You might have seen and heard about the pink drink multiple times, you might have also had a sip or two. But still, is not one hundred percent sure about the drink? Then you are not alone. Most people switch their drinks according to social media trends. But many of them don’t dig deep enough to understand the full scope of what they are ingesting into their body.
If you are reading this article, you are either a health-conscious fan of Starbucks or you are just curious about their drinks. Either way, let this article be a doorway to understanding what the Starbucks pink drink exactly is.
What Is Pink Drink?
The pink drink is a refreshing and fruity beverage. It is made with a strawberry açaí base, coconut milk, and freeze-dried strawberries. Its sweet and creamy taste makes it popular among Starbucks customers. Here is a breakdown of its major ingredients.
- Strawberry açaí base: This is a blend of strawberry and açaí flavors that give it the signature pink color, and sweetness. The base is created by using fresh strawberries, sugar, white grape juice, acai powder, green coffee bean extract powder, passion fruit powder, and lemon juice.
- Coconut milk: This adds a creamy texture and a subtle coconut flavor to the drink. It also makes the drink dairy-free, making it a safe choice for people who are lactose intolerant.
- Freeze-dried strawberries: Adding real strawberry bits into the drink can bring out a burst of flavor and a unique texture.
What Are The Benefits Of Pink Drink?
Due to the green tea extract used in the preparation of strawberry acai base, the pink drink can give you a caffeine boost. It is said that the pink drink contains about the same level of caffeine that a half cup of coffee has. Caffeine can improve your alertness, sports performance, brain function, memory, etc.
However, it is important to note that the pink drink contains a significant amount of sugar. Overuse of sugar in your daily diet can lead to weight gain, heart disease, diabetes, depression, tarnished oral health, and more. If you are looking for a healthier option, you can specifically ask to put in less sugar or opt for a sugar-free alternative.
How To Make A Pink Drink?
Even if you love the drink it might not be possible for you to go through the Starbucks drive-through, just for a cup of pink drink. But do not worry with a little practice, you can easily recreate the Starbucks pink drink at your home.
Additionally, making the drink on your own will also let you tweak and tune the amount of ingredients used to fit your dietary requirements.
Recreating the pink drink exactly as the multinational restaurant chain wouldn’t be entirely possible, but here is a simple recipe for the pink drink that captures the essence of this popular beverage:
☑️ Ingredients
- 1.5 cups of sliced strawberries
- 1 cup of chilled and sweetened coconut milk
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup of store-bought passion fruit tea concentrate
- 1.5 tablespoons of sugar (adjust as you prefer)
- Ice as needed
☑️ Instructions
- Take sliced strawberries, passion fruit tea concentrate, sugar, and enough water in a pitcher.
- Blend the mix until smooth.
- Divide the blended mixture into cups filled with ice.
- Pour in the chilled coconut milk.
- Garnish with additional strawberry slices to add more flavor and sweetness if needed.
Since the pink drink uses coconut milk instead of dairy, it is safe for people who are lactose intolerant. However, since the drink contains sweeteners and caffeine it might not be the healthiest drink for daily consumption.
How To Make The Pink Drink More Tastier?
Here are some ways you to customize your homemade pink drink for an even tastier experience:
- Adjust the sweetness: Adjust the amount of sugar you are adding to fit your preference. Add more sugar than mentioned above, if you prefer your drink sweeter and vice versa.
- Don’t smash the strawberry bits: In the pink drink, the strawberry slices are generally seen intact rather than pulverized. So, gently muddle the strawberries instead of completely crushing them.
- Add creaminess to the mix: if you prefer a creamier drink you can add a shot of heavy cream on the top before serving it.
Tastiness is subjective, your preference may vary from what other person might like. So, the key ingredient to make your pink drink tastier is knowing your preference and working around it.
Conclusion
The pink drink is one of the most popular drinks at Starbucks. But many people are unaware of what it exactly is. It is a refreshing fruity beverage made with a strawberry acai base, coconut milk, and freeze-dried strawberries. It contains caffeine which can help you improve your alertness, focus, and productivity.
You can make your version of the pink drink at home using the recipe mentioned in this article. Making your own pink drink will give you the freedom to control the proportion of the ingredients according to your personal preferences. So, try the recipe at home and let us know how it went.
