We are in love with this DIY copycat Starbucks Dragon Drink Recipe made with fresh ingredients. This tasty drink is made with coconut milk and blended dragonfruit for a homemade sensation. Cool off with this deliciously refreshing drink.
The original Mango Dragon drink has caffeine in it when you buy it at Starbucks, but this recipe is caffeine free. This is a great cool and refreshing drink perfect for the spring and summer months.
This makes a single serving but can easily be doubled or tripled for multiple people. The single serving makes a large portion and can be divided into smaller servings.
If you love this tasty drink, try our other copycat drinks like Pink Drink, and Mango Dragonfruit Refresher. Or try our Pink Beetroot Latte, and Angel Milk.
Starbucks Drink
The Dragon Drink from Starbucks is truly a delightful and refreshing beverage that captivates drinkers with its unique flavor profile and vibrant appearance. One of the main reasons to love this refresher is its perfect balance between sweetness and tartness. The dragonfruit base provides a slightly sweet taste that is complemented by creamy coconut milk. This combination creates a refreshing and light drink that is perfect for quenching thirst on a hot summer day.
The vivid magenta color of the beverage comes naturally from the dragonfruit and can even instantly uplift your mood. Ultimately, this eye-catching presentation adds to the enjoyment of the drink, making it a beloved choice for those who appreciate both flavor and aesthetics in their beverages.
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Why We Love This Recipe
- Cost: The price of this drink can add up when going out. But you can make it at home for a cheaper price.
- Convenience: If you don't have a Starbucks close by, you can still enjoy this drink year round.
- Customization: Make this your own! The original drink has caffeine but if you make it at home you can add caffeine or leave it out.
- Health-conscious: When you DIY, you get to control the sweetness, how much sugar you add in, and which fresh fruits you use.
- Social media trend: We love trying social media trends and this one is right up there with the best!
Ingredients
- Dragonfruit- The main ingredient for this drink is dragonfruit. We use fresh fruit for this recipe but you can also use freeze dried, or frozen chunks.
- White Grape Juice- This adds a great base adding a slight flavor but not taking away the flavors of the other ingredients.
- Mango Nectar-The perfect way to add that mango flavor. Gives it a Mango Dragonfruit taste you want.
- Coconut milk- This vegan based cream is what makes this drink so popular, because it's plant-based. It makes the drink so creamy. You can also try other nut milks like almond, or oat. But we love the coconut flavor you get with the coconut milk.
- Lemon Juice- A tart flavor to help balance out the sweetness of the other fruit.
- Sugar- You can use granulated sugar instead to give the drink the sweetness you want.
- Water- This will get the right consistency of the drink.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Add dragonfruit, water and sugar in a high speed blender. Blend until smooth.
2. Add the mango nectar and the white grape juice with the blended dragon fruit.
3. Next pour in the lemon juice. It's a great compliment to the dragon fruit flavor.
4. Pour in that tasty coconut milk to give it a creamy look and taste. Mix and drink a refreshing cup!
Hint: You'll want to use a high speed blender to make this drink as smooth as possible.
Dragon Drink vs. Pink Drink
The Dragon Drink, a more recent iteration of the original Pink Drink, have that same great pink look but both are a little different from one another. However, the Dragon Drink distinguishes itself with its tropical flavors, crafted from a delicious blend of dragon fruit, while the former is primarily strawberry-based. Both drinks feature a luscious coconut milk foundation.
Substitutions
This drink is naturally gluten free and vegan. Below are some suggestions to mess around with the flavors to make it just right for you.
- Frozen Strawberries- add a splash of strawberry flavor by blending in frozen strawberries of fresh strawberries, use frozen strawberries. You may want to skip the ice if you use this option.
- Almond Milk- We love how this drink is vegan. Keep it that way by using a vegan milk like almond milk instead of coconut milk.
- Oat Milk- Another great vegan milk that you can use is oat milk. Oat milk has a wonderful creamy texture that pairs great with this drink.
Helpful Hints
- Add extra fruits like strawberries, blackberries, or even fresh cut mangos to add to the flavor profile.
- If you aren't particular if the drink is vegan, you can use heavy whipping cream, or any style of milk you would like.
- You can easily use fresh, frozen or freeze dried dragonfruit to make this drink. The original Starbucks drink uses freeze dried dragonfruit but we love the juices that fresh adds.
- Add a splash of flavor like coconut syrup, or strawberry syrup to mix things up.
- This doesn't have the original green coffee extract but it can be added in if you want it.
How to Serve
- Have a copycat night by serving with our other copycat drink recipes like our pink drink, and our Mango Dragonfruit Refresher.
- We love a good girls night and this drink just adds to the fun. Serve it with deviled strawberries, and chocolate covered blueberries.
Equipment
This recipe requires a High Speed Blender in order to blend the dragonfruit and avoid the drink being chunky. We loved buying these cute Starbucks Cup to make this drink looks official!
Storage
If not drinking right away be sure to serve before serving. The milk will begin to separate from juice. You'll also want to store in the refrigerator if not drinking right away.
It's best to drink right away or close after making. This recipe does not freeze well.
Top tip
Make sure to blend the dragon fruit mixture up until it's completely smooth or run it through a fine-mesh sieve. Otherwise you'll have little bits and pieces in your drink.
FAQ
Yes, the Starbucks Dragon Drink does contain caffeine. The drink is made with a base of Starbucks' Refreshers, which are beverages that include caffeine from green coffee extract. While the Dragon Drink is a creamy and fruity blend of mango and dragon fruit flavors, its base contributes a moderate amount of caffeine. However, the caffeine content may vary depending on the size of the drink and the specific recipe used. If you're looking for a refreshing option with lower caffeine, you might consider checking the Starbucks menu for caffeine-free or decaffeinated choices.
This recipe is made caffeine free.
Add fresh cut Dragonfruit into a high speed blender with water and sugar. Blend until smooth, Add mango juice, and white grape juice to the blended fruit. Then add a touch of lemon juice. Last stir in coconut milk and enjoy.
The drink is a refreshing tropical beverage made with a combination of ingredients that include sweet mango and real dragon fruit pieces. The main components of the drink are coconut milk, Starbucks' Mango Dragonfruit Refresher base, and ice. The coconut milk adds a creamy texture and subtle flavor, while the Mango Dragonfruit Refresher contributes the vibrant colors and fruity taste. This combination results in a visually appealing and flavorful drink that's both fruity and creamy, making it a popular choice for those seeking a delightful and refreshing option at Starbucks.
The Dragon Drink at Starbucks is a delightful and vibrant tropical beverage that offers a unique fusion of flavors. Made with a base of Starbucks' Mango Dragonfruit Refresher, the drink features a combination of real fruit pieces and sweet mango flavors. The beverage is then mixed with creamy coconut milk, creating a smooth and refreshing texture that complements the fruity taste. The Dragon Drink stands out not only for its stunning pink and green colors but also for its harmonious blend of fruity sweetness and creamy richness. It has become a popular choice among Starbucks customers looking for a flavorful and visually appealing option to enjoy year-round.
The official Dragon Drink description is “tropical, crave-able combination of fruity and creamy refreshment.” I think it tastes like a strawberry starburst, a Pina Colada starburst and half of a lemon starburst all squished together.
Yes, the Dragon Drink is often regarded as delicious by many Starbucks customers. Its unique blend of sweet mango flavors, real fruit pieces, and creamy coconut milk creates a refreshing and satisfying beverage. The balance of fruity sweetness and creaminess, along with its vibrant appearance, contributes to its popularity as a flavorful and enjoyable option, especially during warmer months.
Related
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Recipe
Dragon Drink
Equipment
- Starbucks Cup optional
Ingredients
- ¾ cup dragon fruit, frozen or fresh I used frozen
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
- 1 cup water
- ⅓ cup mango nectar
- ⅓ cup white grape juice
- 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
- ¼ cup coconut milk more or less, to taste
Instructions
- Place the dragon fruit, sugar and water in a high speed blender. I like to use the smoothie cup attachment for this recipe. Blend on high for 1-2 minutes. It's important to blend it long enough to make it nice and smooth. If you don't have a high speed blender, run the liquid through a fine mesh sieve to strain out any chunks or bits.
- Pour the dragonfruit mixture into a cup and add the mango nectar, white grape juice and lemon juice. Give it a stir, then pour in the coconut milk. Add a bunch of ice and/or some frozen dragonfruit cubes. Enjoy!
Andrea
This is such a great copycat/DIY Starbucks drink! I love this dragon drink and that it's homemade.