and most delicious version of course (read on below for ordering instructions)!

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We can never go wrong with the classic matcha, so this is a no-brainer that I’m a big fan of it.

It’s sweet, comforting, refreshing, and a good accessory for your St. Patty’s day outfit. 

13. Praline Peppermint Patty (Secret Menu)

Thanks to barista and Tik-Tok content creator, Jess Nicole we have the Praline Peppermint Patty.

The Praline Peppermint Patty Frappuccino is a combo of chestnut praline and peppermint syrup, topped with whipped cream, toffee bits, and mocha sauce.

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I was a little worried that the Frappuccino would taste sickly sweet, but it wasn’t at all.

The chestnut praline brings a nutty and caramel-like warmth to the drink. As the perfect counterbalance, the peppermint syrup adds a cool and refreshing finish to the tongue.

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Summary

The above may be a few of my favorite Starbucks peppermint drinks, but truthfully, everyone can customize anything on their menu into a sweet and minty beverage. 

Just ask for an extra pump of peppermint (or two!) 

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More Questions

Is peppermint hot chocolate a holiday drink at Starbucks?

The peppermint hot chocolate is part of the Starbucks holiday menu, available during the Christmas season. They’ll usually have some mixture left over after the sleigh bells stop ringing and might happily hook you up! 

I’ve also successfully ordered one during the summer and fall by asking for extra peppermint syrup to go with my hot chocolate.  

How many pumps of peppermint go in a Peppermint Mocha?

Here’s a rough guide on how many pumps of peppermint goes into the Peppermint Mocha: 2 pumps for short drinks, 3 pumps for tall drinks, 4 pumps for grande drinks, and 5 pumps for venti drinks.

However, keep the flavor profile of your base drinks in mind and tone it down or amp it up to your heart’s desire! 

Can you get a peppermint mocha cold brew?

I talked about the Peppermint White Mocha Cold Brew (see #9, above), but you can order the cold brew and swap the white mocha sauce for the regular mocha sauce. 

Remember to top it up with the cold foam – it’s a must! 

The original mocha sauce contains more caffeine than the white mocha sauce, so if cold brew already makes you jittery, I suggest going with the white version.