Summer comes with all sorts of good things: trips to the pool, vacations, and, of course, seasonal items at all of our favorite stores and restaurants. Starbucks recently announced a new lineup that had many of us feeling especially excited: Frozen lemonade refreshers. However, once they finally hit the menu, some customers were only disappointed due to the fact that the drinks separated quickly, creating an unappetizing experience.
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Starbucks introduces Frozen Refreshers
At first glance, Starbucks seems to be giving us a lot to look forward to this summer. We’re always a sucker for seasonal beverages (we’re already awaiting the return of pumpkin spice, despite the health consequences), and on paper, these frozen refreshers sound delicious. They’re a fresh take on a classic: the Refreshers we all known and love with some real fruit and lemonade added in, blended with ice.
The flavors include Frozen Strawberry Acai Lemonade, Frozen Pineapple Passionfruit Lemonade, and Frozen Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade. The names alone are enough to make our mouths water. However, although they sound incredible in theory, customers and baristas alike are taking to social media to warn that these new drinks may not be all they’re cracked up to be in practice.
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Fans disappointed by separation of Frozen Lemonade Refreshers
One customer shared a picture of what was supposed to be the new Frozen Pineapple Passionfruit Lemonade on Reddit. What they got was a slightly different drink with a lot of unappetizing separation.
"Looked at my drink after my 10 min drive to work. Was not expecting this," they wrote. "I thought the new frozen drinks would not do this? I would have assumed it would have not been a recipe where the separation wouldn’t happen. They looked so nice in the pictures. Oh well."
Unfortunately, commenters noted that not only were they given the wrong drink, but the right one would have separated, too.
"I would say try very carefully to order the drink by its proper name, because it can confuse us baristas to order it by description," one helpful commenter shared. "That being said, these new drinks are quickly gaining a reputation for separating after a short period of time." After the other recent controversy of the coffee chain charging for "light ice," customers continue to be disappointed.
Another person pointed out the same thing in an Instagram comment. "I’d recommend ordering in person," they suggested. "There’s an issue w the recipe when it melts. Basically it doesn’t look like the picture but the juice separates. Or I'd recommend extra ice of mobile ordering to keep its form."
The Reddit commenter offered some helpful advice of their own: "You might try a Strawberry Açai Refresher, with Pineapple base instead of water, with some Strawberry Purée, blended, and with no Strawberry Inclusions (unless you want some, and you can also ask for some Pineapple Inclusions, if you like). What I've concocted probably won't separate the same way, and certainly not within the same timeframe." We might have to give that a shot!
What do you think? Are you going to try these delicious-sounding frozen drinks regardless of their reputation? Or are you getting fed up with the quality issues and turning to Dunkin and their drinks instead? Let us know in the comments!
