Starbucks introduces plant-based food and drinks to menus across Asia

Coffee chain has teamed up with Impossible and Beyond Meat

Starbucks has unveiled a new range of plant-based items across its menus in Asia.

Starting this month, the coffee company will introduce two new plant-based beverages including the Oatmilk Cocoa Macchiato and Almondmilk Hazelnut Latte to eight markets.

The Oatmilk Cocoa Macchiato is made using espresso with oat milk, vanilla syrup and cocoa sauce, while the Almondmilk Hazelnut Latte is made with almond milk, espresso, hazelnut syrup and crunchy almonds.

In addition, oat, almond and coconut milk will all be available as part of select stores’ core menus.

The new range also includes a number of plant-based food choices in locations, such as Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand, that the brand says suit local tastes and preferences.

Some highlights include the Maize Impossible Sandwich, which combines a layer of mayonnaise with six fillings including Impossible Sausage made from plants, egg, cheese, onions, roasted pumpkin and salad vegetables.

In Singapore, customers can also expect to see the Impossible Wrap arrive on menus throughout September., which features a plant-based Impossible Burger patty, avocado omelette, mushroom, caramelised onion and cheese.

Similarly, in Taiwan the Beyond Meat Bolognese Penne, which features sautéed Beyond Meat mince simmered with spiced Italian tomato sauce atop layers of penne pasta, cauliflower and shimeji mushrooms, will appear in stores.

“We’re thrilled to offer our customers more ways to personalise their Starbucks Experience and enjoy plant-based choices at Starbucks,” Sara Trilling, president of Starbucks Asia Pacific, said in a statement.

“This menu expansion is designed to offer our customers the same flavours and handcrafted service they know and love from Starbucks, in a new way.

“We’re excited to continue our journey toward becoming resource positive together with our customers in Asia.”

In February, Starbucks began offering plant-based meals in Canada and in April said it would do the same in China.

According to Euromonitor, a global market intelligence company that tracks customer trends, the Asia Pacific region stands out as the largest region for plant-based milk options due to well established traditions in local food culture.

“A new wave of plant-based food and beverage products are making inroads in Asia and will continue to develop over the next few years, driven by customer interest in healthier lifestyles and eco-conscious behaviours,” Maria Mascaraque, Industry Manager at Euromonitor, told Reuters.

“Plant-based options such as soy are strongly ingrained in Asian culture, meaning innovation is key to meeting the taste preferences of consumers seeking out new flavors and modern takes on traditional diets.”