Pink drink and dragon drink are two of the most cherished secret menu drinks that earned Starbucks several fans. So, what is the difference between these two popular, secret menu drinks?
Pink drink vs Dragon drink
The Dragon Drink is a more recent variant of the iconic Pink Drink. Both beverages feature a creamy light pink appearance, but their tastes are distinct. The foundation of the Pink Drink is strawberry acai, while the Dragon Drink consists of mango and dragon fruit.
Each beverage consists of coconut milk, grape juice, and green coffee extract.
Pink drink vs Dragon drink caffeine content
The pink beverage has mild caffeine content. The caffeine originates from the green coffee extract in the berry hibiscus, which has 45mg of caffeine per 16oz serving. While the Dragon drink, like other Starbucks Refreshers, is caffeinated – and not since it contains coffee or espresso. A grande-size dragon drink has 45 to 55 mg of caffeine; therefore, the Dragon Drink most likely contains a similar amount.
Here is the amount of caffeine contained in the dragon drink in all four available types of Starbucks cups:
- Tall: 35-45 milligrams
- Grande: 45-55 milligrams
- Venti: 70-85 milligrams
- Trenta: 90-110 milligrams
Is the pink drink sweet?
The Pink Drink is sweet and refreshing with a unique tart flavor, and the coconut milk provides a lovely, creamy getaway. The taste of the beverage has been compared to strawberry Starbursts.
I would even claim that this dairy-free beverage tasted just like Summertime. The Starbucks Pink Drink is well-known for its brilliant pink color. However, it is not due to food coloring! But a strawberry acai foundation, sweetened coconut milk, and freeze-dried strawberries.
Starbucks dragon drink
The Dragon Drink contains dragon fruit, thus this nice name. According to Starbucks’ website, the ingredients comprise fruit juice with mango and dragon fruit flavors and a scoop of natural dragon fruit.
The beverage is stirred with ice and coconut milk, including caffeine and coconut. This beverage not only looks beautiful, but it also tastes beautiful. It’s also a lot sweeter than the Pink and Violet beverages.
In Pink and Violet drinks, the coconut milk typically overpowers the Refresher tastes. However, this was not the case with the Dragon Drink.
With just a slight creaminess from the coconut milk, the mango and dragonfruit taste stands out, along with a hint of creaminess from the coconut milk. It’s shaken with ice and topped with a portion of genuine chopped dragonfruit.
Like the other Refreshers, this beverage is a fruity substitute for coffee, although having the very same level of caffeine as coffee. This is a fantastic afternoon drink in any season since it is sweet but not overbearing.
Making the Starbucks Pink drink vs Dragon drink?
To prepare the Dragon drink:
- A quarter cup of mango juice
- A quarter of a cup of grape juice
- Half cup of fresh dragon fruit
- A quarter teaspoon of dragon fruit powder
- 1 tsp. green coffee concentrate or extract
- A cup of coconut milk
- 2 cups ice cubes,
- Optional White sugar or simple syrup
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker and mix well. You may sweeten the drink with a simple syrup or sugar instead if you’d like.
- Mix well and chill the beverage by shaking it. The powder and sugar must be fully dissolved before use.
- The second cup of ice cubes should be added to your tall glass of iced tea. Pour the drink through a strainer into a glass when it has been sufficiently cold. Adding fresh sliced dragon fruit for a gourmet beverage is one option.
- Enjoy your Dragon Drink, which comes in vivid pink color!
Bonus tip
You can make green coffee concentrate at home if you don’t have green coffee extract. If you don’t drink green coffee, you’re also not getting any caffeine.
How to make a Green Coffee
- Producing green coffee concentrate is optional, but it will give your beverage the most authentic flavor. Overnight, soak 1 tablespoon of green coffee beans in 1 cup of water.
- The coffee beans and water are then simmered for 15 minutes.
- Pour the mixture through a metal or paper filter when it has cooled to room temperature.
Pink Drink Making Process
Ingredients
- 1 cup canned coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon passion fruit syrup
- Quarter cup frozen berries
- sliced strawberry
Directions
- Combine the coconut milk, syrup, and frozen berries in a blender and blend until smooth. If your combination has too many seeds, strain it.
- Pour the coconut milk mixture into an ice-filled glass.
- Garnish with sliced strawberries.
Dragon drink vs mango Dragonfruit refresher
The dragon drink is a variation on the well-liked Mango Dragonfruit Refresher available a year ago. It has the same mango and Dragon fruit flavors as its predecessor, and it is topped with a scoop of real diced dragon fruit.
However, there is a significant distinction between the two: the Dragon Drink is made with coconut milk, whereas the juice-only version is made with only juice. As a result, the Dragon Drink contains three grams of fat and one gram of protein, whereas the juice-only version does not. It also has a more significant amount of sugar and calories.
How to order the Starbucks dragon drink
If you want to order a Dragon Drink from Starbucks, there are some steps you could take. First, you may ask your barista directly for a Dragon Drink; there’s a strong chance they’ll know what you’re referring to.
Alternatively, you can order the Mango Dragonfruit Refresher and ask that your barista mix it with coconut milk instead of water.
Regardless of the method you choose, you must specify that you want coconut milk instead of water in the drink. If you follow these steps, you should be OK.
What are the nutritional facts for Starbucks dragon drink?
A Grande has 90 calories, 0 grams of fat, 15 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates (0 fiber, 19 sugar), and 0 grams of protein. Not bad, but you can further reduce the belly-bloating sugar count by choosing a Tall, which has just 70 calories and 15 grams of sugar.
Benefits of a green coffee
Green coffee is brewed from the same coffee beans as regular coffee. Roasting coffee beans creates regular coffee, providing their distinctive color and taste. Green coffee, on the other hand, is brewed from unroasted coffee beans, and since the beans have not been roasted, they are referred to as “green” coffee.
Whereas roasting produces numerous alterations in the makeup of the coffee beans, the effects of roasted coffee and green coffee are significantly varied, even though they are derived from similar beans.
Green coffee beans are high in antioxidants, which aid the immune system remove free radicals and mitigating radicals’ damaging effects.
Green coffee keeps us nourished for more extended periods while reducing hunger sensations and food cravings.
As a natural detox drink, green coffee, when ingested daily, can help to cleanse the liver by removing toxins. It also aids in the removal of harmful cholesterol and excess fat from the body.
Because it is high in antioxidants, drinking green coffee regularly can help you achieve long, shiny, and lustrous hair.
Green coffee contains ingredients that help maintain skin health and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It is also known to treat acne and dull skin naturally.
Green coffee may help you lose weight. It includes chlorogenic acid, which may enhance metabolic rate by 3 to 11%, resulting in quicker weight loss.
Is it possible to make a cup of Pink Drink without caffeine?
Yes, if you make it at home, you can leave out the caffeine. Leave out the green coffee concentrate for a decaf drink suitable for children. Green coffee is grassy, earthy, and somewhat sweet, so you’ll lose out on some taste, but your drink will still be good.
Health benefits of the pink drink
- Beneficial to cardiovascular health
By consuming a Starbucks pink drink, you can lower your chance of developing heart disease, the leading cause of death globally. Strawberries are thought to help reduce oxidative stress and enhance vascular function.
- Insulin sensitivity is enhanced.
Some research results show that eating passion fruit seeds might increase insulin sensitivity. This may aid in lowering the risk of diabetes.
- Immune system booster
Strawberry and passion fruit contains vitamin C, which is beneficial to your immune system. They may shield you from the harm caused by free radicals.
- Increasing milk production in preparation for nursing
There is no evidence to back this up, but some nursing mothers report increased milk production after consuming a Starbucks pink drink. Some ladies continue to consume Starbucks pink drinks while nursing because they like the flavor. Furthermore, it keeps the ladies hydrated and allows them to increase their milk production.
- Increasing your bone strength
The coconut milk in Starbucks’ pink drink is also beneficial to your wellbeing. It is high in calcium and phosphorus, which are essential for bone health.
No study has shown the significant influence of coconut milk on bone health; however, some individuals have reported positive results from consuming coconut milk regularly. They claim that consuming coconut milk keeps arthritis and osteoporosis at bay.
You can see how beneficial Starbucks’ pink drink is. However, keep in mind that although drinking a Starbucks pink drink may be good, you must limit your consumption.
Final Thoughts
Despite a few glitches along the road, it’s impossible to be angry with Starbucks when they have such a nice way of making our summer better.
Starbucks’ summertime assortment of coffee refreshers is a sight to see, from the dragon drink to the Frappuccino; they hardly miss.
Te Dragon Drink is neither as sweet as the chain’s Frappucinos nor as plain as shaken iced tea lemonades. Although, the pink colored beverage strikes a balance between refreshing and indulgence, perfecting your palate and social media life.
The pink and dragon Starbucks drinks are delicious summer coffee beverages, but they are not the same. I hope this article taught you more about each drink and the minor distinction between these two famous Starbucks refreshers.