Photo credit: Starbucks Middle East on Facebook
Doha: A new coffee blend is in the mix as Starbucks announced its latest innovation 'Oleato' featuring an unexpected ingredient, the olive oil.
The making of Oleato include the Starbucks arabica coffee infused with a spoonful of Partanna cold pressed extra virgin olive oil.
The synergy of the ingredients yielded a taste that is described by Amy Dilger, principal beverage developer for Starbucks, as "velvety smooth, rich texture, with the buttery, round flavors imparted by the olive oil perfectly pairing with the soft, chocolatey notes of the coffee.”
Oleato is expected to debut in Italy on February 22, in flavours including: Oleato Caffè Latte, Oleato Iced Shaken Espresso and Oleato Golden Foam Cold Brew. Starbucks will also introduce the new beverage in select markets around the world, including the Middle East.
In a social media post, Starbucks Middle East announced that Oleato will be available in the region later this Spring.
Meanwhile, the new coffee ritual garnered mixed reactions on social media. On Starbuck's Instagram post, various users have already expressed hesitancy to the new flavour while others can't wait to grab the drink.
The alchemy between coffee and olive oil was crafted when Starbucks interim chief executive officer, Howard Schultz, found inspiration in the sun-kissed olive groves of Sicily.
As a result, the velvety smooth and delicately sweet flavour of Oleato also hints an inspiration from "a family tradition that has existed in regions of Italy for generations – enjoying a spoonful of extra virgin olive oil each day as an uplifting ritual."
This led Starbucks to Partanna, an Italian extra virgin olive oil brand with more than 100 years of tradition and dedication to farming and crafting premium extra virgin olive oil.
“Today I feel just as inspired as I did 40 years ago, Oleato has opened our eyes to fresh new possibilities and a transformational way to enjoy our daily coffee,” said Schultz.
The latest addition to the menu raises the bar on coffee innovation as Starbucks continues to introduce unique blends of flavour since its first Starbucks Caffè Latte in 1984, followed by seasonal favourite Pumpkin Spice Latte, Nitro Cold Brew, and the recent Iced Shaken Espresso beverages.
