Starbucks’ Jalapeño Chicken Pocket fits in most pockets, and its shape makes me want to stick it in a toaster like a Pop-Tart.

This edible pocket features a toasted chile lavash flatbread wrapped and stuffed with a peppery party of parts: diced chicken, charred poblanos, green jalapeños, three-chile-pepper cheese, and jalapeño cream cheese.

Now, before you get excited about the number of fiery-sounding ingredients, let me tell you that the heat here is weak. There’s an ever-so-slight kick from the jalapeño, which is about as warm as the side of the pillow you just lifted your head from after a night’s sleep. If you were hoping to jumpstart your morning with a jolt from Starbucks coffee and a spicy pocket, you’d have to rely on the caffeine alone.

However, the peppers contribute a lot to the flavor. The oozy filling kind of reminds me of a pepper jack sauce but without much of the sharpness. Floating in that peppery ooze are tender chicken pieces and occasional pepper bits. The soft chile lavash flatbread was easy to bite through but didn’t have a significant flavor on its own, which I had an opportunity to taste on its own because one end of the pocket had almost half an inch of just the flatbread with no filling. Overall, it’s an enjoyable cheesy and peppery flavor, but I wouldn’t say I liked it more than Dunkin’s Green Goddess Wrap, which had a more unique taste.

While I found it tasty, I was unimpressed with its size. The photo above makes it look larger and thicker than it actually is. I forgot to measure it, but I think it was about 3.5 inches wide. That could be excused if it was as thick as the previously mentioned Dunkin’ offering, but it’s about half as plump. At four bucks, it seems pricey for what you’re getting, and I don’t think it would be filling unless paired with a Grande-sized coffee. I checked Starbucks prices in other states, and they are consistent. If it were a dollar cheaper, I could genuinely recommend it.

While it has a pleasant flavor, I wouldn’t repurchase this unless Starbucks drops its price or starts inflating its size.

Purchased Price: $3.95
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 200 calories, 7 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 460 milligrams of sodium, 23 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 3 grams of sugar, and 11 grams of protein.

Spring isn’t here yet, at least not in the Midwest. But Starbucks’ spring menu has us manifesting! This year’s lineup brings back the delicious Lavender beverages – the Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha and the Lavender Oatmilk Latte.

But, the new kid on the menu block is Starbucks’ first springtime chai drink—the Iced Cherry Chai. It’s made with black tea infused with cinnamon, clove, and other warming spices, combined with milk and ice, then topped with cherry cream cold foam and a sprinkle of cherry crunch topping.

Starbucks’ overseas locations create stunning cherry blossom beverages, so I had high hopes for this one. That said, cherry-flavored food and drinks in the U.S. can be hit or miss.

As I took my first sip, I kept repeating in my head like a mantra, “Please don’t taste like cough syrup. Please don’t taste like cough syrup.”

The first thing I noticed was how creamy it was. The light pink color made my brain want to expect strawberries and cream, but the flavor was distinctly cherry. Not tart cherry, but the kind you’d find in a baked good – sweet with no sourness at all. So, I can confirm that it does NOT taste like Robitussin cherry-flavored cough syrup.

The chai complemented it perfectly. It wasn’t overly spicy or strong enough to completely wash out the cherry flavor. I also didn’t find it too sweet, which is a compliment! Usually, I have to cut back on syrup pumps, but this one was perfect as-is.

I will say that I didn’t really care for the sprinkle of cherry crunch topping. It only added visual interest and texture, not an additional cherry flavor for me, so it seemed gratuitous.

I typically think of chai as a fall drink (shoutout to my beloved Pumpkin Spice Chai —side note: if you haven’t had one, you must this fall). But they’ve made it work for spring. Kudos.

While I will definitely be drinking more of these in the future, I am excited to try the cherry cold foam itself on more things like a mocha (for cherry chocolate vibes) or even on a matcha.

Purchased Price: $5.45
Size: Tall (12 ounces)
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (Tall – 12 oz) 370 calories, 15 grams of fat, 10 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, 170 milligrams of sodium, 52 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 49 grams of sugar, 7 grams of protein, and 70 milligrams of caffeine.

Starbucks’ latest winter launch is all about cozy vibes—think mixology-inspired flavors with a touch of hygge. This new limited-time lineup includes the Blackberry Sage Refresher, Blackberry Sage Lemonade Refresher, and the Midnight Drink.

According to Starbucks’ development team, the inspiration came from customers looking for something refreshing and soothing during the colder months, as well as the growing mixology trend of pairing fruit and herbs together.

Visually, they designed the drink to have a deep violet hue with hints of red to evoke a winter sunset or the warmth of a cabin retreat.

I was all in on the concept, as I’m all about interesting flavor combinations and cozy winter vibes. So, I decided to try the Midnight Drink. I usually go for Refreshers with coconut milk, such as the Pink Drink or Dragon Drink. This one features the Blackberry Sage Refresher base with coconut milk and blackberry inclusions.

From the first sip, the flavor felt well-balanced—sweet but distinctly herbal, almost savory. The savory note might just be my brain associating sage with Thanksgiving turkey, but it definitely added depth. Unfortunately for me, it’s peak cold and flu season, and I’ve been eating a lot of elderberry-flavored lozenges, which have a similar flavor — fruity but herbal.

The more I sipped, the more I appreciated the flavors, but it definitely tasted medicinal. That might be some people’s jam, but it’s not mine. I can’t have orange-flavored things without thinking of liquid Motrin or most grape-flavored things without tasting Dimetapp.

Like all Refreshers, I love how the freeze-dried fruit rehydrates in the drink. It adds a nice texture, and I always enjoy eating the fruit pieces. It was my first time having blackberry like this, and it worked well!

I love the bold innovation and strongly believe Starbucks should keep it up. But this particular fruit-and-herb pairing isn’t for me.

Purchased Price: $5.75
Size: Grande (16 fl oz)
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 140 calories, 3 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 65 milligrams of sodium, 28 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 24 grams of sugar, 1 gram of protein, and 55mg caffeine.