Copycat the Starbucks Pink Drink with this better-for-you refreshing drink! For a lower sugar option, we’ll steep passion tea with a little coconut sugar and use fresh strawberries in place of the super sweet strawberry puree for a better Starbucks version fruity drink! Only 3 grams of sugar in this drink versus around 25 in the original Starbucks version – yes, please!

Copycat Starbucks pink drink recipe made healthier

My go-to spot when I have a lot of writing to do is at my local Starbucks. When it’s a warm day, iced tea is my go-to. The Starbucks strawberry acai refresher is quite tasty, but also pretty sweet!

So one afternoon when I was craving a delicious drink in the afternoon, I figured out how to make my own Pink Drink.

It’s dairy-free with a splash of coconut milk, which pairs really well with the sweet strawberry flavors.

I added acai powder in for a pretty color and the extra goodness it adds!

What does the Starbucks pink drink copycat recipe taste like?

This drink is super refreshing with fruity notes, sweetness, and a creamy finish to it.

Does this drink have caffeine in it?

No, it does not. The original starbucks’ pink drink recipe does contain caffeine from the green coffee extract, but this version does not.

If you are looking for some caffeine in yours, be sure to look for fruity tea bags that contain caffeine!

What you need for acai berry tea with creamy coconut milk

Scroll down to view the recipe card below for the full ingredients list, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions.

How to make strawberry acai with coconut milk

1. To make the popular pink drink at home, start by bringing a kettle of water to a boil. Add the tea bag into a mug along with 10 ounces of boiling water. Let the tea bag steep for 5 minutes to bring out the very berry hibiscus flavor.
2. Remove the tea bag and stir in the coconut sugar and acai powder.
3. In a tall glass add ice cubes and fresh sliced strawberries (freeze-dried strawberries work well here too!). Pour the hot tea over the ice cubes to make a strawberry acai base iced tea. Now the best part – add the creamy coconut milk on top, stir, and enjoy on hot summer days!

Watch me make this homemade pink drink

The full how to video can be watched below, or on my YouTube channel!

Can you prep a big batch of this drink?

Yes, and it’s a great one to have on hand when you’re craving delicious cold drinks!

To make a big batch to store in the fridge, you’ll want to steep 6 tea bags in 60 ounces of boiling water at one time.

You’ll add 6x the amount of coconut sugar and acai powder. Allow the sweetened acai tea to fully cool to room temperature before storing.

Once the hot tea is no longer hot and at room temperature, transfer it into a quart-sized mason jar, close it with a lid, and store it in the fridge.

When you’d like to enjoy a homemade strawberry acai with coconut milk, add ice cubes, sliced strawberries, and 10 ounces of the tea into a tall glass. Top with a splash of coconut milk, swirl with a spoon or straw, and enjoy!

You can adjust the amount that you’d like to prep in advance. The recipe can easily be doubled, tripled, and quadrupled.

It tastes best when mixed with coconut milk fresh instead of making it fully in advance.

Substitutions

Below you’ll find a list of substitutions that will work well in this copycat Starbucks strawberry refresher recipe. If you are unable to find an ingredient listed above at your regular grocery store, use the link below as a guide to alternatives.

If you try something different out, please leave a comment below letting us all know how it turned out!

Passion fruit herbal tea – Any hibiscus-based tea will work for this recipe. If you don’t have a hibiscus-based tea, no worries! Find something with accents of passion fruit, or a fruity herbal or green tea to use in place of passion tea.

Coconut sugar – There are so many ways that you can sweeten this drink. Regular sugar, simple syrup, maple syrup, honey, or white grape juice concentrate.

Acai powder – A little bit of acai powder is used here to add flavor, a nutrient boost, and flavor. If you do not have acai on hand, no worries! To add color, feel free to substitute freeze-dried strawberry powder.

Fresh strawberries – Freeze dried strawberries are a good alternative to the fresh variety. You could also use frozen strawberries that were sliced. Another option that would mix into the liquid well would be strawberry powder.

Coconut milk – A coconut milk creamer, almond milk, cashew milk, soy milk, or heavy cream all work as alternatives. For a non-creamy addition, try coconut water for more refreshment and a little more natural sweetness!

Note – To add even more refreshment, add a little lemon juice or lime juice into the mix!

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If you try this strawberry acai refresher recipe on a hot day, I’d love it if you left a star rating and comment below letting me know how it turned out!

XO

Heather