Starbucks Violet Drink

If you love the Starbucks Violet Drink, this homemade version delivers the same creamy, berry-bright flavor and iconic violet color with easy-to-find grocery store ingredients. Hibiscus and green tea create the floral base, blackberries add the sweet tart punch, and coconut milk turns it silky and dairy-free. You can adjust the sweetness, make a pitcher for parties, and skip the drive-thru cost without sacrificing the taste. One shake, one pour over ice, and you have an Instagram-worthy refresher that looks as good as it tastes.

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What makes the Starbucks Violet Drink so run and colorful? 

It is almost like Starbucks created this drink specifically for Instagram. Its bright violet color is definitely eye-catching enough to garner attention online, but one sip of this ideal summer refresher is all it takes to discover this is one legit delicious drink.

Blackberries and hibiscus tea give this drink its stunning appearance and tart flavor, while coconut milk tames the tang and adds an addictive creaminess to this dairy-free creation.

Fresh berry juice, along with herbal tea with hibiscus flowers, gives this drink its lovely purple color. Creamy coconut milk gives it a silky richness and also makes it dairy-free.

Why this copycat purple refresher works

While some copycat recipes rely on Starbucks’ Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher powder, this homemade version offers superior freshness, flavor control, and cost savings. By brewing fresh hibiscus and green tea instead of using expensive green coffee extract, you’ll create a more accessible recipe without sacrificing taste. The fresh approach lets you control sweetness levels and ensures you know exactly which ingredients you’re consuming, making this version healthier and more economical than frequent Starbucks visits.

Starbucks purple drink ingredients

For the Simple Syrup Base:

• Granulated sugar – Creates a sweet foundation that balances the tart hibiscus and berry flavors
• Water – Combines with sugar to form a smooth, dissolvable syrup

For the Tea and Fruit Base:

• Green tea bags – Provides subtle earthiness and a gentle caffeine boost
• Hibiscus tea bags – Delivers the signature floral notes and beautiful purple color
• Water for brewing – Creates the tea foundation for the entire beverage
• White grape juice – Adds natural sweetness and enhances the fruity flavor profile
• Frozen blackberries – Contribute the primary purple color and sweet-tart berry flavor
• Unsweetened coconut milk – Creates ca reamy texture while keeping the drink dairy-free

To make a Violet drink without caffeine, use caffeine-free tea.

Ingredient substitutions

While this is the perfect copycat recipe for the Violet drink, here are some substitutions in case you want to change it up a little:

• You can use fresh blackberries instead of frozen ones. Do not use freeze-dried blackberries, however, as they won’t crush easily to release their juices and don’t have much juice.
• You can substitute blueberries for blackberries. The flavor will change, but the blueberry juice will keep the color the same—purple.

How to make a Starbucks purple refresher

To make the simple syrup:

1. Add the sugar and water to a small saucepan over medium-high heat.

2. Bring the sugar and water to a simmer.
3. Simmer until the sugar dissolves fully, about two minutes. Stir occasionally.
4. Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the simple syrup to cool to room temperature before using.

To assemble the rest of the drink:

1. Boil water and brew the hibiscus and green teas.
2. Let the brewed teas cool to room temperature. 

3. Pour the cooled teas into a pitcher and add the simple syrup.
4. Pour in the white grape juice and stir to combine.
5. Add a scoop of blackberries, then use a muddler or the back of a spoon to gently crush the frozen blackberries.
6. Pour the blackberry tea mixture into a cocktail shaker or mason jar.
7. Add coconut milk, cover it with a lid, and shake to combine.
8. Strain this pretty violet-hued drink into a large glass filled with ice cubes.
9. Garnish your Violet Drink with sweet blackberries or a dollop of whipped cream. 

What To Serve With a Violet Drink? 

Serve this Starbucks Violet Drink recipe on its own, or, if you want a little nibble, pair it with something sweet but still a little bland to let the drink’s flavors shine through. Pound cake or sugar cookies would work well.

How to make this ahead of time

You can prepare many components of this purple drink recipe in advance:

• Make a batch of simple syrup and keep it in the fridge for up to two weeks.
• Brew multiple cups of the teas in advance and keep them in the refrigerator for up to three days.
• If you are serving Violet Drinks at a party, mix up a pitcher beforehand and stick it in the fridge to stay cold. Leave out the ice to prevent the drink from getting too watery.

More Copycat Starbucks Drinks

• Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso
• Chocolate Cream Cold Brew
• Dragon Drink
• Iced Passion Tango Tea Lemonade
• Iced Vanilla Latte
• Iced White Chocolate Mocha
• Kiwi Starfruit Refresher
• Pink Drink
• Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
• Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
• Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher

Favorite Fast Food Drinks

• Chick-fil-A Sunjoy
• Dunkin Butter Pecan Iced Coffee
• Dunkin’ Iced Caramel Macchiato

Check out my easy drink recipes and the best copycat recipes to make Starbucks at home on CopyKat!