11 Surprising Starbucks Menu Items from Across the Globe

Starbucks, originally from Seattle, U.S., expanded internationally in 1996 with its first locations outside North America in Japan. With over 23,000 stores worldwide, the coffee giant adapts its menu to meet local tastes and cultural preferences. Here are 11 of the most unusual Starbucks items found around the globe.

1. AUSTRALIAN BEEF PIE

In Australia, Starbucks offers a classic Aussie Beef Pie, made with a deliciously savory crust filled with quality minced beef. It’s served with tomato sauce for dipping. Additionally, the menu features Yo-Yo Biscuits, shortbread cookies filled with butter vanilla cream and dusted with powdered sugar.

2. RED BEAN GREEN TEA FRAPPUCCINO

The Red Bean Green Tea Frappuccino is a favorite blended beverage at Starbucks locations throughout China and Pacific Asia. It’s essentially a Green Tea Frappuccino topped with sweetened whole red beans. This seasonal drink has been a summer special since 2012 and can even be paired with a matching muffin.

3. RED BEAN CREAM FRAPPUCCINO

The Red Bean Cream Frappuccino is a limited-time drink available at Starbucks in South Korea. It combines sweetened condensed milk and Frappuccino Roast blended with ice. The result is a creamy beverage topped with crunchy granola and a generous scoop of red bean paste.

4. BUTTERMILK PANCAKES

In the United Kingdom, Starbucks offers a breakfast with an 'American twist.' Two lightly toasted buttermilk pancakes are served with your choice of either very berry compote or maple honey sauce. Interestingly, this pancake option isn’t available at Starbucks in the U.S. — so much for that American twist.

5. HOJICHA FRAPPUCCINO WITH EARL GREY JELLY

Hojicha, a Japanese green tea roasted over charcoal in a porcelain pot, gives this drink its distinct color and toasty, creamy flavor. It’s paired with Earl Grey tea jelly and blended with Frappuccino Roast, milk, and ice. First introduced in 2012 as a seasonal drink, the Hojicha Frappuccino with Earl Grey Jelly is only available at Starbucks in Japan, alongside the Chocolate Brownie Matcha Green Tea Frappuccino and Tiramisu Frappuccino.

6. GRILLED PINEAPPLE & CHICKEN TURKISH BREAD

In Hong Kong, Starbucks serves a delicious combination of grilled pineapple and chicken breast, topped with Teriyaki sauce, mozzarella cheese, and caramelized onions, all sandwiched between Turkish bread.

7. MAPLE MACCHIATO

The Maple Macchiato blends steamed milk, sweet vanilla syrup, and espresso, finished off with a criss-cross drizzle of 'real Canadian Maple Syrup from the Beauce-Appalache region of Quebec.' Exclusively available at Starbucks in Canada, it has even tempted some U.S. visitors to make the trip north for a taste.

8. DULCE DE LECHE GRANIZADO FRAPPUCCINO

Starbucks Argentina combines Dulce de Leche sauce with Frappuccino Roast, chocolate chips, milk, and ice to create a Granizado, a dessert similar to a snow cone. It’s topped with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel.

9. THREE MUSHROOM AND EMMENTAL CHEESE ON A VEGAN ROLL

Start your day with a portobello and shiitake mushroom breakfast sandwich at Starbucks in the Philippines. Served on a vegan multigrain roll, it also includes emmental cheese, which isn’t vegan at all. Starbucks Philippines also serves a Spam, jalapeño, egg, and cheddar breakfast sandwich, available on either a rye roll or bagel.

10. ALGARROBINA FRAPPUCCINO

Introduced at Starbucks Peru in 2011, the Algarrobina Frappuccino blends chocolate chips, Frappuccino Roast, Mocha, milk, ice, and algarrobina syrup, made from the black carob tree (Prosopis nigra). This acquired taste is often described as bitter rather than sweet.

11. CHRISTMAS PANETTONE LATTE

Fruitcake may not be a favorite in the West, but it’s a beloved treat in the East. During the holiday season, Starbucks introduces the Christmas Panettone Latte in several countries across the South Pacific, including New Zealand, Singapore, China, and the Philippines. Inspired by the traditional Italian fruitcake, this festive drink blends Italian Christmas sauce with espresso and steamed milk, topped with whipped cream and a mix of dried apples, oranges, and cranberries. It’s said to have a comforting bread and butter flavor with a coffee twist.