Rooster’s Coffeehouse released its special holiday menu: “Sweet Holiday Delights” on Nov. 25, featuring four seasonal beverages just in time for exam season.
The salted caramel and almond latte, chocolate orange frappe, gingerbread iced chai latte and salted caramel white chocolate cappuccino offer a wide range of options this holiday season, with some interesting flavour combinations.
Salted caramel and almond latte
This latte had a mildly nutty flavour, making it a great introduction to the holiday menu. However, the sweetness was somewhat underwhelming. For something caramel flavoured, I expected it to pack more of a punch.
But the latte had a balanced flavour profile, despite a bit of an unpleasant aftertaste. It was also served at an unsatisfactory warm temperature that was not hot enough for a late November afternoon. A medium costs $5.09.
Rating: 6/10
Chocolate orange frappe
This drink was quite the shock. I had an audible reaction upon the first sip. Do not order this if you aren’t the biggest orange fan on the planet. It’s very sour and intense, with an artificial fruit flavour that does not mesh well with the chocolate.
The bitterness of the orange is overpowering. This drink was definitely quite strange, to say the least. It’s undeniably festive, but it could have been much better with less orange syrup, or perhaps if it was presented as a hot beverage instead.
I had high hopes for this drink, but was disappointed. If you’re willing to pay $4.79 to find out for yourself, be my guest.
Rating: 4/10
Gingerbread iced chai latte
The gingerbread iced chai latte is the most expensive on the menu at $7.59 for a medium, but understandably so. A small is definitely sufficient to satisfy your cravings considering how beautiful and concentrated the flavour is. Some of the other items on the holiday menu missed the mark with their sweetness levels, but this latte was spot on.
The drink has great flavours, ideal for the onset of the holiday season. It’s layered with dramatic gingerbread undertones and taking a sip felt just as refreshing as the first snowfall. Although it’s cold in temperature, the flavours feel warm, ensuring a balanced drinking experience.
Rating: 10/10
Salted caramel white chocolate cappuccino
The salted caramel white chocolate cappuccino was truly an olfactory experience. The aroma hits you first — a symphony of sugary familiarities. It is without a doubt the sweetest item on the menu, making it delightful at first but later making me feel a bit sick because of its intensity.
There’s nothing objectively wrong with this drink, and although I do have a sweet tooth, this cappuccino was profoundly sugary. It does, however, make for a great treat to reward yourself for checking those last-minute assignments off the to-do list. The low price of this drink also contributes to its high rating, at $3.29 for a medium.
Rating: 9/10
Overall, this year’s holiday menu offered great variety across its four flavours and its release was well-timed with exams right around the corner.
These four beverages will be available into the winter term at Rooster’s on the fourth floor of Nideyinàn.
Featured graphic by Alisha Velji/The Charlatan.
