Starbucks Is Testing A Lentil-Based Vegan Whipped Topping (2024)

If you’re ordering a drink from Starbucks, especially if it's something fancy like a Pumpkin Spice Latte or a Frappuccino, you know what the barista (or partner, as Starbucks refers to their employees) is going to ask you: “Do you want whip on that?”

For most people, the obvious answer is yes! But for those who eat plant-based or dairy-free, there hasn't been an alternative—until now. Yes, that’s right. Your favorite coffee chain might soon be adding a vegan whipped cream topping to the menu. Currently, they are testing it out in two locations in Seattle. And it’s made from lentils.

Before you start thinking that doesn’t sound appetizing, remember that aquafaba, AKA the liquid chickpeas come in, is often used to make whipped cream and other dairy-free desserts.

The only other place you can get a vegan whipped topping from Starbucks is in the United Kingdom. There, they have different versions of the Pumpkin Spice Latte and Frappuccino that don't have any dairy in them. "Building on Starbucks sustainability commitment, the company's goal is to expand plant-based choices as an environmentally friendly menu contributes to our goal to be a resource positive company," a spokesperson for Starbucks told VegNews.

If you want to try the vegan whipped topping, you may have to do some sleuthing. The Starbucks at 1350 156th Ave. NE in Bellevue, WA, is one location serving it, but the other location is undisclosed. That just means you’ll have to drive from Starbucks to Starbucks until you find it, I guess! But maybe it’s a better idea to wait and hope that they roll out this dairy-free whipped topping to locations around the rest of the country soon.