Gloria Jean’s Coffees is featuring its line of red velvet coffees for its current batch of seasonal flavors. I happily accepted an invitation to visit the store located in West Towne Mall, near the food court.

Here’s the lineup:

• Red Velvet Cookie Chiller is an icy blend of GJC Cappuccino Base, red velvet powder, Oreo crumbles and vanilla custard sauce topped with whipped cream.
• Red Velvet Iced Latte is an ice-cold medley of espresso, 2% milk, GJC Red Velvet Powder and vanilla custard.
• Red Velvet Hot Cocoa is hand crafted with silky-textured milk and GJC Red Velvet Powder topped with whipped cream, chocolate flakes and red velvet powder.
• Red Velvet Cupcake Whole Beans features rich buttermilk cake swirled with notes of chocolate and vanilla to create a perfect dessert moment.

I actually tried the red velvet latte hot instead of iced. The red velvet powder does wonders to make the coffee taste just like its cake counterpart without being overly sweet. In fact, this is a good beverage to sip on anytime of day. It’s just too bad you can only order it through February.

What you will find on the menu year-round is the Chocolate Caramel Turtle, which according to co-owner Mike Sokolowski, is the store’s No. 1 seller. You can taste every flavor–including the Oreos–equally, except the bitterness of the coffee, which is well-hidden. That’s what makes this beverage a crowd favorite, especially with non-coffee drinkers.

Although I didn’t eat anything, you should know that Gloria Jean’s also serves food, and the menu that launched last July is more robust than other coffee shops. Breakfast includes egg sandwiches and waffles, while lunch/dinner includes sandwiches such as the GJ Roast Beef and Grilled Triple Cheese. You also can order soups, salads and pastries.

If you like coffee, you should enter Gloria Jean’s “Free Coffee for a Year” sweepstakes, which ends on Jan. 31. The winner will receive a custom-engraved Gloria’s Gold Cup coffee tumbler and one free 16 oz. brewed coffee per day for a year.

Gloria Jean’s Coffees is open every day for lunch and dinner and breakfast Monday-Saturday.