We Tried the New Lavender Drinks at Starbucks, and They’re Basically Spring in a Cup

Starbucks isn’t afraid to try new things: Just look to the launch of its olive oil–infused Oleato line, which is now available in stores across the U.S., for proof that the company loves to try new things. Now, Starbucks is trying another unexpected addition to its drinks: lavender.

Available in U.S. stores starting March 7, the Starbucks Spring 2024 menu features two new lavender-infused drinks, the Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha and the Iced Lavender Oatmilk Latte—and we got the chance to try the new drinks for ourselves before their official launch.

Starbucks Lavender Drinks Taste Test

On a sunny-ish day in February, two of our editors headed to a New York City Starbucks location to taste the two new Starbucks lavender drinks, the Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha and the Iced Lavender Oatmilk Latte. Here’s what we thought.

Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha

If it’s possible to bottle spring itself and pour it in a convenient iced coffee cup, Starbucks has done it with this colorful drink. Even before you try it, the Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha looks like spring: The matcha-over-ice base of the drink is a bright green, as you’d expect from matcha, and the new lavender cream foam is a fluffy light purple topper on the top of the drink.

On first sip, you’ll probably get a mouthful of that lavender cream foam, which isn’t a bad thing at all: The cream foam (which is made with dairy) is sweet and smooth and tastes distinctly of lavender. Once you can get to the matcha, though, that springy magic starts to happen. The lavender foam perfectly balances the matcha flavor, so every sip is a creamy, floral experience. The oatmilk only adds to the experience, offering a little nuttiness that still allows the matcha and lavender flavors to shine.

Together, the matcha and lavender foam offer a rich drink with a little less caffeine than you’d get from an espresso- or coffee-based beverage. It’s thick and a little indulgent, with a playful, uplifting flavor that just begs to be enjoyed on a sunny day. The heaviness of the drink may keep it from being a daily pick, but for a spring treat, it’s the perfect option.

Iced Lavender Oatmilk Latte

If the new Starbucks Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha is the playful, sunny day, spring-in-a-cup option of this new drink duo, the Iced Lavender Oatmilk Latte is the buttoned-up, sophisticated option to sip on while you’re at work—but you’re staring out the window because you’d much rather be enjoying the spring weather outdoors.

The new lavender latte is made with blonde espresso roast, so it absolutely packs a caffeinated punch, but the underlayer of lavender (provided by the new Starbucks proprietary lavender powder) offers a little taste of spring and a pinch of sweetness with every sip. Mixed with the creaminess and slight nuttiness of oatmilk, the lavender offers a lighter note, bringing the whole drink into perfect balance.

The overall taste is richly layered—we’ve never tasted anything quite like it, and while it’s highly mature and complex, it’s still supremely light and refreshing, which is exactly what you’d want from an everyday beverage like this one. If you have your standard coffee order but want a little springtime flair, the addition of lavender to this latte is the perfect seasonal add-in.

Should You Try the New Starbucks Lavender Drinks?

Only you can decide what’s best for you, but if you’re open to floral flavors and a little bit of sweetness, we’d say yes, you should try these new lavender drinks from Starbucks.

One of our editors was matcha-hesitant, to say the least, and has found a new favorite weekend drink in the form of the new Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha. And if you stay away from heavier drinks, the lavender latte is still a perfect way to try a little lavender without completely departing from your coffee preferences.

Lavender is already a popular essential oil and fragrance, whether you’re growing lavender in your garden or enjoying a lavender room scent. More and more, lavender is being used as a layered but ultimately simple flavor addition to sweets and drinks—track down your nearest bakery offering lavender cupcakes, STAT; you’ll thank us later—and with its arrival at Starbucks, we’re sure to see it more and more in the months to come, especially as spring and summer hit full swing. If you want to get ahead of this taste trend, try lavender sooner rather than later—you might just discover a new favorite flavor.