Name: Copycat Starbucks Dragon Drink
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 tsp freeze dried dragon fruit powder; 1/2 cup mango juice or mango mixed with another fruit; 1/4 cup white grape juice; 1 cup coconut milk, I used sweetened, you can sub with almond milk, soy milk, or milk of choice; ice cubes, make sure the ice cubes are fresh; diced dragon fruit; diced mango, this is optional; simple syrup or sugar to taste

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This Copycat Starbucks Dragon Drink tastes like a tropical vacation. This easy recipe takes only a few minutes to make yet it comes out luscious and so refreshing.

When it’s summertime, for me that means friends and family get togethers and lots of easy recipes for outdoor cookouts. Most of all, lots of cool and refreshing beverages to quench our thirst.

Today I’m sharing one of Starbucks‘ most popular spring and summer beverages with you.

The Starbucks Dragon Drink was originally on their “Secret Menu,” but due to its popularity, it became a permanent menu item in 2019.

Up until recently, I had been ordering a Dragon Drink a few times a month at Starbucks since it had become one of my favorite spring/summer beverages that they served.

But, as always it just got too expensive to pay a crazy price each and every time. Especially since I always ordered the Large or Grande size.

So, as I do with so many Starbucks recipes like this Copycat Starbucks Double Chocolate Frappuccino and this Copycat Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino, I had to come up with a copycat version of their Dragon Drink also.

About a Dragon Fruit

A Dragon Drink’s main and most important ingredient has two forms of a dragon fruit. Also known as pitaya. “dragon fruit”, a name used since around 1963, apparently resulting from the leather-like skin and scaly spikes on the exterior of the fruit. Some call the dragon fruit a strawberry pear.

I just want to mention that a Dragon Fruit has some health benefits. It’s rich in antioxidants like flavonoids and has a nice amount of fiber.

It looks so exotic, but after you peel the fruit it has a similar taste to a pear with a red skin, hence the name, strawberry pear.

A mild and delicious beverage to try and enjoy!

A Dragon Drink can easily be made at home

I went over to my local Starbucks and splurged one more time on this amazing drink and was able to talk with one of the friendly baristas who explained the technique they use and also about the optional added tea for a boost of caffeine.

With all the information, I went home and started experimenting after I ran to Trader Joe’s to pick up the dragon fruit powder because I had heard they carried the dragon fruit freeze dried powder and it’s right near my house.

I have heard that Walmart also carries the dragon fruit powder as well. I found it on Amazon too. I highlighted the link to see one of the brands that is the least expensive and is 100% pure freeze-dried pink pitaya powder, that’s also a natural red dragon fruit food coloring powder. Non GMO and gluten free.

Some grocery stores such as Whole Foods may also carry freeze dried dragon fruit powder and even some local markets as well.

A few recipe variations

Starbucks uses coconut milk in their recipe. Coconut milk is creamy and adds a tropical flavor to the drink. However, some of you are not fans of coconut milk, I’ve made this with almond milk and the dragon drink came out just as delicious without the coconut flavor.

The mango juice sometimes comes mixed with other flavor juices. That’s fine too. I like to use one that is a combination of mango and peach, but sometimes I just use all mango juice.

Their technique; Starbucks uses a shaker to make their dragon drink. I have done that method and it works just fine and comes out delicious. If you don’t have a shaker, you can use a cleaned-out jar or mason jar with a lid and shake the drink up that way. Or, use a blender. It will come out a little frothy which I happen to love. Both ways come out refreshing and delicious.