Dunkin’ is resurrecting a beloved coffee flavor as part of this year’s holiday menu
"Our fans made clear to us their passion for its return."
The Halloween parties are wrapping up this weekend, which means it’s effectively Christmastime in the eyes of brands.And, for its part, Dunkin’ is not letting us down.The Canton-based coffee chain is unveiling what it says is its “largest holiday lineup in recent brand history” this upcoming Wednesday, including the return of its popular peppermint mocha flavor swirl after a one-year hiatus.The new menu also includes several other familiar festive throwbacks, but Dunkin’ says it felt compelled to bring back peppermint mocha due to popular demand. The surprise decision last year to discontinue the flavor, which was first introduced in 2004, sparked outcry from many Dunkin’ customers.
“Last year, on the heels of our espresso launch, we disrupted the norm with a holiday flavor lineup that did not include Peppermint Mocha,” the company told Boston.com in a statement Friday. “Our fans made clear to us their passion for its return, and we made the decision to bring it back to the menu this year.”
Dunkin’ teased the flavor’s return in an Instagram video Friday morning featuring the company’s new pink holiday cups, which this year have different holiday-related words written up the side.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4UnBCIn6uH/
That said, “peppermintin,” which is the last word revealed in the Instagram video, is not actually among the seven words featured on the new cups, a Dunkin’ spokesperson confirmed.
Promoting its return, the company also created a separate, private @PeppermintMocha account on Instagram as an “ode” to the flavor’s “particularly passionate” fans, and will make the flavor “exclusively” available to Dunkin’ app users via mobile orders Tuesday, a day before the official holiday lineup launch.
Perhaps even more surprising than the revival of peppermint mocha, however, is the return of several long-discontinued holiday coffee flavors — eggnog and gingerbread, which haven’t been in Dunkin’ restaurants since 2013 and 2012, respectively (in the meantime, the chain’s competitor Starbucks had continued to carry both flavors each season).
Dunkin’s take on the eggnog latte — part of its decadent signature latte series — will feature eggnog and cinnamon, topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and cinnamon sugar. The company confirmed to Boston.com that it will be made with actual eggnog.
Its gingerbread flavor swirl returns as “gingerbread s’mores,” combining the tastes of gingerbread, marshmallow, and chocolate. The swirl also has its own signature latte, topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and cinnamon sugar.
The company will also bring back its “winter white chocolate” flavor, which, yes, will also be featured in a signature latte (whipped cream, caramel drizzle — you get the deal).
All of the flavor swirls will be individually available to add to the company’s hot and iced coffee, cold brew, espresso drinks, frozen coffee, and frozen chocolate. Additionally, Dunkin’ is extending its afternoon espresso deal — offering medium-sized lattes, cappuccino, and Americanos for $2 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at participating locations —through the end of the year.
And even though it’s no longer in the company’s name, there will be a special donut. The “Holiday Brownie Crumble Donut,” which consists of a vanilla frosted yeast ring doughnut topped with brownie crumbles and dark green icing, also hits shelves Wednesday.
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