Starbucks Japan now has a pudding Frappuccino based on a delicious retro dessert

http://bit.ly/2EdCudI Oona McGee

Step back in time with the Purin A La Mode Frappuccino, only available for a limited time.

After trying out Starbucks’ new Royal Milk Tea Frappuccino, and their super-exclusive-limited-to-one-location Minty Chocolate Tea variety, we thought we were just about due for a break from all their high-calorie temptations, but it turns out we were wrong.

Starbucks has just released a Frappuccino that’s essentially a drinkable dessert, so it’s time to put away our gym gear for another day and head out to the global coffeehouse chain once again, for a taste of their newest beverage: the Purin A La Mode Frappuccino.

Our reporter Masami was one of the first in line to try the new Frappuccino, which models its looks and flavour on Purin A La Mode, a retro dessert popular in the ’70s and ’80s, which can still be found at Japanese coffeehouses, or kissaten, today. Kissaten had their heyday during the Showa Period (1926–1989), and the Frappuccino is the main star of a new retro menu at Starbucks designed to honour that time period.

▼ Starbucks has even redesigned their coffeehouse signs to resemble the ones used by kissaten.

In Japan, “purin” is a term used for a type of no-bake pudding that resembles a creme caramel. And back in the ’70s and ’80s, purin a la mode was a hip dessert in Japan, with ice cream and various fruits added alongside the pudding.

▼ The Frappuccino contains all these elements, in drinkable form.

Looking at the side of the drink, you can see a generous serving of caramel sauce inside, mixed in with a purin-flavoured cream.

On top is a layer of mixed fruit jelly made from mango, apple and strawberries, topped off with a mound of whipped cream and a cherry garnish.

Masami took a sip of the drink with a straw, and was surprised by the creamy, egg-rich flavour, which actually reminded her of the Classic Tiramisu Frappuccino she’d tried back in March.

She decided to put the straw aside and dip into the drink with a spoon, which allowed her to get a good combination of all the ingredients in one mouthful.

The spoon-dip was definitely the way to go, as it brought up all the gooey, rich caramel flavours from the bottom, which made it taste like a real creme caramel pudding. The addition of fruit, which is the vital component of a Purin A La Mode dessert, made every mouthful taste like the real thing, creating a deliciously unique, retro experience that took Masami back to her younger days, when she was a cool young thing treating herself to a coffee and dessert at her local kissaten.

In Masami’s opinion, this is one of Starbucks’ greatest releases yet, and one she highly recommends trying. Even if you’re not familiar with purin a la mode, this drink will win you over with its delectable pudding flavours!

Photos © SoraNews24
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