• The Chocolate Java Mint Frappuccino is Starbucks' first new Frappuccino flavor in two years. 
• It's one of two new summer drinks, along with the White Chocolate Macadamia Cream Cold Brew. 
• I tried both and was a huge fan of the new Frappuccino.

After a very long and gloomy winter, the sun is finally out, temperatures are finally up, and we can finally put our coats back in the closet where they belong. 

A new season always means new drinks at Starbucks, and this year we're getting both the White Chocolate Macadamia Cream Cold Brew and the Chocolate Java Mint Frappuccino — the first new Frappuccino flavor to be available in Starbucks' US stores in two years. A Starbucks spokesperson revealed to Insider that both flavors were inspired by summer treats, which is always great news for someone with as big of a sweet tooth as me.  

I've been diligently reviewing Starbucks' new seasonal beverages since March 2020 (you can read my full ranking here) and was a big fan of Starbucks' most recent drink, the Cinnamon Caramel Cream Cold Brew, so I had high hopes for the brand's newest summer sips. 

The Chocolate Java Mint Frappuccino is Starbucks' first new Frappuccino flavor in two years.

The Chocolate Java Mint Frappuccino, available nationwide starting Tuesday, features the brand's Frappuccino roast coffee combined with sweet chocolate and mint flavors. Frappuccino chips are blended into the drink, which is topped with a layer of mocha sauce, whipped cream, and chocolate-cookie mint sprinkles. 

"With the Chocolate Java Mint Frappuccino, we wanted to take a new approach to the classic combination of mint and chocolate to create a blended coffee beverage that elicits nostalgia for one of our favorite summer treats," Maureen Matthews, Starbucks' product development manager, said in a statement sent to Insider. 

Matthews added: "The new white chocolate mint sauce is subtle and creamy, and when paired with the crunch of Frappuccino chips and a swirl of rich mocha, is reminiscent of mint chocolate chip ice cream poolside on a warm summer day."

Starbucks is also celebrating summer with the new White Chocolate Macadamia Cream Cold Brew.

The White Chocolate Macadamia Cream Cold Brew, also available starting Tuesday, combines Starbucks' cold brew with macadamia syrup. The drink is topped with white-chocolate macadamia cream cold foam and a sprinkle of toasted cookie crumbles. 

Matt Thorton, a senior product developer at Starbucks, said in a statement sent to Insider that the drink was inspired by "memories of fresh macadamia nuts on tropical vacations and the distinct flavor of white chocolate macadamia nut cookies." 

First I tried the Chocolate Java Mint Frappuccino.

Frappuccinos may get a bad rap for not being a serious coffee drink, but you have to admit that a lot of them are downright delicious. And when I tried Starbucks' new summer drink, I felt the same excitement I got when I ordered my first Frappuccino as a suburban 12-year-old who thought drinking coffee was so grown up. 

From the sky-high whipped cream to the cookie sprinkles, everything about it just looked so nostalgic and joyful. 

Before taking my first sip, I popped the cap off to get a closer look at the top.

Along with a generous heap of whipped cream, there was a heavy dusting of both the Frappuccino chips and chocolate-cookie mint sprinkles on top. The bright-green sprinkles added a playful touch of color that felt fitting for a beverage designed to remind us of mint chocolate-chip ice cream on a hot summer day. 

Starbucks' Chocolate Java Mint Frappuccino tasted super refreshing and delicious.

While many mint ice creams are made with peppermint, Starbucks' developers made the wise decision to use spearmint for the Chocolate Java Mint Frappuccino. It's a subtler and lighter flavor than, say, the mintiness you find in Starbucks' Peppermint Mocha, and helps to balance out all that chocolate. 

Combined with the whipped cream and chocolate pieces, the Chocolate Java Mint Frappuccino felt like a delicious summer treat without being sickly sweet (which was my issue with Strawberry Funnel Cake Frappuccino, the last new Frappuccino to hit Starbucks' US menu). It's the kind of drink you dream of getting at a diner or ice cream stand when you're craving a milkshake. 

Next up was the White Chocolate Macadamia Cream Cold Brew.

The White Chocolate Macadamia Cream Cold Brew had a lovely light caramel color and a white layer of cold foam that filled almost a quarter of the cup. 

As with the Frappuccino, I took a peek under the cap to check out the sprinkles.

The toasted cookie crumbles almost looked like flecks of cinnamon against the backdrop of the white-chocolate macadamia cream cold foam. 

The White Chocolate Macadamia Cream Cold Brew was a mix of salty and sweet.

My first sip was purely the white-chocolate macadamia cream cold foam, which was super sweet. It was a tad overpowering on its own but tasted far more balanced once the actual cold brew cut through it. 

After a few more sips, I could really taste the nutty flavor from the macadamia nut, which I thought worked well with the sweetness of the cold foam and the saltiness of the cookie crumbles on top. 

Overall, I thought it was a solid drink, although it didn't stand out to me as much as Starbucks' Chocolate Cream Cold Brew, which remains one of my all-time favorites. But if you love white chocolate or are craving something that's both salty and sweet, this might be just your kind of treat. 

My favorite summer drink was definitely the Chocolate Java Mint Frappuccino.

Sipping on a delicious, frothy, and chocolatey Frappuccino felt like transporting back to simpler times, when my biggest concern was whether my mom would let me go to the mall unchaperoned and whether I could convince her to let me buy my first Abercrombie & Fitch miniskirt. 

But you don't have to be a nostalgic millennial to love Starbucks' new Chocolate Java Mint Frappuccino. The news cycle is rough, times are tough, and I think we could also use a drink that makes us smile. 

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