I tried every holiday drink Starbucks has on the menu this year, and most of them were way too sweet for me

Gabbi ShawNov 10, 2020, 01:22 IST

Starbucks drinks.Starbucks

Starbucks is currently offering five holiday drinks: the Peppermint Mocha, the Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, the Eggnog Latte, the Chestnut Praline Latte, and the Caramel Brulée Latte.
I tried them all.
While they're all sweet enough to please even the biggest sugar enthusiast, the winner was one of the least sweet drinks, and an underdog: the Chestnut Praline Latte.

In the US at least, the second the clock strikes midnight on November 1, people toss their Halloween garb in the closet for another year and bring out the tinsel and Christmas music. For better or worse, it's officially the holiday season.

This means that it is also time for Starbucks' famous holiday drink menu, which returned on November 6. Not surprisingly, it's filled with holiday staples like eggnog, peppermint, and chestnut. It features five holiday drinks this year: the Peppermint Mocha, the Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, the Eggnog Latte, the Chestnut Praline Latte, and the Caramel Brulée Latte.

Here at Insider, we love a taste test, so we decided to put all of these drinks to the test back in 2018, though the recipes have remained the same.

Each one costs $5.65 for a grande (medium) size, with a range of caloric values. Read on to see what we thought.

Every year, just moments after the wafts of pumpkin spice have disappeared from the air, Starbucks announces its holiday drink lineup, along with its special holiday cups.

The drinks. Starbucks

Every year, just moments after the wafts of pumpkin spice have disappeared from the air, Starbucks announces its holiday drink lineup, along with its special holiday cups.

First up, I tried the Peppermint Mocha, a Starbucks staple. It returned in 2020 for its 18th season.

A Peppermint Mocha in a holiday cup. Gabbi Shaw/INSIDER

Sadly, the "dark chocolate curls" were missing from my drink, but overall, it was a pretty solid choice — if you like peppermint, that is.

The Peppermint Mocha has plenty of whipped cream. Gabbi Shaw/INSIDER

Next up, I tried the Eggnog Latte and the Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, to mixed results.

The Eggnog Latte and the Toasted White Chocolate Mocha. Gabbi Shaw/INSIDER

Full disclosure: I've never had normal eggnog before, so I didn't know what to expect. My conclusion? I don't like eggnog.

The Eggnog Latte. Gabbi Shaw/INSIDER

The Toasted White Chocolate Mocha tasted exactly like the regular white chocolate mocha available year-round, with some added sugar.

The Toasted White Chocolate Mocha. Gabbi Shaw/INSIDER

The two remaining contenders were the Caramel Brulée Latte and the Chestnut Praline Latte.

My holiday drinks and me. Gabbi Shaw/INSIDER

The Caramel Brulée Latte, in my opinion, didn't taste any different than a regular Caramel Latte.

The Caramel Brulée Latte. Gabbi Shaw/INSIDER

The last drink of my holiday experiment was the Chestnut Praline Latte, which surprisingly turned out to be my favorite of all five drinks.

The Chestnut Praline Latte. Gabbi Shaw/INSIDER

Overall, the Chestnut Praline Latte is the only drink I felt compelled to finish — clearly, the winner in my book.

Delicious. Gabbi Shaw/INSIDER

I tried Starbucks' new holiday sandwich inspired by the 'Moist-Maker' in 'Friends,' and it exceeded my expectations

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I tried every holiday drink Starbucks has on the menu this year, and most of them were way too sweet for me

Every year, just moments after the wafts of pumpkin spice have disappeared from the air, Starbucks announces its holiday drink lineup, along with its special holiday cups.

First up, I tried the Peppermint Mocha, a Starbucks staple. It returned in 2020 for its 18th season.

Sadly, the "dark chocolate curls" were missing from my drink, but overall, it was a pretty solid choice — if you like peppermint, that is.

Next up, I tried the Eggnog Latte and the Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, to mixed results.

Full disclosure: I've never had normal eggnog before, so I didn't know what to expect. My conclusion? I don't like eggnog.

The Toasted White Chocolate Mocha tasted exactly like the regular white chocolate mocha available year-round, with some added sugar.

The two remaining contenders were the Caramel Brulée Latte and the Chestnut Praline Latte.

The Caramel Brulée Latte, in my opinion, didn't taste any different than a regular Caramel Latte.

The last drink of my holiday experiment was the Chestnut Praline Latte, which surprisingly turned out to be my favorite of all five drinks.

Overall, the Chestnut Praline Latte is the only drink I felt compelled to finish — clearly, the winner in my book.