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.

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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

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.

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.

3. Stir well to combine. You can use the berry hibiscus tea immediately or refrigerate it for later use.
4. Fill two glasses with ice cubes and your choice of frozen berries. Starbucks uses blackberries.
5. Pour the mixture into the glasses. You can garnish with more berries if desired.

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. 

Starbucks Refreshers Frequently Asked Questions

More Starbucks Coffee Drinks to Enjoy

• Passion Tea Lemonade Recipe
• How to Make Caffe Mocha
• How to Make Green Tea Frappucino
• Butterscotch Latte Starbucks
• Vanilla Bean Creme
• Egg Nog Latte
• Starbucks White Coffee
• How to Make Starbucks Iced Mocha
• How to Make a Caramel Frappuccino
• Snickerdoodle Starbucks Drink

More Summer Drink Recipes

• How to Make a Pina Colada Smoothie
• Infused Water with Strawberries
• Strawberry Lemonade Recipe

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