Global coffee chain Starbucks has announced that its testing its latest beverage sensation – it’s called the Dark Barrel Latte and it supposedly tastes exactly like Guinness beer.
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If you’ve ever craved the flavour of last night’s work drinks in your morning espresso, this could be the answer to your prayers.
So far, the lucky few to test the drink, which is only available in the US states of Florida and Ohio, are not impressed:
The dark barrel latte at Starbucks literally tastes like drinking a Guinness in the early morning… So yuck
— Noel (@noelwoodss) September 16, 2014
It may seem outlandish, but Starbucks isn’t the first company to forge an unusual flavour combination for a bit of added exposure.
Here are the most unusual food combinations of the last few years:
Would you eat black cheese? Fast food chain Burger King has created the Kuro burger, an all-black creation containing a black-pepper beef patty, bamboo charcoal cheese, onion and garlic sauce with squid ink and a black bun.
The unusual lunch offering is only available in Japan, for the time being at least.
Photo: Getty
Made by Japanese company Ramune, this unusual drink is designed to emulate the flavour of a traditional Indian curry and comes in two flavours: spicy and extra hot.
Photo: Amazon
Yes, these are a thing in Indonesia. Made of chocolate and cheddar cheese, the biscuits became a huge hit after their 2010 launch, but they haven’t yet cracked the Australian market.
Photo: Reddit
Gelato Messina’s limited edition flavour Mr Potato Head was an example of flavour pairings done right. Mixing the super sweet with the super salty, the famed Sydney ice cream store proved why it often pulls round-the-block queues.
Photo: Instagram
Heston Blumenthal, the British chef behind world-famous restaurant The Fat Duck, is responsible for this quirky pairing. One of his restaurant’s signature dishes is the salmon poached in liquorice gel with vanilla mayonnaise, which is often hailed as a masterpiece of modern flavour balancing.
Daring Australian foodies may have the chance to sample the combo when The Fat Duck opens in Melbourne in February 2015.
Photo: Twitter user @LauraSRobinson
Back in 2011, Smith’s combined two Aussie classics to create a limited edition crinkle-cut chip that tasted exactly like the classic Australian spread. It was only on sale for a short period, along with other one-off flavours like gravy and pizza.
The verdict? The chips were described as true to life, with a buttery aftertaste and a salty, tangy edge.
Sweet and spicy, these fiery sweets are sold online and advertised as “a spicy treat for the whole family”.
Photo: Amazon