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!
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What Are Starbucks Peppermint Drinks?
Starbucks peppermint drinks are beverages flavored with peppermint leaves or peppermint syrup to give them that cool, refreshing mouthfeel at the end of every sip.
They’re usually offered on a seasonal basis, with Christmas being the most prevalent.
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)
Starbucks Peppermint Drinks – The 12 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 in no particular order.
1. 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 a pump of peppermint syrup, and top it off with some cold foam. Thank me later!
Flavor Profile:
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.
Ingredients:
- Base: Iced vanilla chai latte
- Add: 1 pump peppermint syrup
- Add: Cold foam
2. Peppermint Mocha
I cannot start a peppermint list without mentioning the classic Peppermint Mocha.
The original variety consists of their signature espresso roast, skim milk, and milk foam, plus a few generous pumps of peppermint syrup and mocha sauce.
Flavor Profile:
The warm and bittersweet flavor of the mocha is nicely balanced by the sweet coolness of the peppermint syrup.
The drink boasts a bold and rich mouthfeel, perfect for sipping.
Ingredients:
- Base: Iced vanilla chai latte
- Add: 1 pump peppermint syrup
- Add: Cold foam
3. Thin Mint Frappuccino (Secret Menu)
Girl scout cookies only make a yearly appearance. Thankfully, we can custom-make a Thin Mint Frappuccino everyday!
Start by ordering a Matcha Creme Frappuccino with mocha sauce, peppermint syrup, frappuccino chips, and mocha drizzle.
Flavor Profile:
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!
Ingredients:
- Base: Match Creme Frappuccino
- Add: Mocha Sauce
- Add: Peppermint Syrup
- Add: Frappuccino Chips
- Topping: Mocha Drizzle
4. 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!
Flavor Profile:
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!
Ingredients:
- Base: Toasted White Chocolate Mocha
- Add: Peppermint Syrup
5. 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.
Flavor Profile:
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.
Ingredients:
- Espresso
- Milk
- Dark mocha Sauce
- Peppermint Syrup
- Green Tea Whipped Cream
- Red candy sprinkles
6. 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!
Flavor Profile:
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.
Ingredients:
- Espresso
- Milk
- Mocha Sauce
- Peppermint Syrup
- Whipped Cream
- Dark Chocolate Curls
7. 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 cold foam, and sprinkles. So ‘gram it and enjoy!
Flavor Profile:
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.
Ingredients:
- Base: Cold Brew
- Add: Peppermint Syrup
- Add: White Mocha Sauce
- Topping: Sweet Cream Cold Foam
- Topping: Sprinkles
8. 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.
Flavor Profile:
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.
Ingredients:
- Spearmint
- Peppermint
- Lemon Verbena
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.
Flavor Profile:
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.
Ingredients:
- Base: Cold Brew
- Add: Peppermint Syrup
- Add: White Mocha Sauce
- Topping: Cold Foam
10. 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!
Flavor Profile:
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.
Ingredients:
- Base: Green Tea Frappuccino
- Add: Java Chips
- Add: White Mocha Sauce
- Add: Peppermint Syrup
- Topping: Whipped Cream
- Topping: Mocha Drizzle
11. 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.
Flavor Profile:
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.
Ingredients:
- Base: Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino
- Add: Half Mocha Sauce
- Add: Half White Mocha Sauce
- Topping: Whipped Cream
- Topping: Chocolate drizzle
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.
The Shamrock Shake is simply a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino with peppermint syrup, classic syrup, and a smidge of matcha powder.
Flavor Profile:
We can never go wrong with the classic vanilla bean, so it’s 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.
Ingredients:
- Base: Vanilla Bean Frappuccino
- Add: Peppermint Syrup
- Add: Classic Syrup
- Add: Matcha Powder
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!)
FAQs
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.
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!
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.
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