Pumpkin spice latte season is officially winding down and there are new beverages to enjoy from Starbucks, which just launched two Wicked-themed drinks. Limited-edition holiday Oreos are here in five festive designs. Plus, Moosa is revolutionizing how you tea.
Read on for more.
Beverage news
Starbucks just launched two new beverages ahead of next month’s release of Wicked. Dairy-free creamers will soon be available on American Airlines. Plus, there’s a new tea that you can eat.
Wicked lattes arrive at Starbucks
Starbucks has partnered with Universal Pictures to celebrate next month’s release of Wicked with two limited-edition beverages inspired by the iconic characters Glinda and Elphaba.
Both of the Wicked drinks are dairy-free which aligns with the plant-based lifestyles of the film’s main actors, Ariana Grande (Glinda) and Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba).
Starbucks
Glinda’s Pink Potion features a Mango Dragonfruit Starbucks Refresher mixed with creamy coconut milk, topped with strawberry-infused non-dairy cold foam and candy sprinkles for “a drink that is as vibrant as Glinda herself,” Starbucks beverage developer Natalia Vasquez said in a statement.
“When dreaming up this beverage, we were inspired by Glinda’s bright character and, of course, her iconic association with all things pink,” Vasquez said.
For a bolder option, Elphaba’s Cold Brew offers Starbucks Cold Brew sweetened with peppermint syrup and topped with a non-dairy matcha cold foam, all finished with green candy sprinkles.
Starbucks
“We were inspired by Elphaba’s bold energy and stunning green skin when creating this recipe,” Rosalyn Batingan, another Starbucks beverage developer, said in a statement.
Dairy-free creamer takes flight
American Airlines has announced that it will be adding a dairy-free creamer to its in-flight beverage menu starting next month. This decision comes after pressure from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and nearly 150,000 emails from supporters advocating for dairy-free options.
With this move, American Airlines becomes the fifth major United States airline to offer a vegan creamer, following Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and JetBlue Airways, all of which have incorporated oat milk creamer into their menus over the last two years.
“The number of people ditching dairy is soaring because vegan options are kind to cows, healthier for humans, and better for the planet,” PETA’s Executive Vice President, Tracy Reiman, said in a statement. “PETA applauds American Airlines for getting on board with vegan creamer and urges Southwest Airlines to do the same.”
Moosa
Edible tea
Moosa, a new tea brand that offers a twist on traditional tea, has just launched its “Tea You Can Eat” in the United States. Developed by three friends from Ecuador, Moosa introduces dried fruit infusions that allow you to drink your tea and then eat the fruit afterward, creating a unique beverage experience.
Moosa’s blends, such as Immune Citric, Tropical Medley, Mixed Berries, and Passion, feature no preservatives, added sugars, caffeine, or additives. The fruit used in Moosa’s tea is sustainably sourced from local farms in South America, using regenerative farming practices to restore soil health and promote biodiversity.
After brewing the tea, you can enjoy the flavorful dried fruit with a spoon, making it a delicious and health-conscious treat.
Moosa is grown on small farms that support women by providing flexible job opportunities, further contributing to community development. Moosa’s tea is available at select retail locations, coffee shops, restaurants, beauty salons and spas in eleven states and through its website.
Food news
Hungry holiday travelers can now nosh on Beyond Burgers at airports and train stations in the United Kingdom. Sweet Loren’s launches gluten-free pie crusts in time for baking season. Plus, adorable—and boopable—holiday Oreos are here.
Nabisco
Holiday Oreos
Oreo is ramping up its festive offerings with a new, limited-edition holiday cookie that incorporates three standout features. The cookies have a dual-layer red and green creme filling, a first for the brand, delivering the double-stuffed experience in festive colors.
Additionally, the chocolate wafers are embossed with five holiday designs, including a candy cane, gingerbread man, penguin, snowman, and Rudolph. There’s also a clever cut-out on the wafers where the red creme peaks through to highlight Rudolph’s shiny nose or the penguin’s bowtie.
The Oreo cookies come in three packaging options: four-count laydown bags, 45-count stand-up bags, and four-count king-size packs with each cookie individually wrapped—perfect for stocking stuffers or holiday treats.
These cookies will hit the shelves officially on November 1 at Target and Walmart and are expected to be available while supplies last.
Beyond Meat
Beyond Burgers at airports and train stations
Plant-based company Beyond Meat has teamed up with SSP Group to introduce its Beyond Burger at airport and train station bars throughout the UK. Starting today, travelers will be able to purchase the plant-based burger at 13 locations, including Brigg & Stow at Bristol Airport and Camden Bar at London Stansted with six more locations slated for December.
“We’re proud to be working in collaboration with Beyond Meat to do this while also supporting our target that 30 percent of our own brand main meal options are plant-based or vegetarian to drive positive change across the food travel sector,” SSP Group’s Head of Sustainability, Meredith Ford, said in a statement.
Beyond Meat’s move into the UK food service travel sector follows its expanding presence across Europe, which has been a strong market for the company. “Bringing our Beyond Burger to the UK food service travel sector with SSP is an important step to help even more of the UK reduce their animal meat consumption … passengers can all continue to eat what they love, no sacrifice required,” Steve Parsons, UK Regional Sales Manager of Food Service at Beyond Meat, said in a statement.
The new offering continues to support Beyond Meat’s goal of increasing plant-based food availability, especially in high-traffic areas such as airports and train stations.
Sweet Loren’s
Gluten-free pie crusts
Sweet Loren’s is launching its first-ever gluten-free pie crust. Known for creating allergen-friendly cookie dough, Sweet Loren’s new pie crust is part of its popular Rolled Dough collection. It caters to those with dietary restrictions, and is free from the top 14 allergens, including gluten, dairy, eggs, sesame, and peanuts.
Made with non-GMO ingredients, the 9-inch refrigerated pie crust simplifies holiday baking for both beginners and seasoned pie makers. It comes ready to bake—just unroll the dough, place it in a pie dish, add your filling, and bake for 35 to 45 minutes.
The brand’s pie crust will be available at Sprouts and Whole Foods starting November 1st.
Grocery news
Chunk Foods’ whole-cut meats are rolling out to select grocers, tempeh snacks are coming to Erewhon, and vegan milks made from whole nuts are now at Shoprite.
Meatless steaks hit stores
Meatless steaks by Chunk Foods first launched at steakhouses in Florida. Now, the company’s plant-based whole cuts are making their retail debut in select stores.
The new offerings provide consumers with a versatile and nutritious alternative for a variety of meals. The retail lineup includes 4-ounce plant-based steaks (two per pack), a 6-ounce Steakhouse Cut, a hearty 10-ounce Slab, and an 8-ounce Pulled option—all of which are rich in protein and designed for different cooking styles, including grilling, pan-searing, baking, and more.
All of these products feature only eight ingredients and are a good source of iron and vitamin B12. Unlike their animal counterparts, these steaks contain no cholesterol.
Chunk Foods plans to expand to more natural and organic retailers in LA and NYC, with larger nationwide expansion slated for 2025.
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Mamame Foods
Tempeh snacks
Mamame Tempeh Chips are set to make their debut at Erewhon this week, bringing a new twist to the classic vegan superfood. Tempeh, traditionally found in the refrigerated section as a protein-packed, fermented block, is now being reimagined as a crunchy, on-the-go snack.
Mamame’s Tempeh Chips, made from fermented black-eyed beans, are free from soy and seed oils, making them a unique offering in the tempeh market. The company offers its tempeh chips in four distinct flavors: Hot Chili, Rosemary, Sea Salt, and Original.
Following its Erewhon debut, Mamame expects a national rollout of its tempeh chips next month.
Whole Moon
Whole nut milks with protein
Whole Moon, a new plant-based beverage company, has launched its product line featuring dairy-free milks made from whole roasted almonds, oats, pistachios, and soybeans. By incorporating entire ingredients rather than extracting just their liquid components, the company aims to provide a more nutritionally complete beverage with naturally occurring protein, fiber, and essential nutrients.
Each of its offerings provides a complete protein source, containing all nine essential amino acids derived from legumes, nuts, and grains.
“Our Whole Moon beverages were designed for people who want a plant-based option without sacrificing taste or nutrition,” President Susan Knight said in a statement.
“Consumers are looking for drinks with outstanding flavor along with top-notch nutritional benefits, and Whole Moon delivers. In fact, we are finding that Whole Moon tastes so delicious that people want to drink it by the glass,” Knight said.
Whole Moon products come in almond, oat, and pistachio flavors and are available in select stores, including Shoprite, Fairway, Central Markets, Key Foods, and C-Town. The company is also expanding into Fred Meyer, Mother’s Market, and QFC stores soon.
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Anna Starostinetskaya is the Senior News Editor at VegNews and is always keeping an eye on all things vegan in her home city of San Francisco, CA and everywhere else.
