How Do You Order the Starbucks Moon Drink and What Is It?

Starbucks has long been a location where enthusiasts of tea and coffee may try new things. Frequent customers know there’s always something new to explore, whether personalizing lattes with additional espresso shots or adding flavor syrups.

However, a beverage occasionally deviates from the standard Starbucks experience. Now for the Moon Drink, a special beverage not offered on the regular menu but has gone viral on social media, especially on TikTok.

Though it may have begun as a peculiar request from a single client, this drink has already gone viral, making many Starbucks fans anxious to try it. What precisely is the Moon Drink, then? How can you alter it to suit your preferences? And why is it so compelling to so many? Let’s go further into the realm of this enigmatic, fan-made beverage.

What Is the Moon Drink at Starbucks?

The Moon Drink combines the flavors of two beloved Starbucks beverages: the Iced Matcha Latte and the Chai Latte. While each drink is delicious, one Starbucks patron combined the two for a more decadent experience.

The Moon Drink’s usual formula is as follows:

Big Matcha Latte on Ice
Two chai syrup pumps

Just those two items are needed. However, don’t be fooled by its simplicity. These two different tea tastes combined provide a sophisticated and one-of-a-kind beverage that has garnered much interest. Because of its extraordinary flavor character, some have even gone so far as to say that it tastes like “the moon herself.”

The Mix of Flavors: Why It Is Effective

The secret to the Moon Drink’s popularity is the marriage of matcha and chai, two ingredients that couldn’t be more unlike but yet wonderfully complement one another.

Matcha: Matcha is a powdered green tea with a faintly sweet taste and a hint of grassiness. It is a strong yet refreshing beverage with an earthy, deep flavor that lingers in the mouth.
Chai: Conversely, chai is a black tea steeped with spices such as ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, and occasionally cloves. It’s a warming, spicy, sweet beverage that tastes good and provides comfort.

Combining these two teas yields a deliciously balanced earthy and spicy cup. The chai adds a layer of sweetness and spice that elevates the drink to a new level, while the matcha offers an underlying richness.

Furthermore, because sugar is an ingredient in Starbucks’ chai syrup and matcha powder, the drink has a naturally sweet taste without being too strong.

The Moon Drink has become a welcome diversion from their typical coffee regimen for many people. For some, matcha and chai alone can’t quite capture the Moon’s enchantment. Customizations are useful in this situation!

Innovative Methods to Improve the Moon Drink

Although there are only two essential components in the original Moon Drink recipe, Starbucks enthusiasts have experimented with other methods to improve this distinctive drink. Several methods to alter the drink to your liking include making it creamier, less sweet, or even more “moon-like.”

1. Switch Up the Milk

Starbucks often uses 2% milk in its lattes by default, but coconut milk is a popular replacement for people who want to give their Moon Drink a creamy or tropical flavor.

In addition to adding richness and decadence, coconut milk infuses the beverage with a tropical taste that complements matcha and chai. It’s ideal for people who want a creamier consistency.

Oat milk is an additional choice that results in a naturally sweet and smooth drink. Some enthusiasts prefer it because it balances the flavor of the matcha and chai spices without overpowering them. Furthermore, oat milk is a fantastic dairy-free substitute that maintains the beverage’s richness.

2. Include Cold Foam Sweet Cream

Try topping your Moon Drink with chilled, sweet cream foam for a more decadent touch. This light, fluffy foam gives the drink a fanciful, even ethereal quality that elevates it to pleasure.

The matcha and chai complement the mild sweetness of the cool foam, which adds to the drink’s overall creaminess. It’s the best method to elevate this beverage to a whole new level.

3. Use Brown Sugar Syrup to Increase the Sugar Content

A few TikTok users suggest adding brown sugar syrup to the Moon Drink to enhance the sweetness even more.

This ingredient balances the earthiness of the matcha and the chai spice with a rich, caramel-like sweetness. An additional pump or two of brown sugar syrup elevates this drink to a delicious delight.

4. Reverse the Ingredient Order

Try switching the ingredients for a unique take on the classic Moon Drink. Some enthusiasts recommend starting with an Iced Chai Latte and adding a scoop of matcha powder instead of starting with an Iced Matcha Latte and adding chai syrup.

This version has a distinct taste profile, with the matcha contributing a more subdued, earthy note and the spicy chai taking center stage. One TikTok user claims that this variant has a rich, deep flavor reminiscent of “the forest,” rather than the Moon.

What If the Moon Drink is Too Sweet?

Even while the Moon Drink is immensely popular, not everyone likes its strong sweetness. The fact that chai syrup and matcha powder are already sweetened may be a turnoff for some who like their beverages less sugary. Fortunately, it’s simple to lessen the sweetness without compromising flavor.

1. Take a Half-Sweet Approach

Asking your barista to make the Moon Drink half-sweet is one easy way to solve the problem. This entails asking for one pump of chai syrup rather than two and less matcha powder.

This modification gives you the same distinct flavor profile but a softer, more pleasant sweetness.

2. Include a Espresso Shot

If you want more oomph, consider boosting your Moon Drink with espresso. This will not only provide you with the familiar caffeine spike, but it will also balance the drink out with a more bitter, coffee-forward flavor by reducing some of the sweetness.

This is a fantastic substitute for anyone who adores the concept of the Moon Drink but can’t imagine giving up their morning cup of coffee.

Conclusion

For those who want to try something different and venture outside of their comfort zone, the Starbucks Moon Drink is a tasty and enjoyable alternative. This drink has a rich taste profile that is both sweet and refreshing because of its unique combination of spicy chai and earthy matcha.

Even though it’s not on the official Starbucks menu, ordering it isn’t too difficult if you know the magic recipe. Even better, you can personalize it in a million ways.

The Moon Drink will elevate your Starbucks experience, regardless of whether you want to stay with the traditional iced matcha latte with chai syrup or attempt one of the many enhancements customers have suggested.

The next time you visit Starbucks, why not try this viral phenomenon instead of your typical cold brew or pumpkin spice latte? This extraordinary beverage may end up being your new favorite.

You may be as creative as you want with the Moon Drink since countless modification options exist. It is a heavenly delight that lives up to its reputation, regardless of whether you make it half-sweet, add a dash of coconut milk, or garnish it with cool foam.