Starbucks Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher

Starbucks Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher is a great afternoon pick me up. This tea-based drink with berries is hard to beat.

two glasses of homemade Starbucks very berry hibiscus refresher drink


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Starbucks Drinks

One of the things that I enjoy about going to Starbucks is being able to check out all their new drinks. They seem to add new drinks and food items to their menu with each new season. During the winter months, you get a slew of new comforting beverages like the maple pecan latte and the white chocolate mocha.

When the summer rolls around the cooler drinks start to appear back in the lineup. Drinks like the passion fruit lemonade and the very berry hibiscus refresher become popular choices of patrons.

Although Starbucks is known for coffee, tea-based drinks are always a good pick. The very berry hibiscus refresher is a tea-based drink that also contains green coffee extract to give it an extra boost.

Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher Starbucks Copycat

Okay, first things first. This copycat version of the Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher recipe isn’t exactly the same as the one you can buy at your local Starbucks, but in many ways, it is better. While the original version includes green coffee, this homemade Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher recipe calls for green tea instead.

Don’t let the lack of “authenticity” put you off. This stuff is amazing. Try it once, and you may happily find yourself skipping your afternoon latte in favor of making this Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher recipe.

Why This is the Best Copycat Recipe for the Starbucks Very Berry Refresher

Let’s talk about health. Replacing green coffee with tea not only tastes great but is a good alternative for your body.

Everyone knows the benefits of green tea, but did you know that some people believe hibiscus tea can promote lower blood pressure, support healthy cholesterol levels, and may even be a natural antidepressant? 

How Does Starbucks Very Berry Refresher Taste?

This tea-based version of the Very Berry Refresher is delightfully tart but definitely not sour enough to make your lips pucker. The natural sweetness of the white grape juice and berries, along with a touch of sugar, combine extraordinarily well with the green and hibiscus teas for a light and thirst-quenching beverage.

Very Berry Hibiscus Ingredients

To make a homemade Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher, you will need:

  • Sugar
  • Water
  • Green tea bag
  • Hibiscus tea bag
  • White grape juice
  • Frozen berries
Starbucks very berry hibiscus refresher ingredients.

Ingredient Notes

Look for a brand of white grape juice that doesn’t have a lot of extra ingredients. 365 by Whole Foods Market is a good choice because, besides being organic (always a plus when it comes to fruit), there is no extra sugar. 

You probably don’t have a package of hibiscus tea in your kitchen, but you should. Try Natural Hibiscus Superflower Tea from The Republic of Teas. The hibiscus tea gives this drink its beautiful color and hibiscus flavor.

The original Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher contains blackberries, and you will get a more authentic flavor by using only frozen blackberries in this recipe. However, a mix of different berries offers a more exciting flavor profile, but try to find a brand of frozen mixed berries that contains at least some blackberries. Wyman’s Of Maine’s Triple Berry with blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries is a good option. 

Optional Ingredients and Methods

If you want to make this drink quickly without brewing tea or make it with green coffee extract, here are some options:

Starbucks VIA Instant Refreshers

This option makes mixing up this drink a breeze. Use Very Berry Hibiscus flavored Starbucks VIA Instant Refreshers. While easy, this mix doesn’t give you the same flavor as fresh ingredients.

Green Coffee Extract

If you really want to include green coffee extract in this hibiscus drink, here is some information on it and options for making the drink with it:

Green coffee is unroasted coffee beans and does not taste like traditional coffee. The extract is made by soaking arabica beans and extracting the caffeine during the process. According to Starbucks, a venti-sized drink contains between 60-85 mg of caffeine.

You will need to buy some powdered green coffee extract. You can sometimes find it in the nutritional supplement aisle in the grocery store or online.

To make the drink with this uncommon ingredient – green coffee extract – there are a few different ways to recreate it at home.

The first way would be to purchase already-made green coffee extract either as green coffee bean powder or in pill form to use in the recipe. If you choose to do this then you would need to make the drink without green tea and combine a tablespoon of green coffee powder with a cup of water before adding it to your refresher.

The other way is to make the drink with both green tea and green coffee extract. Simply add ¼ teaspoon of the extract to a serving.

I did not find that the green coffee extract added much to the flavor of the drink.

How to Make Very Berry Hibiscus Starbucks Refresher

There are two parts to make this homemade Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher. The first part is making a simple syrup to sweeten the drink. The second part is brewing tea and assembling the refresher.

To make the simple syrup:

  1. Combine one cup of superfine or granulated sugar with a cup of water in a small saucepan.
  2. Bring the water up to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Continue to simmer until the sugar dissolves and the syrup slightly thickens. Remember to stir continuously and carefully.
  3. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool to room temperature.
thick simple syrup in a saucepan.

To make the refresher:

  1. Steep the hibiscus and green teas in hot water for five minutes. Yes, this is longer than usual, but you want the tea to be on the strong side.
    • If you are using coffee extract, brew the hibiscus tea for five minutes and stir in the green coffee extract at the end of the brewing time.
    • If you are using the Very Berry Hibiscus flavored Starbucks VIA Instant Refreshers, follow the instructions on the package for two servings and skip to Step 4.
  2. In a large mixing glass or pitcher, combine the cooled tea, two tablespoons of the simple syrup, and the white grape juice.
collage of Starbucks very berry hibiscus refresher recipe steps 1 to 4.
  1. Stir well to combine. You can use the berry hibiscus tea immediately or refrigerate it for later use.
  2. Fill two glasses with ice cubes and your choice of frozen berries. Starbucks uses blackberries.
  3. Pour the mixture into the glasses. You can garnish with more berries if desired.
collage of Starbucks very berry hibiscus refresher recipe steps 5 to 8.

Starbucks Very Berry Hibiscus Lemonade Refresher

Up to three-quarters of a cup of lemonade transforms this recipe for Starbucks Very Berry Lemonade Refresher. 

Simply add the lemonade to the tea mixture before pouring it into the glasses.

Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher with Coconut Milk

Try adding half a cup of coconut milk to the recipe to provide some creaminess and cut the acidity level. 

Does the Starbucks Very Berry Refresher Contain Caffeine? 

Yes, green tea does contain caffeine, but not as much as green coffee extract. If you have green coffee extract, feel free to add some for an additional jolt of caffeine. 

Can I Make These Ahead of Time and Leave Them in the Refrigerator? 

Absolutely. Mix up a batch of tea, juice, and simple syrup and keep it in the fridge in an airtight container. The CDC suggests storing homemade iced tea for no longer than eight hours in the refrigerator. 

homemade Starbucks very berry hibiscus refresher drinks on ice with blackberries.

Starbucks Refreshers Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Starbucks Refresher flavors?

There are currently ten different Starbucks Refresher flavors they are: Star Drink, Kiwi Starfruit Refresher, Kiwi Starfruit Lemonade, Dragon Drink, Mango Dragonfruit, Mango Dragonfruit lemonade, Strawberry Acai Lemonade, Pink Drink, Strawberry Acai, and Blueberry Acai.

Is Starbucks Very Berry Hibiscus discontinued?

This beverage is currently not on the Starbucks menu. You can find the packages in the stores of this flavor.

Does Starbucks Passion Tea have hibiscus?

Yes, hibiscus is in Starbuck’s Passion tea.

Are Starbucks Refreshers sweet?

Yes, these beverages are sweet.

Do Refreshers have caffeine?

Yes, the refreshers have green coffee extract in them. A grande refresher has 45 mg of caffeine, a grande cup of coffee has 350 mg of coffee.

homemade Starbucks very berry hibiscus refresher with blackberries.

More Starbucks Coffee Drinks to Enjoy

More Summer Drink Recipes

Be sure to check out more of my Starbucks copycat recipes and easy summer drink recipes.

two glasses of homemade Starbucks very berry hibiscus refresher drink

Starbucks Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher

The copycat Starbucks Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher recipe is a great afternoon pick me up. This tea-based drink is hard to beat.
5 from 16 votes
Print Pin Rate Add to Collection
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Starbucks Recipes, Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2
Calories: 157kcal

Ingredients

SImple Syrup

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water

Very Berry Hibiscus Green Tea Drink

  • 1 green tea bag
  • 1 hibiscus tea bag
  • 2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup white grape juice
  • 2 tablespoons simple syrup or to taste
  • 1/4 cup frozen berries

Instructions

Simple Syrup

  • In a saucepan, combine the water and sugar. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes or until the sugar dissolves.
  • Remove the pan from heat and cool the simple syrup to room temperature. 

Very Berry Hibiscus Iced Tea Refresher

  • Brew the green and hibiscus teas in with 2 cups of hot water. Steep for 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags and cool the brewed teas to room temperature.
  • Pour the cooled tea, 2 tablespoons of cooled simple syrup, and white grape juice into a pitcher or similar container. Stir to combine.
  • Fill 2 tall glasses with ice and frozen berries.
  • Pour the mixture into the glasses.

Video

Notes

Starbucks uses blackberries in the drink. You can use other frozen berries, either one type of berry or mixed berries.
Add 1/2 to 3/4 cup of lemonade to make a Starbucks Very Berry Lemonade Refresher.

Nutrition

Calories: 157kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 51mg | Potassium: 120mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin C: 21.2mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1.4mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mariah

    I personally didnt think it tasted anything like starbucks, it tasted like straight up tea which I wasnt a fan of. It feels like it was missing something unsure what of.

  2. Amy Crane

    5 stars
    Love this recipe!! It is exactly as delicious as Starbucks and I can make an extra big batch at home. Love it thank you!

  3. Lukus

    I wish comments would be from people who actually MADE and TRIED the drink instead of just comments on how it looks good to make..

    • Kelly

      This is my BIGGEST pet peeve when looking at recipes online. Stop rating something 5 stars you HAVEN’T ACTUALLY TRIED!

  4. taresa

    How does a cup of sugar that has 773 calories boil down to under 150 Calories. Do you use less of the syrup per drink? I’m trying to cut down sugar and this makes no sense to me.

    • Stephanie

      You do not use a cup of the simple syrup per serving. I give directions on making a cup plus a little more of the simple syrup, and then you use only 2 tablespoons of the simple syrup in the preparation of 1 drink. I hope that is helpful for you.

    • David Bickel

      I use Stevia in the Raw. Stevia is sweeter than sugar but, does not have any fat in of any kind. Sugar can make you fat. Stevia is from the Stevia plant. Sugar that you by the at the sugar market is not natural. Even natural sugar can make you fat. You use half the Stevia to sugar.

  5. Elizabeth

    How much does this recipe make? I’m planning on making it for a Christmas get-together (although it’s not a very Christmas-y drink!

    Also, do you know if the coffee powder would contribute anything besides caffeine? Does it impart any taste?

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