Copycat Starbucks Pink Drink

Starbucks is one of the many chain restaurants where customers come up with secret, off-menu concoctions. From creative twists on Frappuccinos to mashups of beloved beverages (have you ever tried the chai-der?), there’s a whole world of Starbucks drinks you can’t find on the store’s menu. Many of them get hype on social media, but no off-menu item went as viral as the Pink Drink.

The Internet first learned about the Pink Drink in 2016, where customers ordered the Strawberry Acaí Refresher with coconut milk instead of water. The result was a creamy, bright pink beverage that took social media by storm—so much so that Starbucks made it an official menu item less than a year after. Cut to five years later, and the hype still hasn’t died down. If you want to kick your expensive Starbucks habit, it’s super-easy to make the Pink Drink at home. You can recreate this beloved beverage with just a few ingredients and even adjust the ratios to suit your preferences.

How To Make Starbucks Pink Drink

INGREDIENTS

• The Tea: Starbucks uses TAZO Passion tea to add some tang and the signature pink hue. Using the same brand will get you closer to the real deal, but you can use any hibiscus-based tea here. Since you can’t buy the Strawberry Acaí base used at Starbucks, I boost the fruity flavor by making a strong batch of tea for this copycat version.
• Strawberries: Fresh strawberries not only boosts the fresh fruit flavor in this drink, but adds some welcome texture. Choose fresh, sweet strawberries for this drink—you wan't a quality strawberry flavor.
• Grape Juice: A light and sweet fruit juice is a must-have in this drink. White grape juice gives the closest taste to the classic Pink Drink, but feel free to experiment if you want to switch up the flavor profile.
• Coconut Milk: One non-negotiable ingredient is the light coconut milk. It adds the right amount of creaminess without weighing down the drink. Full-fat coconut milk and coconut cream will be too rich in this recipe—so make sure to double check the label at the grocery store.
• Simple Syrup: I also use simple syrup to add an extra boost of sweetness to the Pink Drink. You can easily make your own at home with ingredients you already have in your kitchen. Simply combine equal amounts of granulated sugar and water in a pot and gently simmer until all the sugar is dissolved. I recommend making a larger batch so you can always have it on hand.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

First, it's time to whip up the tea. Steep your tea in a heatproof container for 10 minutes, then discard the bags and refrigerate the tea until room temperature. If you want to make this tea ahead of time, feel free to leave it in the refrigerator until you're ready to use. Next, it's time to break out that cocktail shaker. Add all of your ingredients, including your ice.

Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is very frosty, and your hands are verging on freezing cold. Power through—this will not only combine all of your flavors together, but will create the coldest, frothiest drink possible.

Pour into cups over ice, and start sippin'.

Full list of ingredients and directions can be found in the recipe below.

Storage

This drink is best enjoyed fresh, but you can steep the tea for up to 3 days ahead of time. Just keep it in the fridge in an airtight container until ready to use.