The Starbucks Purple Drink, also known as the Pink Drink, is one of Starbucks’ most popular secret menu items. This light and refreshing beverage is a blend of sweet and tart flavors that provide the perfect pick-me-up. But what exactly is in the Purple Drink? Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients that give this Starbucks drink its signature look and taste.
The Main Ingredients
The foundation of the Starbucks Purple Drink is made up of just three core ingredients:
- Coconut milk – Coconut milk provides the base and creamy texture.
- Strawberries – Diced strawberries add a pop of sweet, fruity flavor.
- Ice – Ice cools the drink down and dilutes the flavors.
That’s it! Just three simple components are all it takes to make this fan favorite drink. Baristas start by pouring a serving of coconut milk over ice in a cup. Then they add a scoop of freshly diced strawberries, which float to the top and infuse the coconut milk with berry flavor. The strawberries also give the drink its striking pinkish-purple ombre hue.
Customization Options
One of the best things about ordering semi-secret menu Starbucks drinks is that you can customize them to your liking. The basic Purple Drink recipe can be tweaked in several ways to change up the flavors and colors.
Some popular customizations include:
- Using different milks – Soy milk, almond milk, and 2% milk all work.
- Adding different fruit – Mango and blackberries taste delicious too.
- Including coffee – A shot of blonde espresso can give it a coffeehouse twist.
- Trying tea – Matcha green tea powder makes a fun, energizing option.
- Topping with whipped cream – Sweet whipped cream finishes it off with an extra dose of decadence.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to remixing this pretty in pink Starbucks beverage. Play around with different ingredient swaps and come up with your own signature variation.
Nutrition Information
One of the most attractive qualities of the Starbucks Purple Drink is that it’s relatively low in calories and sugar compared to most blended coffee drinks. But what are the exact nutrition facts?
Here is the basic nutrition information for a Grande (16 oz) Purple Drink made with the standard recipe:
| Calories | Total Fat | Total Carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 4.5g | 17g | 2g |
As you can see, a regular Grande Purple Drink contains only 100 calories. It also has 0g of saturated fat, 65mg of sodium, and 17g of sugar. These numbers are comparable to a bottle of water with some fruit added in.
Customizing your Purple Drink can alter the nutrition profile. For example, using 2% milk instead of coconut milk will add more calories, fat, and protein. Including coffee or tea will boost the caffeine level. And adding whipped cream increases calories and saturated fat. But overall, the basic recipe remains light and low-calorie.
Benefits
Why has the Purple Drink become such a hit with Starbucks customers? There are many benefits to this fun fusion of flavors:
- It’s vegan and dairy-free (if coconut milk is used).
- It’s refreshing, lightweight, and easy to drink.
- It has antioxidants from the strawberries and coconut milk.
- It has a relatively clean nutrition profile.
- It’s highly customizable to your tastes.
- It photographs beautifully with its vivid colors.
For those looking for a lower calorie Starbucks option that’s still sweet and satisfying, the Purple Drink is a home run. The combination of creamy coconut milk and juicy strawberries quenches your thirst while pampering your palate.
Cost
Since it’s an off-menu item, the Starbucks Purple Drink isn’t listed with a set price. However, as a guideline, you can expect to pay:
- Tall (12 oz): $4 – $5
- Grande (16 oz): $5 – $6
- Venti (24 oz): $6 – $7
The exact cost may vary slightly by location. But in general, the Purple Drink will cost about the same as any other similarly-sized Starbucks customized beverage. For the delicious and refreshing blast of flavors, many deem it well worth the price.
Taste
So what does the Starbucks Purple Drink actually taste like? Here’s a breakdown of the flavor profile:
- Creamy – The coconut milk base gives it a smooth, creamy mouthfeel.
- Mildly sweet – The strawberries offer natural sweetness without being overly sugary.
- Fruity – Fresh strawberry is the predominant fruity flavor.
- Bright – It has a lively, bright acidity from the strawberries.
- Refreshing – The ice and coconut milk make it lightly cooling and refreshing.
Overall, you can expect a pleasantly sweet and tangy tropical flavor profile. The strawberries and coconut milk combine for a uniquely vibrant, crisp drink that’s deeply satisfying. It walks the line between sweet indulgence and light refreshment masterfully.
How to Order
Since the Purple Drink is not an official menu item, you’ll need to order it using Starbucks’ secret menu lingo. Here are a few tips for ordering it smoothly:
- Know the recipe – Review the main ingredients so you can customize if desired.
- Specify size – Choose from tall, grande, venti, or larger sizes.
- Pick milk – Request coconut milk, soy, dairy milk, etc.
- Mention inclusions – Ask for “strawberry inclusions” or the fruit of your choice.
- Ice – Request it on ice, extra ice, or blended.
- Modifications – Feel free to ask for espresso, whipped cream, etc.
Once you have your custom recipe down, simply order by name: “I’d like a venti Purple Drink with soy milk and added mango, please.” The baristas should know how to create this social media favorite, but feel free to politely walk them through the steps if needed.
Popularity & Trends
The Purple Drink exploded in popularity thanks to social media. Food bloggers and influencers began posting photos of the aesthetically pleasing beverage on Instagram and TikTok. It quickly developed a reputation as one of the “Instagrammable” secret menu creations.
Starbucks baristas report that it’s one of the most commonly ordered secret menu items, especially among teenagers and young adults. The hashtag #purpledrink has over 200,000 posts and counting on Instagram.
In response to the drink’s viral fame, Starbucks released two official menu drinks clearly inspired by the original Purple Drink in 2019:
- Kiwi Starfruit Refresher – A bright green refresher with kiwi and starfruit flavors.
- Mango Dragonfruit Refresher – A reddish-purple refresher with mango and dragonfruit flavors.
While not exactly the same, these fruit-forward refreshers aim to capitalize on the successful formula of the social media darling Purple Drink. The beverage shows no signs of decreasing in popularity any time soon.
Variations
As mentioned, the fun of the Starbucks Purple Drink lies in how easily you can customize it. Regulars have come up with tons of amazing variations that put unique spins on the original recipe. Some popular modifications include:
- Fruity Pebbles Purple Drink – Blend in Fruity Pebbles cereal for a colorful, candy-like version.
- Unicorn Purple Drink – Add whimsical rainbow sprinkles on top.
- Mermaid Purple Drink – Swirl in Pretty Patties cake mix to get an ocean-blue ombre effect.
- Tropical Purple Drink – Include pineapple, banana, and coconut for a vacation in a cup.
- Purple Potion – Mix in butterfly flower pea tea to enhance the royal purple color.
Feel free to get creative and funky with your own unique Purple Drink ideas! See if you can come up with the next trendy version that sweeps social media and Starbucks stores.
Copycat Recipe
Want to recreate the magical Purple Drink at home? It’s simple to DIY with just a few ingredients:
Homemade Purple Drink Recipe
Serves: 1
Ingredients:
- 1 cup coconut milk (or milk of your choice)
- 1 cup diced strawberries
- 2-3 ice cubes
- Sweetener like honey or agave nectar (optional)
Instructions:
- Add the diced strawberries and ice to a tall glass.
- Pour in the coconut milk (or milk substitute).
- If desired, drizzle in sweetener to taste.
- Lightly stir to combine.
- Enjoy your homemade Purple Drink!
For an even easier method, blend all the ingredients together in a blender, then pour into a glass and top with extra strawberries. Now you can enjoy this social media superstar anytime at home!
Conclusion
The Starbucks Purple Drink has earned its title as one of the most photogenic and refreshing secret menu creations. Its vivid hue, tropical taste, and creamy texture make it endlessly appealing. With just three core ingredients, coconut milk, strawberries, and ice, you too can whip up this pretty purple sensation. Feel free to customize your Purple Drink with different milks, fruits, espresso, and more to match your preferences. Order one on your next Starbucks run or recreate it in your own kitchen. However you choose to enjoy it, this drink is sure to dazzle both your eyes and your tastebuds.