Those who have lived near a Starbucks might recall the annual appearance of holiday-themed take-out cups and an overwhelmingly long menu of holiday-themed beverages (the most egregious among them is the Iced Gingerbread Oat Chai). Luckily, here in Lunenburg County we are free from the coffee corporation’s clutches, save for their tiny holdout in Bridgewater’s Atlantic Superstore.
Instead, our county is home to a smattering of cozy, locally-owned cafes and bakeries. As winter creeps in, I begin to wonder about what sort of winter and holiday-themed beverages we might be able to get our hands on around here–excluding, of course, the dreaded Iced Gingerbread Oat Chai.
The Hungry Traveler – Schnares Crossing
At this cozy spot just off Highway 3, you can grab a gingerbread latte with house-made gingerbread syrup, a pumpkin spice latte with house-made syrup, and a hot chocolate made from the cafe’s own blend of ingredients.
Rosefinch Mercantile – Port Medway
This cafe/shop/brunch spot has such an extensive list of cozy winter drinks that you best go check it out yourself. Here are some highlights from their impressive menu: a snowy cider made with homemade marshmallow, apple pumpkin, warm spices, and white chocolate; a minty mocha made with homemade marshmallow, fresh mint, dark chocolate, and espresso; and a London Snow, which features homemade marshmallow, vanilla, white chocolate, and Earl Grey tea.
Ploughman’s Lunch – West Dublin
These baristas are slinging “eggnog soft serve and eggnog affogato” this December.
Chicory Blue – Blockhouse
Chicory Blue is no beginner when it comes to innovative drinks. They’re boasting a homemade pumpkin spice syrup and “organic ginger and turmeric syrup with a hint of black pepper.” Their Aztec Hot Cocoa (organic cocoa packed with ginger, turmeric, nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon, cayenne) is also a huge hit.
Famous Town Pie Shop – Mahone Bay
Our local pie connoisseurs have pumpkin spice with actual pumpkin in it! They also have a rosemary latte, and apparently the rosemary syrup gives the coffee a “toasted marshmallow kind of flavour.”
Closer to Christmas you can look forward to a peppermint latte.
Laughing Whale – Lunenburg
Tucking in with a newspaper or a good book, you can choose from this cafe’s offerings: a peppermint mocha, a gingerbread latte, a hazelnut hot chocolate, or a candy cane hot chocolate.
Fancy Pants Cafe – Bridgewater
Bridgewater’s local cafe offers a peppermint matcha white mocha latte with homemade whipped cream. They also have a maple cinnamon eggnog latte, which features maple syrup from M&J’s Hilltop Farm.
