This Mango Dragonfruit Refresher tastes JUST like the version from Starbucks, and the ingredients are easier to find than you think!
Ingredients and substitutions
- Dragon fruit – you can make the drink using freeze-dried dragon fruit pieces or fresh red dragon fruit pieces.
- White grape juice – you can use apple juice, but it will have a slightly different flavour. White wine can be used to make a delicious mango dragonfruit cocktail!
- Mango juice – mango juice is essential to the taste, but you could also use peach juice for a peach dragonfruit refresher.
- Coconut milk – to turn this refresher into a dragon drink, half and half or a combination of heavy cream and milk can be used instead.
Dragonfruit syrup
- Red dragonfruit pieces – use either fresh or frozen dragonfruit to make the syrup.
- Sugar – swap out for a sugar substitute of your choice like stevia.
- Dragonfruit powder – this is primarily used to add colour, so you can leave it out if you can’t find any.
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How to make a Mango Dragonfruit Refresher
Step 1: Start preparing dragonfruit syrup.
Add fresh or frozen dragonfruit and dragonfruit powder along with sugar and water to a small saucepan over med-high heat. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes until dragonfruit has softened.
Step 2: Mash dragonfruit.
Step 3: Strain dragonfruit syrup through a fine mesh sieve.
Step 4: Add freeze-dried dragonfruit pieces to the bottom of a tall glass.
Step 5: Add ice.
Step 6: Ade in white grape juice.
Step 7: Add mango juice.
Step 8: Stir in dragonfruit syrup and enjoy.
If you'd like to make a dragon drink, add in 1/4 cup coconut milk.
How much is a mango dragonfruit refresher?
The cost of making a mango dragonfruit refresher at home versus buying one at Starbucks can vary quite a bit. Honestly, it depends on the cost of the ingredients in your area.
For example, the cost of dragon fruit is much higher in cold weather areas, where the fruit cannot be grown locally. Even so, you can make several drinks at home for the cost of one from Starbucks!
Depending on your location and the size you order, Starbucks charges between $3.95 and $5.00 for a 16-ounce (Grande) size.
Frequently Asked Questions
My homemade mango dragonfruit refresher is made with freeze-dried dragonfruit, white grape juice, mango juice, coconut milk and dragonfruit syrup. The dragonfruit syrup is made using red dragonfruit pieces, sugar, water and dragonfruit powder.
While the Starbucks version contains 45 mg of caffeine, my dragonfruit refresher is completely caffeine-free. If you want it to have caffeine, add in some green tea powder (although it will slightly alter the flavour).
This dragon fruit refresher is definitely on the healthier side. It’s low in fat and has less sugar than other sugary drinks you might get at Starbucks, like a frappuccino or an iced vanilla latte. If you want to cut down on the calorie count even more, skip the coconut milk.
My mango dragonfruit refresher recipe has just 87 calories per serving. In comparison, the original Starbucks dragonfruit refresher has 90 calories for a 16 oz. Grande serving.
Making a big batch
If you want to make a big batch of this mango dragonfruit refresher, it’s easy – just double, triple or quadruple the ingredients! You can even make a big batch of the dragonfruit syrup and store it in the fridge in a mason jar for 3 to 4 weeks, so you always have some on hand to make a fresh drink.
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Meal Prep Tools
- Buy some freeze-dried dragonfruit online – it's also great for snacking!
- Order some dragonfruit powder online – you can skip it if need be as it's mostly just used for colour instead of taste but it does add plenty of nutrients to the drink.
- **Get my full list of tools here**
Starbucks Mango Dragonfruit Refresher
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp freeze-dried dragonfruit pieces/chips optional, or use fresh red dragonfruit pieces
- 1 handful ice
- 1/4 cup white grape juice
- 1/4 cup mango juice
- 2 tbsp dragonfruit syrup
For dragon drink
- 1/4 cup coconut milk
Dragonfruit syrup
- 1/2 cup red dragonfruit pieces (fresh or frozen) I can sometimes find them frozen in tropical fruit mixes, such as the President's Choice brand; you can also use fresh dragonfruit
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tbsp dragonfruit powder optional, used mostly for colour
Instructions
- Add fresh or frozen dragonfruit and dragonfruit powder along with sugar and water to a small saucepan over med-high heat. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes until dragonfruit has softened. Mash then strain through a fine mesh sieve.
- Add freeze-dried dragonfruit pieces to the bottom of a tall glass, then add ice. Add in grape juice, mango juice and dragonfruit syrup. Stir well, then serve and enjoy!
- To make it a dragon drink, add 1/4 cup coconut milk then serve and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
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Comments & Reviews
Kenna says
My local stores don’t have red dragon fruit…could you do it with white?
Taylor Stinson says
Yes for sure!
William S. says
It is too fruity, and it is not just like Starbucks but I still like it and think it tastes really good.
Brianna says
I like this bc i work at Starbucks and i am new so this help me a lot.
Jayde says
Does this have caffeine in it?
Taylor Stinson says
My version does not have caffeine.
Janine says
Could you add some sort of alcohol to this? And what would be the best for taste ?
Taylor Stinson says
You could try vodka!
Joslyn says
Definitely too heavy on the white grape juice, but we watered it down (I prefer the refresher just made with water) and it is close enough! Less time, less money, and at my fingertips. Just mixed up an entire pitcher to keep in the fridge for the family.
Emily says
Very good! I suggest using more mango and less white grape, the grape is very overpowering.
Tayler says
Doesn’t taste much like the Starbucks one but it is still very good! Will continue to make it. Thank you for the recipe!
Nini says
Doesn’t taste exactly like it, but its good!
Megan @ The Oregon Dietitian says
I love the dragon drink (and the beautiful color) from Starbucks, but haven’t been there in months! The dragon drink with a splash of coconut milk is my go-to since I’m still nursing and need those fats! I think you nailed this! Can’t wait to try!
Lele says
Can this be done with coconut water instead of coconut milk or lemonade?
Taylor Stinson says
It probably wouldn’t be the exact same but it would likely taste good!