While the holiday season is full of peppermint mochas, eggnog, and other seasonal beverages, certain flavors evoke special memories. For the Latin community, just a small taste of dulce de leche can have people remembering abuelita’s desserts and the care she served in every plate of food. With the McDonald’s Dulce de Leche, that sip of nostalgia invites everyone to celebrate their connection to food and culture.
Although the words roll off some people’s tongues, dulce de leche is more than just a spoonful of sweetness. Depending on the country, that deliciousness has a different name. It might not be quite as simple as soda or pop, but the nuances are there.
To kick off its campaign or the Dulce de Leche Frappe, McDonald’s chose to celebrate all the ways that people name the rich caramel flavor. As seen on various promotional signs, that sweet flavor can be cajeta, arequipe, fanguito, or even leche Quemada. While some people might not fully understand those words, others can hear the laughter in the kitchen, smell the aroma of food cooking, and be instantly transported back to that kitchen.
Throughout Latin culture, the combination of sugar and milk flavors a multitude of desserts, candies, and more. Even just a spoonful of that luscious deliciousness satisfies.
Since the particular food crosses Latin cultures, McDonald’s is celebrating those cultural connections. As seen in the announcement campaign with rising Mexican actor Iñaki Godoy, the seasonal beverage launch is meant to appeal to sweet memories. Just like the holidays tend to tug at the heartstrings, it is a time to reconnect and explore cultural connections.
In many ways, McDonald’s launching the Dulce de Leche Frappe at the holidays is a smart choice. While other food brands and restaurant chains focus on other flavors, making a conscious effort to appeal to the Latin community makes the company more inclusive. Appreciating cultures, infusing flavors, and ensuring everyone feels represented is important.
The Dulce de Leche Frappe is available now. Whether a person has taste that sweetness before, embraces the new experience, or wants to regale people with a story from the past, everyone will appreciate its deliciousness.