I Tried Starbucks' New Cherry Mocha & It's The Perfect Valentine's Day Treat

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Starbucks has released a new limited edition drink that's got a little bit of all things sweet, Valentine's Day-themed, and delicious. So, you're going to want to know what the new Starbucks Cherry Mocha tastes like while it's available in stores between Feb. 7 and Feb. 14, because people are going to be talking about it like crazy in the days leading up to V-Day. And luckily for you, I can tell you all about it — because as soon as I heard it was being served, I ran to my nearest Starbucks like a fire was chasing me.

To say that the Cherry Mocha tastes like a Valentine's Day explosion in your mouth would not be an exaggeration. I mean, think about it: Valentine's Day usually comes with treats made from cherries and chocolate and a little whipped cream on top, so it's no surprise that Starbucks' seasonal drink special is an exact representation of those flavors. Would you expect anything less from a company that always nails seasonal drinks right on the head?

And whether you're all about the greeting card holiday or if you dread it like the first day of school, you're going to look forward to having this drink to warm you up (and wake you up) during this stretch of the winter.

The mocha is made a lot like a traditional mocha is, with freshly-brewed espresso (regular or blonde, your choice), bittersweet chocolate sauce, and steamed milk. But this special mocha also includes a concentrated cherry syrup that gives it a sweet — but not too sweet — fruity flavor. And then to top it all off, it's got whipped cream, because what's a romantic drink without whipped cream on top? That is then garnished with a sprinkling of sugar and cocoa valentines bites that are basically little pieces of candy, which is great becayse we could all use something a little exciting and over the top during the depths of the winter. If you're wondering how the Cherry Mocha gets its deep red coloring, you can rest assured that it's actually from beet juice.

I realize that it sounds like the Cherry Mocha might be overly sweet, especially for a morning drink, but the combination of steamed milk and earthy espresso mixed with the sweeter cherry and cocoa flavors is actually really balanced. While it's definitely not bitter or boring, it's not overwhelming at all — but at the same time, it tastes like someone melted a box of Valentine's Day chocolates into your coffee which just sounds amazing. And while it's definitely a bit brighter tasting than your average on-your-way-to-work drink, it's definitely not too much. Especially not on Valentine's Day when you want that extra sweetness.

But the best part about this drink is that you can customize it a bit. If you want to make it into more of a dessert drink (of course you do) you can opt for another pump of chocolate sauce or cherry sauce, which will make it even more red and even more fruity, and you can have it blended with ice to turn it into a frappuccino. So even if you don't buy into the whole V-day thing, get ready to fall in love with a drink that loves you back. Oh, and if you forgot to get your Valentine a gift, you can now just run into your local Starbucks and get your lover a Cherry Mocha with extra whipped cream on top. Once they take a sip, they'll lose their will to be mad at you for forgetting. Happy Valentine's Day folks — and happy sipping.