In another case of Asian Starbucks stores being far superior in the realm of Frappuccinos, cake-topped Fraps have hit select Starbucks Japan locations for a limited time, according to Brand Eating.
They're cold, they're creamy, they're topped with discs of fudgy chocolate cake; they're the Chocolate Cake Top Frappuccinos -- available in both coffee and matcha flavors.
Both varieties begin with a base of Creme Frappuccino, blended with almonds for a nutty boost of thickness. Then they're topped with a round piece of chocolate cake and a generous dollop of whipped cream.
The Cake Top Frap seems to draw inspiration from its pie-topped predecessor: the American Cherry Pie Frappuccino from Japan. The beverage also combines drink with dessert with its cherry and vanilla base and pie-crust dome.
You can enjoy the cake drink however you want. The cake looks so appetizing on its own, some might be tempted to put it on a separate plate and enjoy alternating bites of chocolaty dessert with sips of sweet Frappuccino, like a Starbucks version of high tea. The intention, though, is for beverage lovers to break up the cake with an accompanying oversize straw, stirring the pieces into the drink until they're softened and drinkable, resulting in a cakey, shake-like experience.
The embellished libation caters to two different cravings: one for coffee and one for matcha. The Coffee Shot version comes with a coffee sauce, which contrasts beautifully in color with the dark chocolate cake, and a sprinkling of dark mocha powder. The Matcha Shot variety is drizzled with a striking matcha green tea sauce and dusted with matcha powder.
If you feel like you've seen matcha popping up all over the place, you're not imagining it. The trendy ingredient has made its way into other Starbucks products, like their mini matcha pudding cups and the secret menu's Matcha Pink Drink. The finely ground green tea powder has gained buzz for its possession of antioxidants, caffeine and, of course, photo-worthy bright color.
If you're worried about being too indulgent, rest a little easier knowing that the drink is only available in a tall size. Plus, you can always share it with a friend.