The holiday season unites grandmothers with favorite recipes, shopaholics with their sales and most importantly, high school students with their coffee. During the first week of November, Starbucks reintroduced their holiday flavors to amp up the holiday spirit. After sampling all of them, I have found that from the Peppermint Mocha to the Eggnog Latte, there’s a seasonal Starbucks coffee for everyone. 

One of the most popular holiday Starbucks drinks is the Peppermint Mocha, and for a good reason. To put it simply, the Peppermint Mocha tastes like Christmas. The flavor is both subtle and distinct at the same time. “The peppermint had a simple taste of just peppermint, whereas the other flavors have a more complex taste that is hard to decipher,” said junior Conor Salmonson. Whether it’s blended, hot or iced, the Peppermint Mocha is a Starbucks staple during the holiday season. 

My personal favorite, the Chestnut Praline Latte, is like everyone’s favorite fall candle. With hints of gingerbread or snickerdoodle cookies, it flawlessly represents the holiday season while still maintaining its own special taste. “I liked that it wasn’t the standard holiday beverage,” recalls Noah Muhlhausen, a fellow Starbucks enthusiast. For those who are indecisive and have a tendency to hold up the line, the Chestnut Praline Latte is always a safe, yet excellent choice. 

Like most Starbucks drinks, the Toasted White Chocolate Mocha was sweet. Unlike most Starbucks drinks, it doesn’t have a very strong flavor. It tastes like chocolate milk crossed with a s’more and although it was delicious, I felt as though the mocha was pretty bland. For this reason I would not order it again, but the Toasted White Chocolate Mocha would be good for those who only like so much coffee with their creamer. 

The Eggnog Latte is not for the faint of heart. It has an overwhelmingly strong taste of eggnog and chai, which can be off-putting. The boldness was enticing, but it goes against my personal preference. For those who enjoy eggnog, the Eggnog Latte is a good selection. However, for those who have not tried eggnog before it may not be the best option.

Starbucks has a few hits, and a few misses this holiday season. Overall, wonderful concoctions like the Chestnut Praline Latte, or Toasted White Chocolate Mocha were able to outshine the less than spectacular Eggnog Latte. With the perfectly Peppermint Mocha, tasty Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, simply savory Chestnut Praline Latte, or tongue-punching Eggnog Latte, this festive lineup won’t disappoint. Everyone, basic or not, can enjoy the holiday spirit embodied by Starbucks drinks.