Starbucks Copycat Recipe | Very Berry Hibiscus Tea Refresher
If you’re an iced tea lover like I am, try making a homemade version of the popular Starbucks Hibiscus Tea Refresher. It’s currently my favorite summertime drink – and it’s super easy to make a pitcher at home. I love that it uses all-natural ingredients, too!
We created a video to show the process of making this Starbucks inspired tea refresher:
Here are a few tips when making this Starbucks Copycat Drink:
- The tea that I used is Trader Joe’s Red Refresh herbal tea, which is sold for $2.49 per box. It features notes of hibiscus, lemongrass, peppermint, orange peel, and wild cherry bark. If you don’t have a TJ’s near you, then Tazo Passion Tea is a great choice, too!
- I ordered my dried hibiscus flowers from Amazon, but if you’re lucky enough to have a Mexican market near you, you may be able to find them for less there. Look for a product called “Jamaica.”
- Hibiscus leaves are known to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and they have a rather tart flavor. Adding some berries and sugar can counter that with a subtle sweetness!
- Looking for a spiked version? Try mixing in vodka, tequila, or even sparkling wine with the simple hibiscus syrup from this recipe, and enjoy!
Starbucks Inspired Hibiscus Tea Refresher
This Very Berry Hibiscus Tea Refresher is an easy Starbucks-inspired copycat recipe you can make at home!
Ingredients
For the Tea:
- 8 tea bags of hibiscus berry tea
- 2 quarts water
- 1/2 cup berries, fresh or frozen
For the Simple Syrup:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup dried hibiscus flowers
- 2 cups water
Directions
1
Make 2 quarts of tea according to package instructions. I brought 2 quarts of water almost to a boil on the stove and then turned off the heat, and added 8 tea bags to infuse (covered) for about 3 minutes.
2
Take out tea bags and pour tea into a glass pitcher. Set the pitcher aside and let cool to room temperature.
3
To make the simple syrup, bring water to a boil with sugar and hibiscus flowers. Turn down heat and simmer for about 20 minutes (covered), making sure to stir a few times.
4
Strain leaves and then add syrup to the tea and stir. Refrigerate.
5
To serve, pour over berries and about 2 cups of ice in a large glass. I used fresh blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. I recommend pouring some tea in a cup with a lid and shaking it up with the berries. Enjoy!
Make this Blueberry Kiwi Mojito Recipe with or without alcohol for the whole family!
Thank you…we love flavored iced tea!
That looks so refreshing! I have the passion tea and just wondering if the leaves just add more flavor.
Just be warned that hibiscus leaves will dye everything pink. Be careful with your nice towels and your sink.
Great tip thanks!
Looks yum! Can this be made to be keto friendly?
That’s a lot of hibiscus leaves/flowers. You can probably achieve the same result with half the amount.
Not sure how much you end up saving as I just order a Trenta without ice for under $5. As that size is almost a quart, I just add my own ice when I get home.
Also ask for it with NO WATER. That way they don’t dilute it.
Hi! Former Starbucks barista here. There are a few adjustments you need to make. For starters, the Very Berry drinks are with sparkling water. If you get the berry version at Trader Joe’s it’s the closest to what Starbucks has. From there, you’ll also want dehydrated raspberries. That’s what Starbucks uses and when the dehydrated berries mix with the sparkling water, that’s what gives the drink it’s color – not the hibiscus. Finally, these are energy drinks, but the way you have yours is an herbal mix. You need to add Green Coffee Extract which is what we use and what gives the drink it’s flavor and caffine.
Here’s our instructions:
Mix Green Coffee Extract with Sparkling water. Drop three pumps of hibiscus flavoring (for at-home, steep tea for 5 minutes, then remove the bags and continue to reduce at low heat for 30 minutes. If you want it thicker, add equal amounts sugar and tea reduction). Then add dehydrated berries. Shake + pour.
Any advice on making the dragonfruit mango lemonade at home?
The actual drink from Starbucks apparently doesn’t actually have hibiscus in it