

Popcorn is the star partner for hot and cold beverages at McDonald’s this winter.

Hot on the heels of their limited-edition French macaron release this month, McDonald’s Japan is continuing to draw attention to their McCafé by Barista branches with another exciting new addition to their menu: popcorn drinks.

Available at the country’s 90 McCafé by Barista outlets from 5 January, these three new limited-edition beverages look set to be a hit with foodies and Instagrammers for their unusual flavour combinations and eye-catching good looks.

First up we have the Iced Caramel Popcorn Latte, which combines the flavours of bittersweet espresso with caramel syrup and popcorn syrup. The bold coffee flavour is met with an equally intense hit of caramel, which appears in the whole popcorn pieces, the whipped cream, and the sauce topping. All the strong flavours are mellowed out nicely with the addition of creamy cold milk.

Latte lovers will also be able to enjoy the coffee and caramel popcorn combination in the Hot Caramel Popcorn Latte, which contains the same ingredients as the iced version, only with the addition of hot, airy foamed milk to warm you up instead.

The most impressive drink in the new lineup is the Caramel Popcorn Frappe, which serves up whole pieces of popcorn inside a sweet waffle cone that juts out gloriously from the inside of the beverage. Using an icy espresso and caramel-popcorn syrup blend for the base drink, the frappe is topped with caramel-flavored whipped cream and a caramel sauce.

The hot and iced Caramel Popcorn Lattes will retail for 390 yen, while the Caramel Popcorn Frappe will retail for 500 yen.

According to McDonald’s, they’re aiming to add even more creative beverages to their McCafé by Barista outlets in the future, so here’s hoping we get an unusual take on their matcha green tea treats soon. The Caramel Popcorn Series will be available for a limited time, from 5 January to the middle of February only, so you’ll want to get in quick for a taste of these before they disappear from the menu forever!

Source, images: McDonald’s Japan Press Release