Keto Pink Drink from Starbucks
A keto Starbucks pink drink is a low carb, higher fat version of the popular Pink Drink Refreshers beverage.
Unlike a real Starbucks Pink Drink, the keto version does not contain sugar-filled Strawberry Acai Refreshers base or coconutmilk. Both of these ingredients are high in carbohydrates and are not keto-friendly.
Instead, all the ingredients in the keto Pink Drink do not have added sugar. And high-fat cream is added in.
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What’s in a Keto Pink Drink
A Keto pink drink from Starbucks has four components: Passion Tango iced tea, heavy cream, sugar-free vanilla syrup and strawberry fruit inclusions.
- Passion Tango Iced Tea A sugar-free, herbal iced tea that’s a blend of hibiscus, lemongrass and apple.
- Sugar-free Vanilla Syrup This is the only sugar-free syrup at Starbucks. You can also sweeten this drink with Stevia.
- Heavy Cream The keto pink drink modification replaces coconut milk with higher fat heavy cream. Starbucks coconut milk contains carbs and sugar.
- Strawberry Fruit Inclusions Fruit inclusions are freeze-dried pieces of real strawberry that are in all Starbucks Strawberry Acai Refreshers drinks, including the Pink Drink.
If you love this version of the Pink Drink, you won’t believe how simple it is to make at home with my 4-ingredient copycat Starbucks pink drink recipe.
Carbs and Fat in Keto Pink Drink
Carbohydrates
While we can’t calculate the exact amount of carbs in a keto pink drink, the Passion Tango iced tea which replaces the strawberry acai base has zero carbs.
For reference, a 16-ounce Pink Drink ordered from the menu has 28g of carbohydrates and 25g of sugar. And a Strawberry Acai Refreshers (a Pink Drink without coconutmilk) has 23g of carbs and 20g of sugar.
As you can see, the vast majority of the carbs and sugar in a regular Pink Drink come from the strawberry acai juice. Starbucks coconut milk contains added cane sugar, as well. A Pink Drink ordered from the menu is definitely not keto.
Substituting Passion Tango iced tea for the strawberry acai base, slashes the amount of carbs in the keto version of a Pink Drink.
RELATED: 21 Sugar-Free Starbucks Drinks
Fat Content
According to Starbucks nutrition data, a 16-ounce Pink Drink has 2g of fat. The source of fat is the coconut milk.
The fat content in Starbucks coconutmilk is 5g per cup, whereas heavy cream is about 5g of fat per tablespoon.
Substituting heavy cream for coconut milk, drastically increases the amount of fat in the keto version of the Pink Drink.
How it Tastes
A Starbucks keto pink drink and the real Pink Drink look similar. Both are pink in color with pieces of real strawberry floating around. While the drinks look similar, they don’t taste quite the same—but it’s close.
The Starbucks Pink Drink on the official menu has an overwhelming strawberries and cream flavor. It’s really light and refreshing.
Surprisingly, the keto customization also tastes of strawberries and cream, but not as strong. My recommendation, is to add in the strawberry fruit inclusions for sure, because they bring a fullness to the fruity flavor.
The keto version is an absolutely delicious substitute for the real deal. As a matter of fact, it’s hard to put down once you start drinking it.
The herbal tea and strawberries brings a fruitness to the drink and the heavy cream makes it rich. Overall, the keto pink drink is a pleasant sip allowing anyone counting carbs to indulge.
RELATED: 15 Starbucks Strawberry Drinks: Menu Favorites & More
How to Order a Keto Pink Drink from Starbucks
How to order it from a barista:
To order a keto pink drink from the barista ask for a passion tango iced tea with sugar-free vanilla syrup, a splash of heavy cream and add in strawberry fruit inclusions.
The barista will add in the normal number of pumps of syrup according to the size drink you order.
If you want the drink to have more tea flavor you can also ask for no water added in. My preference is to leave the iced tea as normal. Additionally, some people like to add-in Stevia, as well.
How to order with the Starbucks App:
To order a keto pink drink with the app, order a Passion Tango iced tea and tap the customize button. In the flavors section, select sugar-free vanilla syrup. Add 4 pumps for a grande, 6 for a venti and 7 for a trenta. Next, in the add-ins section, select no water or light water if you prefer, and add a splash of heavy cream. Finally, in the fruit add-ins section, select strawberries.
Questions You May Have
A Starbucks keto pink drink does not contain any caffeine since it’s made with caffeine-free Passion Tango iced tea.
A keto Pink Drink with all its customizations actually costs less than a regular Pink Drink. In fact, the only modification that has an up-charge is adding in the strawberries. For comparison, a grande Pink Drink at my Starbucks location currently costs $4.95 and the keto version costs $4.25.
Related
- Is the Pink Drink Healthy? Starbucks Nutrition Facts for Every Size
- How to Order a Starbucks Pink Drink with Matcha Cold Foam
- Starbucks Pink Drink with Chocolate Cold Foam (Chocolate Covered Strawberries)
- Best Starbucks Refreshers: Drinks, Caffeine & More
- Do Starbucks Refreshers Have Caffeine? See Exactly How Much!