Iced Caramel Via by Starbucks is here! It’s a limited summer promotional flavored Via Ready Brew. I have to be honest, I was a little surprised to be able to purchase it today (July 5, 2011). I didn’t know that it was launching in local grocery stores before the actual Starbucks stores. However, today I happened to swing by my local Safeway store, and I saw it on the shelves, so I picked some up. It is $7.99 for a box of six packets. Each packet makes a 16 ounce serving of Caramel Iced Via.
By the way, Via Ready Brew has been such an interesting topic that I have a whole category on it, in case you want to check out any of the past articles:
So of course, I got home and tried it right away. I used a glass that I knew was 16 ounces, and I had some cold water in my refrigerator. It was indeed pretty good. I liked it better than the plain Iced Via. Somehow I don’t think that Iced Via will ever be my ‘go to’ summer beverage, but it is refreshing for an occasional change of pace. I notice that it tastes dramatically better when the water is really cold. I threw my glass into my freezer for just a few minutes, and when it was really chilled, it was very good. Be sure to use very cold water and/or chill with plenty of ice.
Edit on 7-6-11:
The flavor was very light. Nothing about it was an overly sweet or heavy caramel flavor. I know that Via has “natural flavors” but it lacked the buttery notes of real caramel, like when a person enjoys an apple dipped in caramel. It was a light flavor reminiscent of the caramel notes in a carbonated soda. One thing I still need to do is try this with carbonated water – I expect that will be good!
Feel free to weigh in on this new Via. Have you tried it? Or just weigh in on Via Ready Brew generally. Do you hope to see more flavored Iced Vias available?
Edit on 7-7-2011 –
I heard from a Starbucks corporate-person-friend that Caramel Iced Via Ready Brew actually did launch in the grocery stores in June of this year. This was one year after the launch of the unflavored Iced Via, which launched June 2010. Interesting!
Here are the pics from today!
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@Kimmy – I want to try that! I think though it would be filling to use milk instead of water. You’d go from a light refreshing drink to a meal.
I’m totally curious whether customers will like this Via.
Bisto is available here in the states but it is harder to find- same with HP sauce, penguins, digestives biscuits, salad cream, liquorice all sorts, Tetly tea, etc. All the goodies of my ancestors. I don’t think I like gravy granules that much to like my coffee compared to it.
I miss Tanzania. I think the last time we had it was in 2009.
I’m not a fan. I don’t really like it plain and the caramel doesn’t add a thing to it. But then again, I don’t like a ton of sugar in my coffee and in my opinion this is a ton of sugar.
kitenarie-that is how it tastes to me too!
@Klair VERY jealous that you have such amazing coffee being brewed! Just WOW.
I have to try this! I live on iced coffee when it’s this hot. I’d like to get some at the store so I can make my own before I dash off to work. It’d be cheaper day to day then stopping at my local Starbucks each morning too.
Nice to “see” you at blogchat too!
I’m one who loves cold drinks even in winter. Do you sell caramel VIA anywhere or could I order some online? Do you still have the iced VIA coffees in the south in winter? My supply is dwindeling…..help
Hi Melody,
Okay, not so new anymore, but then, I only discovered it this year, at Starbucks, and even though I usually avoid sugar and caffeine, I gave it a try. And LOVED it. So I went back about every other day for another 5-pack, totally ruining my sugar-free ways.
Then I started experimenting with recreating a sugar-free version, and after a lot of trial and error, I think I’ve got a version going that works for me:
My sugar-free decaf (if desired) Starbucks Via Caramel Iced Coffee Knock-Off Recipe
Thanks for inspiring me to write that post 🙂