Do you ever feel an “afternoon slump” where your energy is running low, but you still have a full day ahead of you? I feel this way around 2 or 3 PM almost every day, so I’m always on the lookout for refreshing, mood-boosting drinks to enjoy in the afternoon. Starbucks offers a line of Refresher Beverages, including the Kiwi Starfruit, the Kiwi Starfruit Lemonade, the Dragon Drink, the Mango Dragonfruit Beverage, the Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade, and the Strawberry Açaí Lemonade. One of my favorite Refresher drinks is the Starbucks Mango Dragonfruit Refresher, a sweet, fruity drink made with real mango and dragonfruit, also known as “pitaya.” Dragonfruit is an exotic cactus that grows in Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, Australia, and other tropical and subtropical regions. Its seasonal fruit can be grown in North America but not as easily, which is why the fruit can be difficult to find and expensive.
Starbucks released its line of Refresher Beverages in the summer of 2012. The idea was to offer an innovative line of drinks that quench your thirst while providing a natural boost of energy from the green coffee extract and real fruit juice. Originally, only a couple of flavors were available, but since then, the line has expanded, and now we have several fresh fruity mood-boosting flavors for the afternoon.
Does this drink have caffeine?
While my version of the mango dragon refresher doesnt have caffeine, the Starbucks refresher does.
If having caffeine in the drink is important to you, you might want to consider adding some green tea extract or caffeine tablets to your drink.
The tea-like libation, which is under 100 calories per 16-ounce (grande) serving, sports a deep magenta color thanks to the pieces of real red-fleshed dragon fruit hand-shaken into it. Believe it or not, the beverage contains no artificial colors or sweeteners, further increasing its chances of popping up on Instagram for days and weeks to come.
A new addition to the Starbucks family is here, and it’s perfect for summer! Starbucks is celebrating the upcoming start of the season by adding a new drink to the menu that’s ideal to sip on when you’re trying to beat the heat.
The colorful Mango Dragonfruit Refresher beverage will be part of the coffee chain’s permanent menu in the U.S. and Canada starting Tuesday, June 19, and, according to a press release, the thirst-quenching drink is packed with “sweet, tropical flavor” and tastes as exotic as it sounds.
The Mango Dragonfruit Refresher is just the latest in a line of Instagram-worthy Starbucks beverages, which also includes the Strawberry Acai Refresher, the Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher and the ever-popular Pink Drink and Violet Drink.
“People love both the flavor and the color,” said Alicia Binion of Starbucks research and development, who created the new beverage. “It’s bright and vivid, something you would want to take a picture of to share with friends.”
Types of Starbucks Mango Dragonfruit Refresher
The Mango Dragonfruit Refresher can be ordered in three ways. The first is the “regular,” which is made with water. The second is called the “Dragon Drink,” and it’s made with creamy dairy-free coconut milk instead of water. The third version is called the “Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade,” and it’s, of course, made with lemonade. All three have real dragonfruit pieces shaken in.
This tropical-inspired mood-booster is made with sweet mango and dragonfruit flavors. It’s hand-shaken with ice and a scoop of real diced dragonfruit. Like the other Refreshers, this drink is a fruity alternative to coffee, even though it has the same amount of caffeine as coffee. Sweet but not overpowering, this is an excellent afternoon drink during any season.
You’ll notice right offhand how stunning the color is – a deep yet bright pink color with dragonfruit seeds floating around inside. If you order the coconut version, the drink will look like an opaque pink, but either way, a pink drink is so much fun to drink. I should note that the seeds are small, but you might not enjoy this if you have a sensitivity to seeds in your drink. I have a hard time drinking any kind of Boba Teas because of the tapioca balls, but the dragonfruit seeds and much smaller, like chia seeds. It’s sweet without being overpowering, and the lemonade version has a lemony tang to it. You can taste the dragonfruit and the mango in any of the three versions, making this an exotic tropical drink that kids and adults can enjoy.
A Grande has 90 calories, while a Venti has 130. This drink doesn’t contain any fat, cholesterol, or protein, but it does have about 27 grams of sugar, 70-85mg of caffeine, and about 30 grams of carbs. The good news is that this drink is high in fiber, which helps maintain blood pressure and weight. It also has lots of prebiotics, which help gut health by enhancing digestion and your immune system. Prebiotics lower your risk of intestinal diseases and keep your digestion cycles regular. That makes this drink a winner in my book!
FAQ
Do they still sell mango Dragonfruit refresher?
Is the mango Dragonfruit refresher permanent?
Is the mango Dragonfruit Refresher year round?
The beautiful pink Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade is a perfect summer refreshing drink that you can enjoy year-round.
