What is cold and creamy, has an entire banana, is topped with whipped cream and a chocolate drizzle, and is sipped through a green straw?
The new, the summery, the only-officially-available-in-Asia Banana Split Frappuccino from Starbucks.
In select Asian stores, the dessert-meets-beverage comes to life with a blended base of Mocha Frappuccino and banana puree, according to Brand Eating. The mixture is nestled between a bottom layer of strawberry whipped cream and a top layer of vanilla whipped cream, a sweet chocolate drizzle and crunchy waffle cone pieces.
If you can't make it across the Pacific, there's still a way to get your trendy frappuccino fix, although the U.S. version is a bit different. Available only on the secret menu, the fancy frap's Strawberry and Creme Frappuccino base is amplified by a whole banana, vanilla bean powder and java chips and finished with whipped cream and a mocha drizzle (and caramel if you really want that sundae sweetness). If your barista isn't familiar with the drink, just read off that list of ingredients with a grateful smile.
Neither version appears to be garnished with a cherry and chopped nuts, but Starbucks can be applauded for effort, considering banana split lovers won't have to go to an old-school ice cream parlor to enjoy the flavor of the classic sundae -- and the drinkable dessert will probably be more of a hit than the infamous banana split Oreos.
Starbucks' recent creativity in Asia doesn't stop at Banana Split Frappuccinos. The company has also introduced an Irish Cream Coffee Pudding Frappuccino. The drink is like coffee times 100 and, apart from having a mouthful of a title, features layers of coffee Frappuccino, coffee pudding, espresso whipped cream and espresso powder.
There's more! In the new Matcha Earl Grey Jelly Frappuccino, the bottom of the famous Starbucks cup is covered by fragrant Earl Grey jelly and whipped cream. On top goes Green Tea Frappuccino and Earl Grey syrup, followed by yet more whipped cream and matcha green tea powder.
Whichever drink you try first, Starbucks recommends enjoying it with a cookie straw. That might be a good idea for, you know, research.
Longing for the banana split drink to become official in the U.S.? If you order it -- and Instagram it -- enough, there may be hope.