Answer: It depends.
Chestnut Praline Latte originally involves dairy, which makes it non-vegan. But it can be made vegan on request.
Ah, Starbucks. Who doesn’t love its Chestnut Praline Latte? I do! And I skip the whipped cream to make it vegan. It’s definitely a favorite drink for vegan Starbucks fans.
When Starbucks introduced Chestnut Praline Latte to the market, many vegans were wondering if something in it was worth trying. One of its key ingredients is steamed milk, and it’s non-dairy, which is great for thirsty vegans. And oh, the praline crumbs in it are also vegan-friendly.
Not convinced enough? Let’s find out more about this heavenly drink from Starbucks.
Table of Contents
What Is A Chestnut Praline Latte?
In November 2014, Starbucks first introduced one of its seasonal drinks called Chestnut Praline Latte.
In case you wonder, the drink is made of freshly brewed espresso, steamed milk, caramelized chestnut flavoring, whipped cream, and spiced praline crumbs on top.
The drink swiftly gained national attention among Starbucks fans and the like. Every year since 2014, Starbucks has produced Chestnut Praline Latte, which usually starts in November until around the second week of January.
Chestnut Praline Latte is available in short, tall, grande, and venti sizes.
What Is Praline?
Praline is often vegan, which is the case in Starbucks mulled praline crumbs that you’ll see on top of your drink.
It’s made with nuts and sugar or sometimes creams. Almonds, hazelnuts, and pecans are the most common nuts used in making praline.
Chestnuts, on the other hand, taste sweet and earthy, like a sweet potato. Imagine this on your Chestnut Praline Latte at Starbucks.
Starbucks Seasonal Drinks
Chestnut Praline Latte, alongside Starbucks’ other classics, appears on the menu only during the Christmas season. These drinks can also be made vegan, so they can definitely put you in a festive mood.
- Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
- Everything about this drink is vegan, including the sprinkles used on top. It’s made with Blonde Espresso Roast, sugar cookie-flavored syrup, and almond milk.
- Irish Cream Cold Brew
- It isn’t entirely vegan, but you can swap vanilla cream with your choice of vegan milk. It features coffee, cocoa, and vanilla flavors. You can order it hot or cold.
- Starbucks Christmas Blend
- Here’s another iconic Starbucks Christmas classic coffee you can order with a splash of your favorite vegan milk, cinnamon, or vanilla syrup.
- Peppermint Mocha
- You can have this without the whipped cream and ask for vegan milk such as coconut, soy, or almond milk.
- Gingerbread Latte
- Enjoy this latte without whipped cream, and ask for non-dairy milk. The nutmeg, gingerbread, and spices are perfect for the holidays!
- Toffee Almondmilk Hot Cocoa
- If you’re not a fan of coffee, this cocoa drink will put you in a good mood. The almond milk in it is, of course, already vegan. Just ask not to put whipped cream.
Starbucks’ seasonal drinks include Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, Caramel Brulée Latte, and Eggnog Latte. But avoid ordering them because these are made with ingredients that involve dairy.
Chestnut Praline Latte Nutrition Facts
Now that we’ve learned that Chestnut Praline Latte can be easily made vegan on request, it’s also important to know how many calories you get from this drink.
Right, It’s important to keep watch of your calories as much as you love Chestnut Praline Latte. Let’s find out here.
| Small (8 fl oz) | Tall (12 fl oz) | Grande (16 fl oz) | Venti (20 fl oz) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 190 | 270 | 330 | 410 |
| Total Fat | 8 g | 11 g | 14 g | 16 g |
| Cholesterol | 30 mg | 40 mg | 50 mg | 55 mg |
| Sodium | 80 mg | 130 mg | 160 mg | 210 mg |
| Total Carbs | 21 g | 31 g | 40 g | 50 g |
| Protein | 6 g | 9 g | 12 g | 15 g |
| Caffeine | 75 mg | 75 mg | 150 mg | 150 mg |
Do you notice how calories get higher with the sizes? Yes. The bigger the size you get for Chestnut Praline Latte, the higher the calories and sodium to get.
Health Risks
Chestnut Praline Latte is such a joy in the taste buds, but if it’s consumed excessively, it may pose a danger to your health over time.
Of course, who doesn’t want to drink your favorite latte every day? But is it worth it?
The answer is NO. So, I’m sorry to say that it’s unhealthy to drink Chestnut Praline Latte every day, even if Starbucks rewards you with points or a discount.
And if you think that it’s just calories that we need to keep watch of, sodium is there too. Let’s find out.
Excessive calorie intake
Our body needs at least 500 calories a day to mobilize. However, if you go over the recommended figure by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which is up to 2,400 a day, you’ll get sick over time.
- Body Fat. Binge-eating or overeating stores a lot of excess calories in your body, especially when you eat more than you burn. These calories become body fats, also called calorie surplus.
- This will also lead to obesity.
- Eat more lean proteins and non-starchy vegetables to help alleviate body fats.
- Brain function issues. Overeating might also increase the risk of mental decline, especially in adults.
- A study shows that older adults who are overweight tend to have issues with their brain functions compared to those who are not obese or overweight.
- To avoid mental decline, consider consuming healthy fats such as avocados, olive oil, nuts, flaxseeds, and chia seeds.
- Chronic health diseases. Being obese brings a lot of factors that cause many chronic diseases. Your heart health may also be at risk, and you may suffer from diabetes, stroke, metabolic syndrome, and many more.
- To reduce these health risks, consider piling up on fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, and of course, always eat in moderation.
- Nausea and indigestion. Depending on your size, your stomach capacity can hold up to 950 ml of food. On average, an adult stomach can have at least 75 ml capacity.
- If you eat more than your stomach can hold, this leads to nausea and indigestion. In severe cases, it will also lead to vomiting.
- Excessive bloating and gassy stomach. Over time, binge eating strains your digestive system, leading to gas and bloating. Fatty and spicy foods, as well as carbonated beverages, are the main factors that cause gas and bloating.
- Consider eating smaller portions and avoiding spicy and fatty foods to prevent gas and bloating.
- Reactive Hypoglycemia. If you notice that you feel sleepy or sluggish after a huge amount of food, that’s the reaction to your blood sugar dropping. Low blood sugar count can also cause headaches and rapid heart rate.
- Reactive Hypoglycemia is also common in people suffering from diabetes, especially when there’s too much insulin taken.
- Avoid eating a big meal, and eat more fruits and vegetables rich in fiber and flavonoids.
Excessive sodium intake
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting your sodium intake to 2,300 mg daily to avoid any future health risks. On average, our body needs 200 to 500 mg of salt to keep things intact. However, going over the recommended figure will also lead to adverse health effects.
- High blood pressure. Salt-rich diet can cause your blood pressure to rise, especially when you’re already in that range.
- Stomach cancer. When excessive sodium intake affects your stomach, you may have an increased risk of cancer or inflammation.
- Heart disease. When your blood pressure rises, this causes stiffening of your blood vessels and arteries, leading to heart diseases and even death.
- Water retention. Your kidneys will hold more water to compensate for the extra salt in your body, which results in swelling your hands, feet, face, and stomach.
- Hypernatremia. When you fail to drink after eating salty food, your body’s sodium level may rise to cause Hypernatremia. This leads to water leaking out of your cells into your blood to weaken the extra sodium in your body.
- Severe cases of Hypernatremia results in seizures, coma, or even death.
- Symptoms may also include decreased urination or unable to urinate, shortness of breath, insomnia, and restlessness.
The Bottom Line
Chestnut Praline Latte is not vegan as it involves whipped cream, but on request, you can easily have it at Starbucks by omitting whipped cream itself.
It’s a popular seasonal drink that Starbucks offers during the holiday season alongside other vegan-friendly coffee and decaf drinks.
Drinking Chestnut Praline Latte isn’t as scary as you think as long as you consume it moderately. Consider pairing it with other vegan snacks that Starbucks offers.
If you wanna check it out, I have a comprehensive guide here to help you with your orders at Starbucks that can be vegan or already vegan-friendly.
Remember to eat healthy at all times!