The holiday season is the time of year where coffee shops get most creative with their drinks, spicing them up with things like cinnamon, caramel, and whatever else gives that holiday feel. That may sound nice (and certainly delicious), but the problem is that these seasonal drinks are overloaded with sugar. In a study of more than 200 drinks sold by coffee chains, a research group called Action on Sugar discovered “shockingly” large amounts of sugar in many of them.
The worst offender on their list was the “venti” Starbucks Signature Caramel Hot Chocolate made with oat milk and topped with whipped cream. It contains 23 teaspoons (93.7g) of sugar and 758 calories, which Action on Sugar says is as much as three cans of Coca-Cola or four white chocolate and strawberry muffins.
Next was Caffe Nero’s Grande Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate made with skimmed milk – containing 15 teaspoons (nearly 60g) of sugar and 503 calories.
Third highest in sugar was a venti Starbucks Gingerbread Latte made with oat milk – containing 14 teaspoons (56.6g) of sugar and 523 calories – the same as 17 custard cream biscuits.
While we’re well aware that this isn’t good news, the point is to give you a little warning before you hop into your favorite coffee shop and order one of these extremely sugary drinks. They might satisfy your sweet tooth, but they’re bound to wreak havoc on your immune system.
