Starbucks Pink Drink is a sweet and fruity treat made with herbal tea, coconut milk, and strawberries. It’s perfect for people who do not drink caffeine, children, and those who want a street treat.
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The Pink Drink
On a hot summer day, you know that pink drink Starbucks serves is calling your name. But who wants to pay Starbucks’ prices for beverages? If you can’t escape your cravings for the sweet and tangy thirst-quenching taste of Starbucks Pink Drink, but don’t want to go broke, try making it at home.
This homemade Starbucks Pink Drink recipe is caffeine-free, so you will feel good about allowing everyone in your family to enjoy it. And it is a good thing that the recipe is so easy to prepare because once you make it, it’s sure to become one of the most requested summer treats in your house.
What’s in a Starbucks Pink Drink?
This drink is made with a Strawberry Acai Base, coconut milk, and freeze-dried strawberries.
Does the pink drink have caffeine? Yes, it is a caffeinated drink.
The Copycat Version
For this copycat Starbucks pink drink recipe, I have a few swaps I am going to use for this recipe. The taste is very close. If you can find the Starbucks VIA Instant Refreshers, Very Berry Hibiscus you should purchase those, but I haven’t seen those available in the stores or on the Starbucks website in a very long time.
So let’s make the drink with what you can find, and again, I think you will find it tastes very close. The natural flavors with fresh strawberries may make this your favorite drink.
Copycat Pink Drink Ingredients
Here’s a list of what you need:
- Water
- Sugar
- TAZO Passion Herbal Tea
- White grape juice
- Coconut milk
- Strawberries
Ingredient Notes
The ingredients for Starbucks Pink Drink are TAZO Passion Herbal Tea, white grape juice, coconut milk, standard simple syrup, and strawberries for a garnish.
You can use your favorite brands for most of the ingredients, but you must use TAZO Passion Herbal tea. After all, it is the secret to the beautiful color and complex tartness of this drink with its hibiscus flowers, orange peel, rose hips, passion fruit, and cinnamon. If you can’t find it locally, you can order it online.
The one unusual ingredient you might not be using day-to-day in your kitchen is coconut milk. Coconut milk is not the same as coconut water you are probably more familiar with since many companies market it as a natural sports drink.
For this recipe, you need the taste and thicker consistency of coconut milk. You can find coconut milk in cans, but the ideal variety for you to pick up is in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. Do not use sweetened coconut milk or you will have a sweeter drink.
When shopping for white grape juice, look for low sugar or a no-sugar-added variety since you will be adding plenty of sweetness in the form of simple syrup. For the pinkest drink, you should buy the palest white grape juice you can find.
We are going to make a simple syrup to get this drink sweet. Instead of using expensive freeze-dried strawberries, we are going to use fresh strawberries.
How to Make Starbucks Pink Drink
- Prepare simple syrup by placing water and sugar into a saucepan.
- Heat on medium-high just until mixture begins to boil, stirring occasionally until the sugar has dissolved.
- Allow the simple syrup to cool to room temperature.
- Prepare one bag of tea in a cup of boiling water.
- Steep tea for five minutes.
- Allow the tea to cool to room temperature before you make the drink.
- Add simple syrup, half of the tea, and white grape juice to a glass. Stir well.
- Pour in additional tea to fill the glass three-quarters full. Stir well.
- Add coconut milk and stir well.
- Add chopped strawberries and serve immediately.
Tips For Making and Serving Homemade Starbucks Pink Drink
Make Pink Drink by the Pitcherful
Why waste time making each drink individually? Just make a larger batch by multiplying the recipe by four. Make it early in the day and store it covered in the fridge. Leave the strawberries out, and then add them into each individual glass along with ice.
Make it a Pink Drink slushie
Everyone loves a slushie when it’s hot outside, and it is easy to transform this drink into one.
- Prepare the tea in advance and let it cool to room temperature
- Stir in the white grape juice.
- Freeze the mixture in an ice cube tray.
- When you want to make a Pink Drink slushie, put the coconut milk, simple syrup, and strawberries into the blender along with frozen cubes of tea and white grape juice.
- Blend until smooth and serve.
Try making the slushie with a shot of rum for an island-inspired cocktail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this recipe is caffeine-free, you can add about 1/4 teaspoon of green coffee powder to this recipe, this will give you a boost of caffeine. I don’t feel it impacts the flavor in any substantial way.
Yes, you can make your pink drink with different types of milk. You could try this with soy milk, dairy milk, or your favorite type of nut milk.
Use 2 tablespoons of simple syrup, 1/2 teaspoon Starbucks VIA Instant Refreshers, Very Berry Bisbiscus, 1/2 cup grape juice, 1/2 cup coconut milk, 2 tablespoons of fresh chopped strawberries, and 1 cup of ice. Place all into a shaker, and shake.
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Love Starbucks? Try these copycat recipes!
Iced coffee and tea drinks and frappes to cool you down on a hot day.
- Caramel Frappe Recipe
- Chocolate S’mores Frappuccino
- Green Tea Frappuccino
- Passion Fruit Lemonade
- Starbucks Iced White Mocha
- Strawberry Frappuccino
- Vanilla Frappe
- Very Berry Hibiscus
Favorite Summer Drink Recipes
- Cherry Limeade Sonic
- Lemon Drop
- Frosted Lemonade
- McDonalds Fruit Smoothie
- Orange Julius
- Pina Colada Smoothie
Be sure to check out more of my restaurant drink recipes and the best Starbucks copycat recipes here on CopyKat.com!
Starbucks Pink Drink
Ingredients
Simple Syrup
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups sugar
Drink preparation
- 1 tea bag Tazo Passion Herbal Tea
- 2 tablespoons simple syrup
- 1/2 cup white grape juice
- 3 tablespoons coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh strawberries
Instructions
Simple Syrup Prepration
- Prepare simple syrup by placing 1 cup of water and 2 cups of sugar into a saucepan. Heat on medium-high just until mixture begins to boil, stir occasionally while the syrup heats. Stir until the sugar has dissolved. It is best if you allow the simple syrup to cool off before you make the drink.
Tea Preparation
- Prepare 1 bag of tea by adding 8 ounces of boiling water. Allow tea to steep for five minutes. It is best if you allow the tea to cool off before you make the drink.
Building the Pink Drink
- Add 2 tablespoons of simple syrup to a glass, add 1/2 cup tea to the glass. Add 1/2 cup white grape juice to the glass. Stir well.
- Add ice to the glass. Add 3 tablespoons of coconut milk and mix gently. Add chopped strawberries and serve immediately.
Shyann
This recipe got me in the right direction for sure! So thank you for that! I have tweaked it quite a bit and it’s finally perfect for me. Here is what I use:
Canned coconut milk
Tazo passion tea concentrate
White grape juice
Splenda
Frozen pink dragon fruit (found at Walmart!)
I kinda just eyeball it and blend it all together in my blendjet 2! My ratio is probably about 20% coconut milk, 50% white grape juice, 30% Tazo tea concentrate. I add in 2 packs of splenda, and just 4 or 5 cubes of dragon fruit for color. Blend it all together in my blendjet then pour over ice. It will start to separate due to the fat in the milk you use and the acidity in the grape juice, doesn’t mean that it’s spoiled, just stir and you’re fine to drink đŸ™‚
Lizzie
I can’t wait to try this for the holiday weekend while I can still get fresh strawberries easily. I love this drink at Starbucks but I can’t afford to buy them often. I just don’t have the extra money right now. Plus the bonus of it being caffeine free makes me so happy. Thank you
Amanda
Thank you for creating a caffeine-free version of this drink! It’s so good and so easy it’s almost dangerous đŸ™‚
Qyla09
If we don’t have simple syrup what do i have to replace it.
Stephanie Manley
The recipe includes how to make simple syrup. So I would make that.
Brianna K
What brand coconut milk did you use? I always buy the wrong one and it ends up tasting not right.
Stephanie Manley
I used a couple when making this, I used the canned Trader Joes Coconut milk, it comes in a can, and I used the Goya Coconut Milk, again in a can. Hope this helps!
Brenda
Sweet or unsweetened coconut milk? I used unsweetened. But think I overstepped the tea. Really strong…not bad and will try again.
Stephanie Manley
The sweetness comes from the simple syrup. You could use sweetened coconut milk if you want to layer your sweetness.
Leah
So delicious unsweetened coconut milk and pacifica unsweetened coconut milk are both great too, But So Delicious brand is better. Make sure to shake it well. It comes in a box and is where the boxed milk aisle is.
Kary
Hello,
Would using the tazo passion concentrate be ok instead of making the tea?
Stephanie Manley
Yes, that could work as well.
Amy
This is tasty! My 10 and 8 year old think it taste just like the one they tried at Starbucks!
Toni
I had to add a bit more coconut milk to get it to my liking but the taste is pretty much spot on đŸ¤¤đŸ˜‹
Debbie
I made this and when I added my coconut milk it looks like it clabbers. Is this normal or did I do something wrong? It tasted great but I was afraid to drink it with the way it looked.
Stephanie Manley
You may want to shake the coconut milk very well before adding it. Coconut milk has some fat in it, and it sounds like the coconut fat fell out of the coconut milk suspension.
Debbie
Thank you, I will try that.
melissa shaw
Do I need to use the simple syrup?
Stephanie Manley
Yes, this drink is a sweet drink
Tyler
Can i make this in bulk and refrigerate it ?
Stephanie Manley
I have not tried that, it should work ok, but I would give it a good shake before pouring a glass in case things should settle.
Zachary G.
We made it and liked it a lot, however I’m curious, why making so much syrup (one cup water and two cups sugar) only to end up using two tablespoons of it?
Stephanie Manley
My intention was so you could make several of them, not just one. I think it would be difficult to make a simple syrup of so little quantity.
Krissy
Is the caffeine in the tea or the mix? I’m just curious. and ty for letting me know, btw.
Stephanie Manley
I believe it is in the mix.
Alexis Lilliman
This recipe came out purple lol but it was delicious! However it is not a replica of thr pink drink!!
Stephanie Manley
That is likely due to the type of tea you used.
Jennifer Hamilton
Always looking for a homemade recipe since I’m addicted to pink drinks. Pink drinks are made from strawberry açaà and the violet drinks are made from the passion tea at Starbucks. So I’m not sure this would taste like a pink drink, but I will give it a try.
jack
your recipe is very helpful and delicious.I am grateful to you.
Rosemary
I was told there’s no sugar in pink drink – just honey
Stephanie
I didn’t see honey listed in their ingredients on their website. I bet you could make it with honey if you added some to warm water to get it to dissolve first.
Ian
just so you know the Pink Dink is caffeinated, I work at a Starbucks and the base has caffeine in it.
Heidi
So this recipe is for real or legit
Becca
This tastes great but I didn’t feel like it tasted like the Pink Drink until I added Kirkland’s organic lemonade and now it tastes spot-on to me! So if anyone else feels like it needs a little something more, try lemonade! đŸ™‚