This is the homemade copycat of Starbucks’s Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher.* The bright pink iced drink with hibiscus tea, white grape juice, frozen blackberries and ice. Starbucks launched it in 2012 in the Refreshers line, then pulled it from most menus. Makes 2 tall glasses in 15 minutes.
The official Starbucks ingredient list (from their VIA instant version and store nutrition panels) shows ice, water, sugar, white grape juice, natural flavors, citric acid, green coffee extract, and freeze-dried blackberries. Their exact ratio is proprietary, but the copycat below gets close using brewed hibiscus tea for the natural flavour.
The grape juice is non-negotiable. I tried purple grape juice the first time and the colour turned muddy brown instead of the pink Starbucks serves. White grape juice keeps the hibiscus bright while adding sweetness. Frozen blackberries (not fresh) are the other locked detail; they melt slowly and give the slushy texture.
*Starbucks’s exact recipe is proprietary. This copycat is built from their published ingredient label
Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher Recipe
Course: DrinksCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy4
servings15
minutes145
kcalBright pink iced drink with hibiscus tea, white grape juice, ice and frozen blackberries. The homemade Starbucks copycat.
Ingredients
2 hibiscus tea bags (or 2 tbsp dried hibiscus flowers / dried jamaica)
1 green tea bag (optional, for caffeine)
1 cup boiling water1 cup white grape juice, chilled (NOT purple)
2 tbsp simple syrup (or to taste)
½ cup frozen blackberries
Ice
Optional: ½ cup lemonade for the Berry Hibiscus Lemonade version
Directions
- Steep the tea. Place the hibiscus (and optional green) tea bags in a heatproof jug. Pour over the boiling water. Steep exactly 5 minutes. Remove tea bags. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold (or pour over ice in a bowl to chill fast).
- Mix the base. In a small pitcher, combine the cooled hibiscus tea, white grape juice, and simple syrup. Stir well. Taste and add more syrup if you want it sweeter.
- Build the glasses. Fill 2 tall glasses with ice. Drop a handful of frozen blackberries into each glass.
- Pour. Pour the hibiscus mixture over the ice and berries, dividing evenly between the two glasses.
- Optional lemonade swap. For the Berry Hibiscus Lemonade version, top up each glass with ¼ cup lemonade instead of more hibiscus.
FAQs
Why does the recipe specify white grape juice and not purple?
White grape juice is the key to keeping the drink that signature pink-magenta colour. Purple grape juice turns the drink muddy brown the moment it hits the hibiscus tea. White grape juice also adds sweetness without changing the colour, which is why Starbucks uses it in the official drink (it’s listed third on their published ingredient label).
Can I use other berries if I can’t find blackberries?
You can — frozen mixed berries or raspberries are the closest swaps. Strawberries give a sweeter, milder flavour but work too. The blackberry version is what Starbucks uses (their published label says “freeze-dried blackberries”), so for the most authentic copycat, stick with blackberries.
How do I make the Berry Hibiscus Lemonade version?
Swap half the hibiscus mixture for store-bought lemonade — about ¼ to ½ cup per glass. Starbucks sells this as a separate menu item; the lemonade adds sharpness and lifts the berry. For a from-scratch lemonade, mix fresh lemon juice with simple syrup and chilled water.
Where can I find hibiscus tea bags?
Most supermarkets carry hibiscus tea in the herbal/tisane section. Twinings, Yogi, and Celestial Seasonings all make standalone hibiscus tea. For loose dried hibiscus flowers, try health-food shops, Mexican grocers (sold as jamaica), or Middle Eastern grocers (sold as karkadeh). Online: Amazon and specialty tea shops carry organic options.
How long does the hibiscus tea concentrate keep, and can I batch it?
Three days refrigerated in a sealed jug. Make the tea concentrate in advance so the drink comes together in under 2 minutes when you want it — just pour over ice and berries. Don’t pre-assemble the full drink because the frozen blackberries thaw and discolour the ice within an hour.
