We've all been told to stop playing with our food. Despite that warning, some of the most popular dishes and drinks in the world have come from experimentation. (We're looking at you, Taco Bell.)
No stranger to playing with various ingredients, Starbucks is set to introduce a handful of new drinks made with extra virgin olive oil. And they promise it will be "one of the biggest launches" they've had in decades.
Titled the Oleato line, the collection of drinks will reportedly include the Oleato latte (oat milk and olive oil), Oleato ice shaken espresso (oat milk, hazelnut flavor, and olive oil), and the Oleato golden foam cold brew (sweet milk foam infused with two olive oil servings).
The idea for the unconventional collection came about after Starbucks interim CEO Howard Schultz found himself playing around with the idea of combining olive oil and Starbucks coffee after meeting with olive oil producer Tommaso Asaro.
“When we got together and started doing this ritual I said to [Asaro], I know you think I’m going to be crazy, but have you ever thought of infusing a tablespoon of olive oil with Starbucks coffee?” Schultz told CNN. “He thought it was a little strange.”
According to CNN, the United States (particularly Southern California) could see versions of the Oleato line as early as this spring. The olive oil coffee drinks will also be available in select markets in the UK, the Middle East, and Japan sometime this year.
One of the healthiest fats available, extra virgin olive oil boasts a number of benefits. It can help to reduce bad cholesterol given that it's rich in monounsaturated fatty acids. The heart-healthy oil also contains polyphenols, which have anti-inflammatory and cancer-fighting qualities.
In that case, we'll take the Oleato latte and the Oleato golden foam cold brew, please.
