For years, the UK has watched as unicorn frappuccinos (and the like) graced American Starbucks stores, but didn’t quite make it across the pond.
But not this time, folks. Starbucks has turned to the dark side ahead of Halloween and created a black and green beverage available in the UK: the Phantom Frappuccino.
Starbucks’ first ever black-coloured frappuccino to grace UK soil will be sold exclusively in stores across Europe from 26 October. Originally it was only available for six days however due to popular demand, it’s now available until 3 November.
Made from coconut milk, coconut whipped cream, mango essence and “ghoulish” lime slime, it’s suitable for vegans and the non-dairy community. The coffee chain describes the drink as “dark on the outside” and “a light and fruity extravaganza on the inside”. Prices start from £2.70 for a mini-sized beverage, and the drink will be available in all the standard Starbucks sizes.
So does it taste like it looks... or are you in for a pleasant surprise? Three of HuffPost’s finest taste-testers went to their local Starbucks ahead of the drink’s launch and put the limited edition bevvy to the test.
‘Instagram-conscious teens will love it.’
Rachel Moss, life reporter
“This drink tastes better than it looks, but that’s hardly high praise; the gloopy black liquid isn’t designed to look appetising. It’s surprisingly fruity, with coconut being the most dominant flavour, but sadly, once you work your way through the tasty cream on top, the remainder tastes like artificial, overly-sweet, flat lemonade.
“There’s nothing autumnal about this cold drink, so I’d recommend opting for a classic Pumpkin Spice Latte if you’re craving something comforting. But credit where credit is due: the swamp in a cup gets points for being vegan and it’s certainly eye-catching – I imagine Instagram-conscious teens will love it.”
‘A coconut-flavoured Slush Puppie.’
Amy Packham, assistant life editor
“I was wary of the taste, considering it looks like black gunk in a cup, but I was pleasantly surprised. It’s like a coconut-flavoured Slush Puppie and takes me back to my younger years. It tastes refreshing and fruity – but I don’t know how likely I’d go and buy one considering the cold, dark days we have coming. It’s a drink I can imagine enjoying on a really hot summer’s day.
“Oh and just FYI, the black cream on top is delicious and my favourite part. If you get one, I’d opt for a smaller size because it’s pretty sweet.”
‘Gothic, non-alcoholic piña colada.’
Natasha Hinde, life reporter
“This drink is equal part tricks and equal part treats. The black sludgy exterior (courtesy of charcoal) and gooey green topping are in no way a reflection of the flavour, which is basically akin to a non-alcoholic piña colada. It’s coconuty, zingy and a complete and utter head f**k. Oh, and a quick word of warning: my tongue turned black.
“Initially, the taste reminds me of holidays and summer (which we are most definitely not experiencing any more, hello month’s worth of rain!), but the flavour grows old quite quickly. It starts to taste like fizzy lime, then the sweetness takes over and makes me feel like I’ve ransacked the pick ‘n’ mix at the cinema.
“I make it halfway through the drink before I give up. I later discover the smallest size of the drink (which I didn’t have) contains a whopping 33g of sugar.”
When HuffPost UK asked Starbucks about the sugar content, a spokesperson said: “At Starbucks, we remain committed to offering lighter options across our menu and all our drinks, including the Phantom Frappuccino, can be customised by asking for the dark coconut whipped cream not to be added to this product, no drizzle topping or by enjoying our smallest size, Mini.”