Amongst other iced, tropical drinks, Starbucks Dragon Drink is not only one of the most delightful but also one of the most aesthetic-looking drinks.
The delish, iced drink is one of the specialities of the coffee chain brand Starbucks and is popular for its dreamy, icy flavors.
Aside from the cool flavor profile, the drink is so aesthetic-looking that once you get your hands on it, you will find yourself obligated to share a picture of it on your IG profile.
However, the catch is that we cannot order Starbucks Dragon Drink every day of the month because of its deluxe prices. However, what we can do is recreate the drink and relish it in the comfort of our homes whenever we please.
So, here we are with the extensive recipe of the amazing Dragon Drink to help you learn how to create a copycat Starbucks Dragon Drink. Aside from the easy availability, you can also customize it as per your level of sweetness and flavor.
Not just this, you can also choose to make it with or without caffeine.
Also read: Top Caffeine-free Starbucks drinks
So without further ado, let’s delve into the detailed recipe and learn to make this super delicious, iced drink, to take on the go.
What is Starbucks Dragon Drink?
Let’s agree that there have been countless times when we have pulled over at Starbucks to splurge on our favorite Iced Dragon Drink. And on other times, we have sat at home, thinking about satiating our craving for this wondrous drink.
Starbucks has defined its drink as, a “tropical-inspired pick-me-up—crafted with a refreshing combination of sweet mango and dragon fruit flavors—is hand-shaken with creamy coconut milk, ice, and a scoop of real diced dragon fruit.”
Aside from its unique taste, it also has several health benefits as it is rich in antioxidants and has a high amount of fiber.
Dragon fruit is an exotic-looking fruit that has a mild and delicious flavor similar to that of a pear. This flavor profile when combined with coconut milk brings out a unique taste and elevates the status of this beverage.
Also, coconut milk not only gives a creamy texture to the drink but also brings a tropical flavor to it. In case you are not a fan of coconut milk, you can also use almond milk instead.
One of the other, important ingredients used in the drink is mango juice. When making it at home, you can use just the mango juice or a combination of mango and peach juice.
After the ingredients have all been added, you can shake it in a Starbucks shaker to bring all the juices and flavors together. In case you do not have a shaker, you can use a regular mason jar with a lid or even a blender to attain that frothy, creamy texture.
Ingredients You Need to Make Dragon Drink and Their Relevance:
Frozen Dragon Fruit Powder
Commonly known as Pitaya, dragon fruit powder is the key element in the Dragon fruit drink. This powder not only brings the quintessential sweetened flavor but also gives the drink its baby-pink color.
For best results, it is recommended to use a freeze-dried version of the dragon fruit powder. You can find this ingredient at any food supermarket. These are generally placed under the acai packets section.
Mango
Mango juice is another imperative flavor point to enhance the dragon fruit drink. It brings a slightly tangy and wholesome flavor to the beverage.
You can use packaged mango juice or even fresh homemade mango juice. But to obtain the best results, be sure to remove all pulp before adding it to the mix.
White Grape Juice
White grape juice is added just to bring a fruit and sweetened flavor and elevate the overall textures of the dragon fruit drink. Instead of white grape juice, you can use other similar juices like apples or peaches. Except, make sure to not use dark fruit juice lest it can affect the color of the drink and make it look darker than it should.
Coconut Milk
Coconut milk makes the drink more whole and silky instead of just watery. The creamy texture of the coconut also contributes to bringing richness and frothiness to the beverage. It is also better to use sieved and filtered coconut milk instead of canned one that has small coconut chunks.
You can use either sweetened or unsweetened coconut milk, but be sure to use a sugar syrup or other sweetener later if you’re using unsweetened milk.
Green Coffee Extract (Optional)
Green coffee bean extract is added for the distinct flavor scheme of the dragon fruit juice. You can find this juice on amazon or in general supermarkets. But you can also choose to skip this ingredient as it would not really affect the taste of the beverage.
If you are using coffee bean capsules, you will have to pop them open and use the powder from the pills. You can even use green tea extract instead of green coffee bean extract.
Sugar Syrup or Simple Sugar (Optional)
Sugar syrup or simply granulated sugar is an optional ingredient. If you are using sweetened coconut milk, then you can choose to skip this syrup. Also, instead of sugar, you can also use honey or Stevia.
Diced Dragon Fruit
Diced dragon fruit is basically just small chunks of dragon fruit that are used for the seasoning of the drink and added flavors. If you have difficulty finding dragon fruit, then you can go for frozen dragon fruit also.
Why is this Recipe so Popular
- Healthy: The Dragon Drink does not use any artificial sweeteners and all the juicy, sweet flavors are derived from natural fruits. It is also dairy-free since it uses coconut milk in its recipe. In addition to that, dragon fruit also has antioxidants and fiber which is naturally healthy for the body.
- Easy: The other reason this drink is so popular is that it is incredibly easy to make. Made with basic ingredients and a quick recipe, this drink serves as an exotic last-minute beverage to offer to guests. Or also for yourself, if you are looking for a healthy and tasty beverage.
- Kid-Friendly: Since this recipe can be made without using caffeine, it can also be consumed by kids and toddlers.
- Customizable: The Dragon Drink has various versions which are all customizable. You can make it without the green coffee bean extract. You can also use apple or peach juice instead of white grape juice. In short, you have all the options that you can use to make this drink without the fear of altering the taste.
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Starbucks Dragon Drink Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Mixing Bowl
- 1 Whish
- 1 Serving Glass
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Freeze Dried Dragon Fruit Powder
- 1/2 cup Mango Juice
- 1/4 cup White Grape Juice
- 1 cup Coconut Milk or Almond Milk Note: If you are using sweetened milk, do not use a sweetener
- Ice Cubes As per choice
- Diced Mango (Optional) As per choice
- Simple Sugar Syrup or Sugar To taste
Instructions
- Mix dragon fruit powder, green coffee bean extract (optional), and grape juice in a bowl and stir, until the powder and all of the ingredients dissolve together.
- Take the shaker or a mason jar and add ice cubes to it. After that, pour mango juice.
- Add the dragon fruit and green coffee bean extract mix and shake.
- Now pour the coconut milk (alternatively almond milk).
- Then cover the shaker with the lid.
- Shake, shake and shake vigorously for about 30 seconds.
- Take the serving glass and add chunks of dragon fruit and ice cubes (as per choice).
- Add the concoction from the shaker.
- Add sugar syrup or sweetener if required.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Important Tips for Making Starbucks Dragon Drink Recipe
- When mixing the freeze-dried dragon fruit powder with the green coffee bean extract, you will have to add a few drops of water so that the power can dissolve completely.
- If you do not like the black and white seeds of the dragon fruit in the drink, then you can strain or filter the concoction through a coffee filter or muslin cloth before adding it to the shaker.
- You can determine the taste and color of your drink through the ratio of dragon fruit powder and coconut milk. Adding more milk will bring out a softer pink color and a silkier texture. And adding more dragon fruit mix will make the drink a darker pink with a stronger, coarser texture.
- In case you do not want a caffeinated drink, then you can leave out the green coffee bean extract to get a caffeine-free drink.
- While adding a sweetener, make sure you keep tasting the drink lest it gets too sweet. You can also use honey or Stevia as a healthier option.
Now that you have the detailed recipe for this incredible Dragon Drink in your hands, hurry and try it out on your own. Let us know how you like it by commenting below.