Every summer, Starbucks releases a new colorful concoction that either takes the season by storm, or withers away into the recesses of our memories. Last summer's focus was iced tea infusions, and a series of refreshers backed by Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation. This summer, the introduction of the Mango Dragonfruit Starbucks Refresher has taken up such popularity that many stores sold out of the ingredients the first day! So what exactly is the Mango Dragonfruit Refresher, and what makes it so popular?
What is the Mango Dragonfruit Refresher?
Similar to their traditional refreshers (Strawberry Acai, Very Berry Hibiscus, and Cool Lime), the Mango Dragonfruit Starbucks Refresher contains a concentrated juice base that is made from green coffee extract, which is done by using coffee beans that have not yet been roasted, and thus do not have a robust coffee taste. So the good news for us caffeine addicts that hate the taste of coffee, is that a Venti refresher has about 70-85mg of caffeine in one cup. This concentrated base is cut with water and shaken with ice and freeze dried dragonfruit inclusions to give it that iconic neon pink color.
What's the Hype?
So what makes this drink so popular? Well, firstly the flavor is unmatched by any of the other refreshers, and while totally misleading it doesn't actually taste like pure mango. Instead closer to some sort of delicious berry fusion with only a slight aftertaste of mango. Also the new inclusions have an awesome crunch to them even after they've soaked in the juice for sometime, thanks to the seeds from the dragonfruit.
Also, if you want a little extra sweetness you can add lemonade instead of the water to get a sour/sweet boost of flavor.
How Much Is It?
Because this is a handcrafted beverage its going to be more expensive than your usual iced tea or cup of coffee. Just like if you bought homemade soap, its going to cost you more than a bar of Dove. The following prices may vary depending on location, however these are the estimated prices for the Hartford/Bloomfield area not including sales tax:
Tall without lemonade: $3.25
Tall with lemonade: $3.99
Grande without lemonade: $3.75
Grande with lemonade: $4.52
Venti without lemonade: $4.25
Venti with lemonade: $5.05
#SpoonTip: Since the drink is so popular, your local Starbucks location might be out of it for the time being as the company tries to catch up on stock. Be sure to check the availability through the mobile app, or by calling the location directly.