Starbucks' new drink comes with an anti-inflammatory kick

Unless you're ordering off the secret healthy menu (like the blackberry-topped #purpledrink), requesting a speciality Starbucks beverage is usually thought of as an indulgence, not a way to drink to your health. But with their latest menu offering, it's a little bit of both.

Today not only marks the beginning of PSL season (that's the real sign fall is here, right?), all Starbucks locations are introducing Chile Mochas to the menu. (And no big deal or anything, but they're also finally,finally offering almond milk.)

SEE MORE: Wait, is eating 51 bananas a day healthy?

Okay, so what exactly is this exotic new drink? Made with cocoa powder, which is infused with the milk (in contrast to the usual syrup, that often sits on the bottom of the cup), it also has ancho chili pepper, sea salt, cinnamon, paprika, cayenne chili pepper, and sugar. It's the first time the brand is using cayenne, a powerful anti-inflammatory in one of their drinks.

Starbucks offered Well+Good a very first taste of the new beverage (they brewed ours with almond milk) and we can report that it definitely has some kick to it! Imagine a golden milk latte with a bit more sweetness.

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But it's still a cocoa-based beverage we're talking about here, so the sugar content cannot be ignored. Just how many grams are in one of these heat-packed seasonal drinks? A grande with almond milk has 26 grams of sugar—and that's without whipped cream. (For comparison, a grande pumpkin spice latte with nonfat milk and no whipped cream has 49 grams of sugar.) The good news? Ordering with almond milk will cut down that sugar content a bit.

SEE MORE: Your guide to natural sweeteners

Watch the video below to learn more about the health benefits of coffee:

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Your guide to natural sweeteners
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Wait, is eating 51 bananas a day healthy?