Starbucks Just Previewed a Color-Changing Butterfly Refresher 

Starbucks is clearly very into two things this year: drinks that change color and refreshers. We’ve vividly seen this in the last week, but perhaps not in ways that the chain wants. Starbies recently announced that it was bringing back its viral color-changing frappuccino for Coachella, a move that reminded people once more of how bad it tasted the first time around. It simultaneously pushed on with its never-ending refresher offer, by changing its Strawberry Acai Refresher, again to the disappointment of its customers. 

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Now, Starbucks is ploughing ahead in typical fashion, while also trying to offer a corrective on both of those things – by combining the two greatest passions it has at the moment. A refresher that changes color is on the way as part of its summer menu. Here’s what we know. 

Starbucks Summer Menu: Refreshers, Horchata Frappuccinos, And Collabs

The chain recently dropped a preview of its summer menu, which is arriving on May 12, and top of the bill is its Tropical Butterfly Refresher. Starbucks describes this drink as “a bright flavor fusion of passionfruit and guava flavors with mango-pineapple flavored pearls for a layered burst of sweetness,” to which a butterfly pea flower infusion is added, which gives it a purple hue. You’ve got two options here: one containing milk or milk alternatives, and another containing water or lemonade. The idea is that when you stir it, it transforms, its pea flower infusion spreading through the drink. It looks preeeeeetty, guys.

Elsewhere, Starbucks is bringing back its Iced Horchata Shaken Espresso, as well as adding a new Horchata Frappuccino. The former is a fan fave that the café chain is remounting for a limited time only, and both drinks will have all of the cinnamon-y, vanilla-y, nutty sweetness that makes horchata so great. 

And finally! Starbucks’ Unicorn Cake Pop returns for another spin, and it’s also bringing out a new summer merchandise collection, which includes mugs, tumblers, and a mini tote bag. Plus, it’s announced a collaboration with Miffy, which starts May 19, but which is currently pretty scant on details. We’ll bring you more as we get it.

It’s All About the Refresher

Now, all of these additions to the Starbucks menu sound good to us – but the Tropical Butterfly Refresher is getting the most attention by far. Luckily, that attention is resoundingly positive. “Oh my goodness!! Butterfly?!? Yes!!! I love guava and passion fruit,” said a commenter on @snackwire’s Instagram post about the new releases. “The refreshers look beautiful!” stated another. Starbs has nailed it with the visual appeal of this one, but whether it tastes as good as it looks (and, indeed, whether it looks as good as the chain promises) remains to be seen. 

Starbucks’ summer menu won’t be around for long – this chain never hangs around – so get the new drinks while you can, when they drop in a few weeks.