It's Peppermint Mocha Season Again

In Starbucks time — which is the only calendar I'm interested in — Nov. 1 means it's special winter drink time. So, put your coat and scarf on and head over to Starbucks, because once I tell you about what's in a Peppermint Mocha at Starbucks, you're going to want one to appear in front of you.

First of all, this seasonally handcrafted winter treat is jam-packed with flavor, and garnished so festively it looks like a gift. And it basically is, from Starbucks to you; a cup of goodness to help you get through the rough weather ahead. Inside this cup, you'll find a shot of espresso. Then you get the steamed milk, which can be soy, or almond milk or even coconut milk, depending on your preferences. Then, it gets sweetened with flavors of chocolate and peppermint (a few pumps of each) before being topped off with whipped cream and chocolate curls. Can you say decadent?

It's dessert for breakfast or breakfast for dessert, depending on when you prefer to indulge in. You can also order it Frappuccino-style, and they'll blend it with ice, which literally makes it taste like coffee-chocolate-mint ice cream. This particular holiday drink also has a little bit more caffeine than the its menu-mates, so you can count on it to put a little bit more pep in your step. (Of course, you can also order it decaf to make it equally as delicious without the added buzz.)

The Peppermint Mocha will hang around throughout the winter or while supplies last, and will cost you somewhere in the price range from $4.25 to $4.75 for a Tall-sized drink depending on where you are in the world. What's more, Starbucks has launched a new cup that's green and festive and features a beautiful new design by the artist Shogo Ota. The symbol on the center of the cup is meant to remind us that we're all a community and should come together and be unified. So you can look forward to not only getting your hands on a fresh drink, but also on a fresh and inspiring cup. Seasons greetings!

Images: Starbucks (2)