When last we were together, I had sent a message to Starbucks' corporate office through a form on their website and was waiting for a reply.

The next day... it arrived.

But the response did not come from a Starbucks employee, but from an employee of "Indiana's largest public relations and marketing communications firm" Borshoff Johnson Matthews.

Indiana?

The Hoosier state PR person wrote:

"...the syrup is still available and is not going anywhere. We may be using a different distribution channel in St. Louis that we need to reinforce with our partners. We will be following up with them and educating them that Valencia is available."

The PR associate suggested I visit my local Starbucks with a camera crew to do a story on the "55,000 ways that customers can customize their beverages" and as added enticement "we'll have a bottle of the Valencia syrup with your name on it, waiting for you!"

If that was an attempt to silence this reporter with sweet, orangey goodness... it did not work.

What she wrote simply did not jive with what I've been told time and time again by baristas from here to Chicago's north side.

My jittery fingers typed back:

"Could baristas in all these locations be wrong?

If the syrup has not been "discontinued," what is its status? Is it a seasonal item now? How frequently will it be available? When will it re-appear in the locations where I am told valencia is no longer available?"

My reply was handed off to another associate at the same PR firm whose response was as professional as it was incongruous with what baristas are telling loyal Starbucks customers across the country.

PR associate #2 wrote:

"We are pleased to inform you that Valencia flavored syrup has not been discontinued. While it may not be available at all times at all Starbucks coffeehouses, it is still a syrup we offer."

Ah-ha!

At last, an admission that valencia syrup might not always be available in all locations. But... WHY?

What was the logic behind this decision? Which stores would have it... and when?

And why are baristas torturing us valencia lovers with tales the syrup is "going away" never to return again?!

PR associate #2 didn't answer any of those questions in her reply, but AGAIN offered me the opportunity to do a story on the "55,000 ways that customers can customize their beverages." They sure seem proud of that, don't they?

Politely, I declined.

I don't want to know about the 55,000 different drink combinations Starbucks offers!

I only want to know about the ONE drink combination that's no longer available to so many of us.

I wrote back:

I appreciate the offer to do a story on coffee customization, but I'm more interested in learning the truth behind the disappearance of valencia syrup.

I haven't heard back yet.