What does the Pink Drink taste like? You'll have to try it to find out.
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Faith Brar is a Maine-based freelance health and wellness writer and content creator whose work has appeared in a series of Meredith digital brands, including Shape. When she's away from her keyboard, you can find her lifting weights, hiking mountains, binge-watching true crime shows, and spending quality time with her hubby and dog-child, Drake.
Updated on October 14, 2022
Over the years, you've probably heard Starbucks' elusive secret menu items whispered to the baristas over the counter or, at the very least, seen them pop up on your Instagram. One of the most famous, with its bubblegum-pink hue, may just snag the title of being most photogenic.
It's (creatively) called the Starbucks Pink Drink — and it started as a secret menu item, but was so popular that it became an official Starbucks beverage on the cold drinks menu in 2017. But what is Starbucks' Pink Drink — and more importantly, what does the Pink Drink taste like?!
What Is Starbucks' Pink Drink made of, exactly?
Made with Strawberry Açaí Refresher, Starbucks' Pink Drink has a tiny bit of caffeine thanks to some green coffee extract. Instead of water, the refresher is mixed with coconut milk to create the shade of pink that makes it so photo-worthy. It's topped off with chunks of freeze-dried strawberries, which rehydrate in the beverage and add to the fruity flavor. (If you're in the mood for a coconut milk and coffee treat, try whipping up this chocolatey coffee frappé.)
Is the Starbucks Pink Drink healthy?
Well, it's definitely not the least healthy item on the menu. A 16-ounce grande Pink Drink made with coconut milk has 140 calories and contains 2.5 grams of fat and 25 grams of sugar. ICYDK, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's most recent guidelines recommend limiting your added sugar consumption to 10 percent of your daily calories. (Added sugar means sugar that's not naturally occurring in foods such as fruit or milk.) For example, if you're consuming about 2,000 calories per day, your recommended added sugar intake is less than 50 grams.
Considering a grande Pink Drink has about half of the daily recommendation (coming from the sugar in the Strawberry Açaí base and the coconut milk), it's definitely not one of the healthiest items on the Starbucks menu — but it's not bad, either. And if you're in the mood for a sweet drink, it's better than alternatives such as soda. (These healthy sodas are also great options if you're bored with sparkling water.)
So, what does the Pink Drink taste like?
According to some, similar to a pink Starburst — arguably the best Starburst flavor. Starbucks' official description says it has "accents of passion fruit...with creamy coconut milk," making it "a fruity and refreshing sip of spring, no matter what time of year." Sounds like a solid sweet tooth cure (or winter blues cure) for your next coffee shop run.
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