Strawberry Acai Refresher Recipe (Starbucks Copycat)
If you like fresh strawberries, sweet treats, and sensationally-colored drinks, then you’ve got to try and make copycat Starbucks Strawberry Acai Refresher at home. Cut the Starbucks lines and cut some fresh fruit instead to add to this icy blend of various ingredients. This refresher and its fruity flavor live up to its name.
What Is A Starbucks Strawberry Acai Refresher?
Starbucks Strawberry Acai Refreshers are refreshingly cold beverages similar in taste and texture to lemonade slush. The fruit is tart, the sugar packs a punch, and the ice dilutes both intensities down to complimentary flavor profiles.
Now, let me teach you how to make strawberry acai in just four steps.
How To Make the Strawberry Acai Refresher
If you like fruity drinks, Starbucks’ refreshers menu has a few other offerings. But if you liked the Starbucks pink drink, then you would love this drink, too! Now, let’s proceed to the steps!
What You Need
- Water
- Ice cubes
- 2 cups of strawberries
- 1 cup of white grape juice
- 1 tbsp of acai berry powder
- 1 tbsp of sweetener of choice
- 1 tsp of green coffee extract
AT A GLANCE
BREW TIME:
5-10 minutes
YIELD:
One drink (16 fluid oz.)
Step 1. Prepare The Strawberry Syrup
Wash and, if you wish, cut fresh or freeze dried strawberries into halves.
Blend them in a blender to a smooth consistency.
Pro Tip: If you don’t have a blender, mash them by hand (this is quite therapeutic) or use an electric whisk.
Alternatively, combine strawberries, acai powder, water, and sweetener in a saucepan on low heat for about 10 minutes and then strain it through a fine mesh strainer.
Syrups make or break your brew.
When it comes to coffee syrups, the recipes are usually lower in high-sugar ingredients, to ensure that it complements the flavour of the coffee.
In the last 2.5 decades, Starbucks has offered dozens of “naturally flavored” syrups all year long (1). You could use them, but there is greater satisfaction in making your own. Depending on personal preference, play around with the ratios using more or fewer sweeteners.
Step 2. Mix The Powders
Now, combine acai powder with water until it fully dissolves.
Then, use green coffee bean extract powder or prepare green tea with a tea bag or by using green tea powder.
Green tea and extract powders are used instead of green coffee beans to add caffeine. Skip this part if you want it caffeine-free.
Pro Tip: You can do this in advance, so it has time to chill in the fridge.
Step 3. Add It All Up
Start by adding the acai powder mixture.
Now add chilled green tea to the strawberry blend.
Wrap up by adding white grape juice.
Step 4. Pour It Out And Drink It Up!
First, fill the glass with ice cubes. You want your drink to be refreshing.
Pour everything into a tall glass with ice, add water and sweetener to taste, and enjoy!
Pro Tip: You can also try replacing the water with some sweetened coconut milk for a more interesting taste!
For a visual walkthrough, watch this YouTube video.
Now, if you’re feeling adventurous, check out more tasty Starbucks drinks. Aside from the SAR, I also like the Honey Citrus Mint Tea, which they sometimes call the Medicine Ball Tea.
Final Thoughts
This Starbucks Copycat recipe of the Strawberry Acai Refresher is great for when you want a chilled drink packed with strawberries, sugar, and some caffeine. There are many ways to prepare strawberry syrup, but the beauty is that you create and choose a perfectly tailored one just for you.
FAQs
Strawberry Acai Refresher contains ice, Strawberry Acai base (water, sugar, white grape juice concentrate, citric acid, natural flavors, natural green coffee flavor, fruit and vegetable juice, rebaudioside-a), and freeze-dried strawberry slices (2).
Yes, Strawberry Acai has caffeine. There is 45 mg of caffeine in a Grande size or 16 fluid oz. of this drink, which is the same amount as what’s in a dragon drink from Starbucks and 140 mg less than the caffeine in a similarly sized Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew coffee from Starbucks.
Starbucks Strawberry Refresher tastes like an icy blend of fruit and sweetness featuring strawberry flavors amongst notes of acai and passion fruit. There are even actual strawberry pieces floating throughout this Starbucks low calorie drink, and the ice keeps the drink refreshingly cool, perfect for sipping.
References
- Mani SanMax, I. (2022, February 7). Exploring the syrups & flavourings market in the coffee sector. Retrieved November 13, 2022, from https://perfectdailygrind.com/2022/02/exploring-the-syrups-flavourings-market-in-the-coffee-sector/
- Starbucks. (2022). Strawberry Açaí Starbucks Refreshers® Beverage. Retrieved November 13, 2022, from https://www.starbucks.com/menu/product/2121342/iced/nutrition
