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✔ Following the Dubai chocolate boom, buttery, nutty pistachio flavors have made their way into coffee — now going viral on TikTok
• The most popular method: brew a fresh espresso shot directly over 1–2 tablespoons of pistachio cream, stir, then add milk
• Home café creators are especially recommending Trader Joe’s pistachio cream, priced at $6.50 (≈ ₩8,700), for its accessibility
🧑💬 This feels like a smooth continuation of our previous Korean “Dubai Sticky Cookie (두쫀쿠) Trend Report.” Seeing how the U.S. is still deep in the Dubai chocolate craze… doesn’t it feel like whoever brings 두쫀쿠 to the U.S. first might actually win?
2️⃣⭐Starbucks kicks off 2026 with “Dubai Chocolate” 🍫🥜
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✔ Starbucks launched its first U.S. winter menu of 2026 on Jan 6, spotlighting Caramel Protein, Dubai Chocolate, and Pistachio
• Caramel Protein Lattes and Matcha drinks deliver 27–31g of protein (Grande), directly targeting the healthy pleasure trend
• Dubai Chocolate drinks combine pistachio-based beverages topped with chocolate foam, released as winter seasonal items
🧑💬 Notably, pistachio drinks that were limited-time last season have now been promoted to year-round menu items. At this rate, pistachio lattes in the U.S. might soon feel as familiar as ordering a strawberry latte.
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3️⃣🍦Chick-fil-A tests retro-style frozen drinks 🥤🍔
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✔ Chick-fil-A strengthens its 80th-anniversary retro concept with permanent launches of Ice Cream Frosted Sodas and Floats
• Ice Cream Frosted Soda blends vanilla soft-serve with soda for a milkshake-like texture, while Floats feature classic soda topped with ice cream
• Customers can choose from Coca-Cola, Dr Pepper, Sprite, Fanta, and more; four retro cup designs are sold for $3.99 (≈ ₩5,300)
🧑💬 Despite the ambitious rollout, reactions are mixed. Some customers — and even in-store staff — are voicing concerns about price and operational complexity.
4️⃣🍺 Beer meets fire: the Beer Brûlée trend 🔥🧲
✔ Brooklyn-based brewery Grimm Artisanal Ales revived the centuries-old German tradition of Bierstacheln (Beer Brûlée), sparking renewed interest on social media
• Bierstacheln involves plunging a metal spike heated above 1,000℉ (≈538℃) into cold beer, caramelizing residual malt sugars
• The beer stays cold while a warm, marshmallow-like silky foam forms on top, enhancing toffee and toasted notes
🧑💬 Grimm’s Beer Brûlée Reels have surpassed 2.8 million views, prompting breweries across the U.S. to roll out seasonal “brûlée-ready” beer menus. I initially thought Grimm was just a trendy experimental brewery — turns out they won NY State Brewery of the Year in 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025.
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5️⃣🌏 Global beverage trends, curated by an F&B research firm 📊🔍
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✔ Technomic, a global foodservice research firm, tracks worldwide menu shifts through its Global Navigator program
• New takes on coffee: Coffee is evolving beyond an “energy drink,” expanding into fruit- and soda-based coffee tonics, as well as decaf and hojicha-based calming drinks
• A shot of health: Brands are reducing sugar and fat while adding protein, yogurt, avocado, and coconut, expanding health-forward beverage lineups
• Trendsetting toppings: Cheese foam, cream foam, cookies, cotton candy, and purple hues fuel competition for Instagrammable visuals that combine taste, texture, and color
🧑💬 This global beverage roundup was hopefully a fun read for you too. I’ll keep working to be a reliable, conversational F&B trend partner this year as well😉
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🕗1st & 3rd Fridays – Korean Food Trend Highlights
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