The Kitchn: This copycat Pink Drink tastes better than the real thing
Remember when Starbucks used to only sell coffee? Nowadays, that’s no longer the case. Their expansive menu includes not just coffee, but also a variety of hot and cold non-coffee beverages as well as food.
One of the most popular drinks on the menu is the Pink Drink — and it’s popular for a reason. With its refreshingly sweet strawberry flavor and tropical vibe, it’s so pretty that you won’t be able to resist snapping a picture of it.
What is the Starbucks Pink Drink?
Even if you haven’t tried the Starbucks Pink Drink yet, it’s likely you’ve seen someone else drinking it. It’s easy to spot because of its bubblegum-pink hue and flecks of freeze-dried strawberries. Starbucks describes it as a crisp beverage “with accents of passion fruit and combined with creamy coconut milk.”
The ingredients include ice, a strawberry açaí base (which is mostly water, sugar, and white grape juice concentrate), coconut milk, and freeze-dried strawberries. The drink is shaken with ice, and then poured over ice, which leaves a frothy top.
Ingredients in Copycat Starbucks Pink Drink
A few tips
Luckily it’s easy to make a copycat Pink Drink at home. Not only will doing so save you money (a tall Pink Drink is around $5 in major cities), but it also allows you to create a more customized version.
Copycat Starbucks Pink Drink
Serves 1
1/2 cup water
1 Tazo Passion or similar hibiscus tea bag
6 fresh strawberries, divided
3 teaspoons simple syrup
1 cup white grape juice
2/3 cup unsweetened light coconut milk
Ice
1. Bring 1/2 cup water to a boil on the stovetop, or microwave in a microwave-safe mug until very hot. Add 1 bag Tazo Passion tea bag and let steep off the heat for 1 minute. Pull out the tea bag and. Let the tea cool for 5 minutes (or add 1 or 2 ice cubes to cool more quickly).
2. Meanwhile, trim and dice 3 of the strawberries. Divide between 2 tall tumbler or highball glasses. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons simple syrup to each glass and use a wooden spoon to gently press (muddle) the strawberries. Trim and slice the remaining 3 strawberries.
3. Pull out the tea bag and squeeze the bag to extract more tea out, then discard the tea bag. Divide the tea between the glasses. Add 1/2 cup white grape juice and 1/3 cup light coconut milk to each glass and stir vigorously with the spoon to combine.
4. Add enough ice to fill each glass. If you want a little bit of foamy froth on top, use a whisk to vigorously stir the top part of the drink. Garnish with the sliced strawberries.
Recipe notes
Substitutions: Any similar pink-hued tea can be used in place of Tazo Passion Tea. The Starbucks version uses dehydrated strawberries. If you can find them, add a few crushed and whole dehydrated strawberries to the drink in place of fresh.
Make ahead: The simple syrup and tea can be made up to three days in advance and refrigerated in separate airtight containers.
(Sara Haas is a contributor to TheKitchn.com, a nationally known blog for people who love food and home cooking. Submit any comments or questions to editorial@thekitchn.com.)
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