Starbucks Quenches The Thirsts Of Meat Lovers With… Pork Lattes

Image via Starbucks Reserve Shanghai Roastery

Starbucks is enticing patrons in China to wake up and smell the coffee beans—and pork!—with a rather curious brew called the Lucky Savory Latte.

Truly testing the limits of fans of the sweet-and-savory combo, the coffee chain has served up a pork-flavored coffee to mark Chinese New Year. The unique concoction blends the rich taste of espresso with a sauce inspired by Dongpo pork, a dish that nods to a culinary tradition dating back to an 11th-century poet. 

The drink is then capped off with steamed milk, a drizzle of the same savory sauce, and a skewered pork slice.

Image via Starbucks Reserve Shanghai Roastery

The drink is a gourmet addition, priced at 68 Chinese yuan (US$9.50) and exclusively served at Starbucks Reserve outfits. The mix of sweet and salty is hogging the spotlight in the country, with adventurous coffee aficionados salivating for a taste, while others find the meaty potion less than appetizing.

Starbucks, facing stiff competition in China, is turning to experimental blends to take on home-grown brands like Luckin Coffee. Talk about bringing home the bacon, eh?

[via The Telegraph and Business Insider, images via Starbucks Reserve Shanghai Roastery]