May. The hottest month in the Philippines. In this tropic country, there’s no escaping the scorching climate. Temperatures soar high, and the unforgiving, oppressive weather leaves us all extremely fatigued, sweaty, and parched.

 

When the summer heat strikes, most of us turn to cold beverages to cool down our bodies and invigorate. Sure, you can grab a can of soda, maybe a glass of icy water, or perhaps a couple of cocktails. But for those who seek something extra special, this lineup of Starbuck’s luscious iced teas is a must-try.

 

The full-tea love series consists of four new Teavana refreshments that burst with either zesty or chocolatey flavors. It’s worth noting that all of them are pretty good and, if you prefer mellow-tasting tea brews, they won’t disappoint.

 

A great balance of aromatic and bold is the Cocoa Golden Monkey. The main ingredients of this tasteful mix are Teavana Golden Monkey Black Tea and malty oat milk, which is a more nutritious substitute for cow’s milk. Texture-wise, the smooth foam and cookie crumb crunch give a contrasting mouth feel.

 

Triple Golden Monkey is the second milk tea from the set. It is a layer of malty oat milk, silky tea foam, and tea-flavored cookie crumbs. Teavana Golden Monkey Black Tea is paired with mocha sauce, creating an earthy and subtle milky flavor. It’s like cocoa, but more chocolatey. The creamy oat milk garnished with crunchy tea flavored cookie crumbs, likewise, creates multiple textures to the drink.

 

 

The other two are fruity blends that come with aromatic Teavana Zen Clouds Oolong, namely the Sunshine Pineapple Oolong and Sunshine Peach Oolong. As their names suggest, both are cups of sunshine in bright, tantalizing colors and with an even more vibrant taste.

 

I enjoyed the former’s tartiness from the pineapple sauce, thanks to the texture of real golden pineapple chunks, and the fluffy honey cold foam finish. But my favorite would be the Sunshine Peach Oolong. The Oolong tea complements the peach juice and chunks of white peach jelly very well. It is topped with velvety honey cold foam for a sweet, soothing finish.​ A sip of the potion is like a gentle sea breeze. Highly invigorating.

 

The full-tea love beverages are available for P175 in iced format and grande size only. It comes with a limited-edition reusable cup.

 

Meanwhile, the decadent Caramel Frappuccino integrates Frappuccino chocolate chips topped with espresso whipped cream and caramel drizzle. The indulgent blend is another delightful summer pick-me-up to consider.​ Best paired with sweet treats like Milk Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake, Banana Cream Cheesecake, Zebra Cake made with Belgian chocolate, Calamansi Chia Loaf, Cinnamon Swirl Cookie, and Blueberry Peach Pie. For those who want a plant-based option, Mince Veggie Focaccia and Oh! Quesadilla are the meat-alternative dishes to have the drink with.

 

There is also something for the avid Starbucks merch fans. The Happy Hedgehog Collection is the latest drinkware to have. It comes in turquoise mint and green, with three designs hedgehog, cactus, and sunflower. To top everything off, two new card designs to celebrate the season have just been released, namely the Hello Summer and Happy Hedgehog, both with a minimum activation amount of P300.

 

The merch can be bought from Starbucks’ flagship store on Lazada. The treats can be ordered through take-out, drive-thru, or mobile order and pay or delivery via GrabFood.