The Starbucks Yogurt Drink You Can't Get In The US
It's safe to say Starbucks is pretty well-known around the world by this point and has also amassed a good reputation in the coffee chain industry. As of March 2021, the sprawling company has nearly 33,000 locations across the globe and it still ranks as one of the most popular chains in the U.S. alongside McDonald's (via Knoema). According to the Starbucks company website, its goal is simple: To build "a feeling of connection" everywhere and ensure that its customers can have a comforting cup of coffee no matter where they are. As they say, "Our mission is to inspire and nurture the human spirit — one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time."
In fact, per Eat This, Not That!, the brand was so successful from 1987 to 2007 that it was opening an average of two new stores each and every day! And depending on where you are in the world, there are specialty drink and food items that you can only get in those locations, which makes each store unique and apt for more visits. For example, you can get an Avocado Yogurt Blend drink in South Korea or a Blossoming Rose Tea Latte in Canada (per The Travel). Even food is highly varied — order a slice of mango cake in South Korea or fried mini-donuts filled with Nutella in Brazil (via Buzzfeed). There's also a handful of yogurt-based drinks in select international regions that in particular seem pretty tempting.
The Starbucks yogurt drinks have been spotted in the U.K. and the Philippines
According to Starbucks, two yogurt Frappuccinos were introduced in the U.K. in 2014, including the Red Berry Yoghurt Frappuccino and the Banana Yoghurt Frappuccino. In that year, Starbucks was celebrating its 15th anniversary in the region and wanted to do launch something special, noting that the drinks are a "delicious combination of chilled yogurt and fruity swirl blended with ice." They were also described as the perfect treat for a hot summer day. One person who spoke with Seattle-based blog Starbucks Melody said they were able to try the Banana Yoghurt Frappuccino in Belfast and "enjoyed it."
After being launched in Europe, and spotted in several locations including France, Germany, and Spain, Starbucks then introduced a number of other Yoghurt Frappuccinos in Asia. Per Deli Market News, the Apricot and Peach Yogurt Frappuccino and the Acai Mixed Berry Yogurt Frappuccino became available at many locations in the Philippines in 2018, featuring not only yogurt, but also layers of fruit and sauce or milk foam like a "parfait you can drink from a straw," said the article. Hopefully, these tasty options make their way to the U.S. in the coming years, because we're already craving them!
Starbucks has been experimenting with other Frappuccino ideas around the world
The yogurt Frappuccinos aren't the only unique varieties of this blended beverage available around the world. In fact, according to Starbucks' official website, there are now more than 36,000 different combinations of the blended drink available to order, which is pretty amazing when you think about it. The drink was first invented in 1995 in the U.S. and simply included a frozen mixture of coffee, milk, and ice — but now, almost 30 years later, the experimentation with this one drink is incredible and offers options you may have never even thought possible.
In Peru, for example, you can get a Lucuma Créme Frappuccino, as noted by The Travel. It's of course made with lucuma, which is a tropical fruit in South America that tastes like butterscotch or maple. Though, the fruit itself is not easily exported to other parts of the world, which is why it may still be mostly regional.
The article also points out a Cherry Pie Frappuccino available in Japan, made with "vanilla-flavored froth, whipped cream, cherry compote, and a pie pastry dome" that's a combination of eating and drinking heaven. Also according to The Travel, the Churro Frappuccino is a big hit all over Latin America. It's a delectable treat that includes white mocha syrup and whipped cream with cinnamon sprinkling and a fried churro on top.
But even if you live in America and can't get away on an international Starbucks-fueled journey any time soon, you can still experiment with Frappuccinos Stateside. For example, if you don't love coffee but love blended drinks, Eat This, Not That! notes that you can order any Frappuccino as a cream-based option — it's not just the Vanilla Bean drink that comes in this style. So get a Caramel Frapp without the espresso and it'll taste like a delicious caramel milkshake. With so many options to order, it's no wonder Starbucks continues to be a daily option for so many people.