Starbucks Coffee Korea on Wednesday announced that it would introduce Cleanse Salads featuring a healthy mixture of vegetables and grains, at more than 800 outlets across the country.

Developed and produced by Organica, a Herald Corp. affiliate, the four kinds of salad are expected to further boost Starbucks’ position as a healthy lifestyle leader, Starbucks stated.

“It is a huge trend among consumers to look out for safe and healthy meals, including the so-called superfoods and raw foods. The Starbucks Cleanse Salads are expected to meet such demands (of those) looking for the well-being in life,” said Lee Eun-jung, head of Starbucks’ category food team.

“All salads are designed to contain less than 150 calories per serving. Green vegetables and colorful ‘superfoods’ have plenty of minerals, fiber and other nutrients that help the body rest and revitalize through the detox effect,” an Organica spokeswoman said.

The Cleanse Salads that will hit all store shelves are Quinoa & Chicken Salad and Lentil & Sweet Pumpkin Salad.

The Quinoa & Chicken Salad is made with fresh spinach, red beets, chicory and beet leaf with portions of carrot, sweet pumpkin and cherry tomatoes bringing colors to the plate. The main ingredient quinoa is famous for abundant vegetable protein, minerals and fiber, as well as its crispy and crunchy taste. Roasted chicken with protein and flaxseeds as toppings add extra nutrition, alongside the miso-lemon dressing, the company said.

The Lentil & Sweet Pumpkin Salad has fresh spinach, red beet, chicory and beet leaf as the main ingredients with carrots, sweet pumpkin and cherry tomatoes as toppings. The lentil beans, known to help digestion and enhance immunity with both protein and fiber, stand apart with the signature citrus honey dressing, the company said.

Both salads are priced at 5,500 won ($4.63) a pack.

Two other salads ― the Quinoa & Mushroom Salad, as well as the Kale & Avocado Salad ― will debut at five “food-concept” Starbucks outlets in Seoul.

These outlets ― the City Hall Plus, Dongbu Ichon-dong, Famille Park, Sogong-dong and Seosomunro branches ― serve more than 40 menu items, targeting those who visit Starbucks for meals. Korea is the fourth country in Asia for Starbucks, following Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore, to introduce the food-concept outlets.

To mark the arrival of the Cleanse Salads, Starbucks will give a free tall coffee to those who purchase a Cleanse Salad until Tuesday. 

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)