Copycat Starbucks Strawberry Acai Refresher
Fresh strawberries, acai tea, and a hint of citrus come together in this spot-on Starbucks Strawberry Acai Refresher copycat. It’s fruity, lightly caffeinated, and way more budget-friendly. Makes 2 Grande-sized drinks (or 1 Trenta).
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 94kcal
Ingredients
For the Strawberry Acai Base:
- 2 cups fresh strawberries (washed and hulled)
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (or preferred sweetener)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
For the Acai Tea:
- 2 acai berry tea bags (or Tazo Passion + ¼ teaspoon acai powder)
- ½ cup boiling water
To Assemble:
- 1 cup strawberry acai base (½ cup per drink)
- ½ cup brewed acai tea (¼ cup per drink)
- 1 cup water (½ cup per drink)
- 2 cups ice cubes
- 2 tablespoons freeze-dried strawberries (optional, for topping)
- 1 teaspoon green coffee powder (optional, ½ teaspoon per drink)
- agave, honey, or simple syrup to sweeten to taste optional
Instructions
- Make the Strawberry Base: In a medium saucepan, combine strawberries, water, sugar, and lemon juice. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Stir occasionally and mash the berries as they cook. Simmer for 10 minutes, then remove from the heat.
- Strain and Cool: Pour the strawberry mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl or jar, pressing with the back of a spoon to extract all the juice. Discard the pulp and refrigerate the liquid until chilled. (This is the strawberry acai base)
- Brew the Tea: Steep the tea bags in ½ cup boiling water for 5 minutes. Squeeze the tea bags to extract all the liquid, then discard. Let the tea cool to room temperature.
- Assemble the Refreshers: In each glass, add ½ cup strawberry acai base, ¼ cup acai tea, ½ cup water, and ½ teaspoon green coffee powder (optional). Stir well.
- Finish and Serve: Fill each glass with 1 cup of ice. Top with freeze-dried strawberries. Taste and sweeten if needed. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
*This recipe makes 2 Grande-size refreshers (473 mL) or one Trenta-size refresher (887 mL).
- Strawberries: Use ripe, sweet strawberries for the best flavor. If they’re out of season, frozen strawberries work too—just simmer a little longer to cook off excess water.
- Acai Tea Substitute: If you can’t find acai berry tea, use Tazo Passion Tea and stir in ¼ teaspoon of acai powder. You may need to blend it briefly to dissolve fully.
- Green Coffee Powder: This is what Starbucks uses for a light caffeine boost. It doesn’t change the taste. Leave it out if you want a caffeine-free refresher.
- Sweetener: The strawberries might be sweet enough on their own. Taste before adding extra sweetener like agave or simple syrup.
- Make-Ahead: The strawberry base and tea can be made ahead and stored separately in the fridge for up to 3 days. Give it a good stir before using.
- Glassware: Serve in a clear glass or mason jar to show off the vibrant color. Freeze-dried strawberries float beautifully on top.
- Fizz it up: Want bubbles? Use sparkling water in place of filtered water when assembling the drink.
Nutrition
Calories: 94kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.5g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 229mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 18IU | Vitamin C: 88mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg
