Starbucks launches pork-flavoured coffee to celebrate Chinese New Year
Combining a traditional latte with the flavour of braised pork, the drink is available for a limited time to celebrate the new year season in Asia, according to Starbucks.
Wednesday 21 February 2024 12:21, UK
Starbucks has launched a pork-flavoured coffee in China to mark the Lunar New Year.
The special latte, which comes with a slice of pork on top, is said to "integrate traditional New Year customs into coffee" and combines espresso with "Dongo pork" sauce.
In a post on the Chinese social media site Weibo, the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Shanghai also said the coffee will "create unexpected salty and sweet" flavours.
It claimed "eating meat means prosperity in the coming year".
The drink combines a traditional latte with the flavour of braised pork to celebrate the Chinese new year season, one of the biggest holiday periods in Asia.
Expensive option
Some Weibo users were not sure about the hot drink's combination, although seemed to be mostly satisfied with the piece of pork.
The price of the limited edition drink at 68 yuan (£7.50) was criticised by some potential customers on social media as too expensive.
Last year, Starbucks launched a range of olive oil-infused drinks in its Italian outlets.
The offering is now widely available and creates a "velvety smooth, deliciously lush experience", according to Starbucks.
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Last month, it was revealed Starbucks is facing legal action in the US for alleged false advertising over how ethically sourced its products are.
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The lawsuit centres on accusations it is getting coffee and tea from farms with human rights and labour abuses, when the company says it is committed to "100% ethical sourcing".
It was filed in court in Washington DC by the National Consumers League.