While Starbucks’ spring menu already has us craving summer sun with its coconut lineup, the brand is doubling down with tropical flavors for its late spring menu drop. Available nationwide on April 7, Starbucks is adding a mango twist to the menu, featuring a new line of Energy Refreshers, a fruity cold foam, and a limited-time ube shaken espresso. Let’s break it down.
A New Era Of Refreshers
One of the most highly requested additions has finally arrived: Refreshers with caffeine. The new Energy Refreshers deliver just that, adding 125 mg of caffeine (in a grande) alongside B vitamins for a more functional boost of energy. Customers can stick with the original Refresher formula, adjust caffeine levels, or even order their drink completely caffeine-free.
Leading the lineup is the Mango Strawberry Refresher, a blend of the two fruit flavors and topped with real pieces of strawberry. Other variations include the Mango Strawberry Energy Refresher, the Mango Strawberry Lemonade Refresher (also available with added caffeine), and the Mango Dream, which incorporates coconut milk to the handshaken classic.
Mango Takeover
As the Refreshers suggest, mango is having its moment this season, and honestly, there’s no better way to ease into summer than sipping on a fruity drink. Starbucks is expanding the flavor across its menu with a mango cold foam and syrup addition, evident in drinks like the Iced Mango Cream Matcha and the Iced Mango Cream Chai. Both are designed to blend the tropical fruit flavor with their classic earthy profiles, but more on that later.
Starbucks is also continuing to lean into creamy, dessert-like flavors with their new Iced Ube Coconut Cream Shaken Espresso, a unique flavor that was introduced a few weeks ago.
But how do they really taste?
I got an exclusive early taste of three of the new drinks hitting stores — the Mango Dream, Iced Mango Cream Chai, and Iced Mango Cream Matcha — and I have thoughts.
Iced Mango Cream Matcha
This may seem obvious, but this one is very matcha-forward. The drink is creamy and earthy, and while you can tell a lot of that velvety texture comes from a cold foam, beyond the first few sips, the mango flavor isn’t as pronounced as I would have expected. If you love matcha, you’ll likely enjoy this, but if you’re here for the mango, it might fall a little flat. This might expose my preference for sweet drinks, but if I were to get this one again, I’d customize it with a fruit or toasted coconut syrup to bring more balance to the matcha itself, or even add extra mango cold foam.
Mango Dream
Think of this as a mango twist on the iconic Pink Drink. This new mango strawberry refresher with coconut milk is exactly what I see myself craving on a scorching day. It’s refreshing, sweet without giving you a toothache, and the real strawberry pieces on top add a nice texture. Visually, it’s a light salmon shade of pink that just screams spring. The addition of coconut milk smooths everything out, but isn’t overpowering flavor-wise, so if you’re hesitant about coconut, this is still a safe pick. I opted for less caffeine, but having the flexibility to add more on days when you need an extra pick-me-up is a huge plus.
Iced Mango Cream Chai
This drink was the biggest surprise for me, and I saved the best for last. The mango cold foam softens the spice of a typical chai, making it feel less wintery and more suited for a drink I’d reach for on a warm day. The mango flavor transforms this drink into something fresh and approachable for you’re not already a chai person, leaning into a tropical and slightly candy-like taste (in a nostalgic mango-flavored gum way). What really works here is the balance between the competing flavors. The chai holds its own so the mango doesn’t overpower it, but it also doesn’t disappear like it can in a matcha or cold brew. In my opinion, this new drink addition is a hit.
The Bottom Line
This late spring menu is less about one standout drink and more about the multitude of customization options it gives Starbucks fans. The mango-forward flavors are bright and tropical, and complement the recent coconut and ube additions which dropped earlier this season. And the ability to adjust caffeine levels in Refreshers is a gamechanger.
Don’t believe me? Try the full lineup when it hits stores nationwide on April 7.