Starbucks introduced its 2024 holiday menu today, adding tiramisu‑flavored beverages and bringing back several familiar drinks such as the Caramel Brulée Latte, Iced Sugar Cookie Latte and Peppermint Mocha. The lineup, however, does not include the Chestnut Praline drinks that many customers consider a seasonal staple.
Missing Chestnut Praline sparks fan backlash
Social‑media users quickly expressed disappointment after noticing the omission. One X post read, “No Chestnut praline?? Unbelievable,” while another asked, “Explain how tiramisu is more of a holiday flavor than Chestnut praline? Who asked for that?” Additional comments demanded that Starbucks “fix it” and even suggested canceling the holiday drinks altogether. A further user lamented, “For the first time in a long time I am not excited the @Starbucks holiday drinks have arrived… They didn’t bring Chestnut Praline back. So disappointed.” The sentiment was echoed by several other posts asking, “WHERE IS THE CHESTNUT PRALINE LATTE !? I wait all year for it,” and urging the chain to “do better.”
Starbucks’ website hints that more “seasonal sips” will be “unwrapped” as the season progresses, offering a small measure of hope for fans hoping the missing flavor might appear later. The company’s approach mirrors last year’s strategy, when the Chestnut Praline latte returned later in the season alongside eggnog‑flavored drinks. The Independent has reached out to Starbucks for comment, but no response was included in the source material.
Starbucks confirms red cup day and limited‑edition cup
Amid the menu controversy, Starbucks confirmed that its annual “red cup day” will take place on November 17. The tradition involves offering a limited‑edition reusable red cup to customers who purchase any holiday beverage. Details about the cup’s design have not yet been released.
New seasonal merchandise expands Bearista line
Beyond beverages, Starbucks rolled out a fresh set of seasonal merchandise. Building on the viral popularity of the “Bearista” cold cups launched the previous year, the chain now offers a full themed line that includes a tumbler with a giant bow lid, a ceramic mug, an espresso mug, a snowglobe set, a glass ornament, a plush bag charm, an Owala water bottle, and a double‑wall glass mug, all featuring the Bearista design. These items became available for purchase on November 5.
Further expanding the Bearista concept, Starbucks announced that on November 10 secret‑box Bearista cold cups will appear in select stores, each box containing a mystery design. The original Bearista cold cups are scheduled to return to select locations on December 1, providing another point of interest for collectors and regular customers alike.
While the holiday menu’s omission of Chestnut Praline has generated notable online criticism, Starbucks continues to promote new drink flavors, a forthcoming red cup promotion, and an expanded merchandise lineup as part of its seasonal strategy.
Mitchell Landsberg is a Senior Technology Correspondent at News Raise. He covers consumer electronics, artificial intelligence, software developments, and digital privacy trends.
