Starbucks has launched coffee blend Starbucks Reserve Christmas 2016, expanding its current range of Starbucks Reserve small-lot coffees.

Introduced last year, the blend is currently available for a limited period in select Starbucks stores across 18 countries and online while supplies last.

Starbucks Reserve Christmas is a blend of two small-lot coffees, roasted at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Seattle, the US.

"It has a balsam-like aroma with flavors of sweet mandarin and mulled spices. It’s a cup that tastes like Christmas."

It is reported to comprise of Latin American beans with sweet orange-like flavours of Hacienda Alsacia, blended with Indonesian spicy coffee, with notes of cedar and sweet, black licorice from the island of Sumatra.

Starbucks green coffee senior specialist Leslie Wolford said: “The Hacienda Alsacia and Aged Sumatra coffees create an alchemy of flavours.

“It has a balsam-like aroma with flavors of sweet mandarin and mulled spices. It’s a cup that tastes like Christmas.”

Starbucks Reserve range includes Starbucks Reserve Aged Sumatra Lot No571, Starbucks Reserve Sun-dried Ethiopia Limu, Starbucks Reserve Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Chelelektu, and Starbucks Reserve India Tata Nullore Estate, which are available at select Starbucks stores in the US and Canada.

A mix of marshmallow and syrupy sweetness, Sumatra Lot No571 coffee is kept for four years before reaching its peak of flavour.

Ethiopia Limu is made of coffee cherries sourced from Ethiopia’s Limu region and is reported to have lemon citrus and red cherry notes with a sweet tinge.

Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Chelelektu is claimed to feature lavender fragrance with lemony acidity and bergamot spice notes.

India Tata Nullore Estate reportedly has a lemon-lime acidity, caramel and toasted nuts flavours with a chocolatey finish.


Image: Starbucks Reserve Christmas 2016. Photo: courtesy of Starbucks.