Frappuccino

"What is that stuff?" I asked the barista, eyeing the dark tan mixture he poured into my Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino.

"I don't really know," he responded. As if to explain, he added, "I just got back from a two-week vacation, so I'm kind of out of it. And this is our first day making this drink."

I watched with both curiosity and suspicion as he followed the tan liquid with a more-than-generous drizzle of caramel and a shower of toffee-colored bits. I'd stopped into my neighborhood Starbucks to check out the new offering, released today — the first new Frappuccino flavor in a year — but after watching two being made, I still wasn't sure what was going into the drink.

Keep reading to learn more about the Starbucks Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino.

Last week, coffee drinkers learned Starbucks would soon be serving vegan blended frozen drinks as a result of a recent Frappuccino reformulation. While the official unveiling of the new Frappuccino line isn't until next Tuesday, May 4, I got an early preview of the customizable recipe. Was it any better than the old one? Find out when you keep reading.

If you're looking for a dairy-free treat to enjoy on Earth Day, pop in to your nearest Starbucks. According to LA blogger Quarry Girl, select Starbucks stores are now serving a vegan Frappuccino.

According to Starbucks employees, the newly available Frap is the result of a reformulation of the drink, which is now blended with coffee, a proprietary syrup, ice, and milk, rather than a dairy base. Although caramel sauce and Java Chip are not vegan, baristas can now blend a dairy-free version with soy milk. The vegan option has just soft launched, so it's not officially on the menu; the chain will reportedly make the beverage official on May 4.

I ask for my coffee with soy at Starbucks, so it's nice to know the blended equivalent can be prepared in the same way.

Are you excited about a vegan Frappuccino?

Source: Flickr User mastermaq