frozen drinks

First came the fast food breakfast wars. Now, it seems, the name of the game is refreshments. Every fast food joint wants a slice of the beverage pie, and number one chain McDonald's is leading the way.

Next month, the corporation will finally debut smoothies in Strawberry Banana and Wild Berry, the result of a year's worth of testing. What's more, the quick-service behemoth is now experimenting with frozen juice blends, slushies comparable to those famously served at rival Sonic. Test markets for flavors like strawberry lemonade currently include Michigan and Austin.

McDonald's has found surprising success with the introduction of premium roast coffee, sweet tea, and McCafé lattes and cappuccinos. It'll be interesting to see if the brand has good fortune with cold Summer refreshments. Are you into the concept of a McDonald's slushie?

Yesterday, Starbucks made headlines with news that the chain will offer customizable Frappuccinos in early May. Frappuccinos — which come in light versions as well as a variety of blended flavors like caramel, chai, and cinnamon dolce — account for as much as 10 percent of revenue.

Now the international coffee corporation hopes to further sales by allowing consumers to order the drink with soy milk instead of dairy, decaffeinated instead of caffeinated coffee, more espresso, and varying levels of syrup and whipped cream.

I've dreamt about this option for as long as I can remember, and I already know what I'd order: A Starbucks Frappuccino in Javachip, light on the syrup, with soy instead of milk, twice the espresso, and no whipped cream. What would you ask for?

Source: Flickr User yoshimov

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I hope you've found a special way to celebrate, whether it's wearing green, downing corned beef, or plotting your nighttime revelry. Me? I'm ringing in March 17 with a Shamrock Shake. We took an office trip to the McDonald's across the street to get our fix of the seasonal St. Paddy's Day-themed drink. I'm not always one for festive-colored food, but the creme de menthe-colored drink was the emerald oasis in my daily grind of a desert. It's chilly, but not cold enough for a brain freeze, and as thick as possible without causing a traffic jam in the straw. First, my palate was hit by a blast of mellow mint, followed by a long, lingering vanilla finish. Sham-shakes have only one caveat: they tend to leave an unpleasant sugary coating in the mouth. (That, and the fact that I wish Uncle O'Grimacey were still around.) If they weren't sold but once a year, I doubt they'd achieve the cult status they have today — although they sure make St. Patrick's Day more delicious. How do you feel about Shamrock Shakes?