[#content_spinnerchief]
Inspired by a beloved regional flavor and crafted for moments of connection, Starbucks’ Cardamom Latte brings a modern expression of tradition to Ramadan — as told by Coffee Ambassador and Barista Champion, SumayyahThe scent hits before the taste does. Cardamom — earthy, warm, unmistakable — has a way of pulling you somewhere else entirely. To a grandmother’s kitchen during Eid. To late Ramadan nights thick with laughter. To the simple act of being handed a cup of Arabic coffee and understanding, without a single word spoken, that you belong here.For Sumayyah, Starbucks Coffee Ambassador and Barista Champion, that aromatic spice carries the weight of two cities and a lifetime of memory. This Ramadan, she helped bring that feeling to a wider audience through Starbucks’ new Cardamom Latte, a drink designed not merely to be consumed, but to be felt.”Cardamom is a memory in a spice,” Sumayyah says. “Its aroma takes me back to family Ramadan nights, to Eid celebrations, to moments filled with laughter and togetherness.”Her coffee journey began in Amman, where the ritual meant something specific: time carved out for family, for stories exchanged across a table, for presence. When she moved to Riyadh, the meaning shifted. Coffee became an act of generosity, offered before it was ever requested.”Serving Saudi coffee infused with cardamom is a way of saying, ‘Welcome into my home,'” she explains. “So when I thought about bringing a coffee flavor to life in a way that feels true to the region, cardamom felt like the perfect choice. It’s not just a taste — it’s a feeling.”Craft Built on BalanceSumayyah speaks often about harmony in coffee-making, a philosophy she describes simply: coffee first, then spice and sweetness. The Cardamom Latte embodies that principle. Espresso provides the foundation, bold and structured. Cardamom lifts it gently, adding depth without overwhelming. Steamed milk rounds everything into something smooth and approachable.”Coffee should always lead the story,” she says. “Cardamom supports it gently, enhancing the depth and aroma without stealing the spotlight. Harmony is about balance, and that’s exactly what I wanted it to feel like: refined, intentional, and comforting.”The result is a drink that honors tradition while speaking a modern language, familiar enough to evoke nostalgia, contemporary enough to feel fresh.A Drink for the Season’s Quieter MomentsRamadan’s rhythm lends itself to reflection. The long hours, the gathering at iftar, the stillness of evening — these are the spaces where meaningful connection happens. Cardamom has always occupied those spaces, present in the coffee poured after meals, in desserts passed between hands, in the fragrance that settles into the walls of homes during the holy month.Sumayyah imagines the latte finding its place within those rituals. “I imagine this latte being savored after iftar, maybe during a quiet moment with family or friends, or while enjoying the calm of a Ramadan evening,” she says. “It’s comforting, but it still feels special — a modern way to honor tradition while creating new memories.Beyond flavor, she hopes the drink communicates something deeper to those who order it.”I hope they feel seen — and I hope they feel a sense of belonging,” she says. “When a flavor reflects your culture and traditions, it becomes more than a drink. It becomes connection.”She pauses, then adds: “Cardamom isn’t just a spice. For me, it’s a story, a connection — a piece of home”.The Starbucks Cardamom Latte will be available throughout Ramadan at stores across Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Whether shared after iftar or enjoyed in a rare moment of solitude, it offers an invitation: slow down, remember, connect — one cup at a time.
