There's been quite a buzz lately on social media about the whole "Is Starbucks' Dongpo Pork Latte for real?" thing. It turns out that this so-called "Dongpo Pork Latte" is a new kid on the block from Starbucks, and it goes by the name of "Lucky Savory Latte."

According to the product page, it's a fusion of Dongpo red-braised pork-flavored sauce and espresso, mixed with steamed milk, and topped off with more Dongpo red-braised pork sauce and dried pork strips, all for the hefty price tag of 68 yuan ($9.45USD).

But before you start scratching your head, let's talk about this Dongpo red-braised pork. It's basically a superstar dish from Hangzhou, named after the poet Su Dongpo in the North Song Dynasty during his gig as the mayor here. Legend has it that when Su Dongpo was dredging the West Lake, he got a ton of gratitude pork from the locals. So, being the culinary genius he was, he had his folks chop it up, spice it up with some wine, and cooked it into this epic red-braised pork. People loved it so much that they named it "Dongpo Pork" after the man himself, and it became a timeless delicacy.

Now, back to the "Lucky Savory Latte." This is Starbucks' special edition for the 2024 Chinese New Year of the Dragon, and you can snag it at Starbucks Reserve stores including 25 spots in Shanghai,the Wuhan K11 Reserve Coffee & Wine Bar and the Wuhan Hang Lung Square Reserve store. Word on the street is that this latte is a hot commodity, especially at the Hang Lung Square Reserve store, where folks are raving about its out-of-the-box flavor and creamy smoothness.

Those brave souls who took a sip say there's a chunk of pork on top, giving it a sweet and salty vibe. Although, some admit the red-braised pork flavor might not be stealing the show. Some even compare it to having bacon bits sink to the bottom, making it a match for those with a taste for adventure and a curious spirit.

Of course, not everyone is jumping on the avant-garde coffee train. There are folks out there shaking their heads, saying, "The world's gone mad, and I don't recognize it anymore." Adding a sprinkle of humor, a screenshot from a Starbucks customer survey popped up online, revealing that the "Dongpo Pork Latte" is high on the list of "Products I'm Dying to Try."

And let's not forget, Starbucks has been on a wild ride, experimenting with butter, beer, basil, citrus, tomato, rosemary, and who knows what else, mixing it all up with coffee. They've rolled out cool creations like "Butter Beer-Flavored Iced Shaken Espresso," "Orange Basil Iced Shaken Espresso," and "Tomato Rosemary Iced Shaken Espresso." Looks like Starbucks is cooking up some serious coffee miracles!