The Unofficial Butterbeer Frappuccino from Starbucks. Customers can order this using a special recipe from Starbucks Secret Menu: A Creme Frappuccino Whole Milk base (Regular of Grande size),3 pumps of caramel syrup, 3 pumps of toffee nut syrup and top with caramel drizzle. Photo by: Jannette Somosot

Yay, Butterbeer is here! Thanks to Starbucks, Harry Potter fans need not go to the Three Broomsticks Inn anymore to have a taste of this famous drink favoured by our beloved Harry Potter characters.

In the Harry Potter series written by J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley often frequent the said establishment located in the Hogsmeade Village and owned by Madam Rosmerta to meet, chat and drink Butterbeer. It is also available at Hog's Head which is owned and operated by Aberforth Dumbledore, Albus Dumbledore's brother.

Ever since reading about Butterbeer in the Harry Potter books, a lot of people have wondered what it actually tastes like. According to The Harry Potter Lexicon, Bon Appetit magazine asked Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling how Butterbeer is made and what does it taste like.

"I made it up. I imagine it to taste a little bit like less-sickly butterscotch," said J.K. Rowling to Bon Appetit in The Harry Potter Lexicon Web site.

Drinking Butterbeer has recently become a reality for those who have been able to go to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a theme park in Orlando, Florida. The lucky ones who can set foot in this theme park can enjoy Butterbeer there all day long if they want to. But, in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park, Butterbeer is available specifically at the Hog's Head pub, which is found in the Three Broomsticks tavern.

In the Harry Potter series, Hog's Head Inn is a separate establishment from the Three Broomsticks Inn. It can also be found in Hogsmeade. It is the secret meeting place of Dumbledore's Army (DA).

Real Butterbeer is also available at the Backlot of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London, England.

"This non-alcoholic beverage is reminiscent of shortbread and butterscotch," noted the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London Web site.

According to The Harry Potter Lexicon, Butterbeer is "served cold in bottles or hot by the mug ("foaming tankards of hot butterbeer"). But for the muggles living elsewhere, Butterbeer will remain a figment of imagination. However, thanks to Starbucks, we can still have a taste of Butterbeer.

When ordering, just give the Barista the recipes below.

Butterbeer Frappuccino (Regular or Grande size) Recipe from Starbucks Secret Menu:

  • A Creme Frappuccino base. (Whole milk is required for the right consistency)
  • Add 3 pumps of caramel syrup.
  • Add 3 pumps of toffee nut syrup.
  • Top with caramel drizzle

Because this particular recipe uses a Crème Frap base, it is cold. But, you can also order it hot as a Butterbeer Latte.

Hot Butterbeer Latte Recipe from Starbucks Secret Menu:

  • Whole milk steamer
  • Add Caramel syrup (2 for tall, 3 for grande, 4 for venti)
  • Add Toffee nut syrup (2 for tall, 3 for grande, 4 for venti)
  • Add Cinnamon Dolce syrup (2 for tall, 3 for grande, 4 for venti)
  • Whipped cream and salted caramel bits on top
  • Optional if you prefer to add a coffee taste: Add a shot of espresso (2 for a grande or venti)

And, like magic, you will have your very own Butterbeer. These unofficial Butterbeer recipes for Starbucks are only available for a limited time because the Toffee nut syrup is just used during the Fall, Winter and Christmas season. So enjoy your hot or cold Butterbeer and hopefully no one says Finite Incantatem! Or else, this enchantment will end.

People walk past a Starbucks coffee store at Qianmen Commercial Street in central Beijing, in this file picture taken April 19, 2012. Starbucks Corp has been charging customers in China higher prices than other markets, helping the company realize thick profit margins, a report by the official China Central Television (CCTV) aired on October 20, 2013 said. Starbucks' pricing strategy in China, which the company estimates will be its second-biggest market after the U.S. by 2014, is tied to local business costs such as labour and commodity costs, infrastructure investment, currency and real estate, the company said in a statement emailed to Reuters. REUTERS/Jason Lee