Iced Pink Dragon Fruit Refresher Tea
Today we are making an Iced Pink Dragon Fruit Refresher Tea! This dragon fruit tea was inspired by the Mango Dragonfruit Refresher at Starbucks, which is a tropical-tasting drink made with flavors of mango and dragonfruit, mixed up in creamy coconut milk with diced dragonfruit at the base of the drink! This native fruit of South America is a member of the cactus family and has a pricky exterior with a vibrant colored, speckled inside.
Tropical iced tea is the ultimate summer drink on a hot day, with the taste of paradise in every sip. I love how Starbucks took all these delicious flavors and turned it into a drink with a unique taste and varying texture. Diced dragonfruit inside the drink reminds me of how bubble tea shops put boba on the bottom of the cup!
Now, today’s drink is not exactly the mango dragon fruit refresher from your local Starbucks. But it did take inspiration from it. You don’t need coconut milk, mango juice, white grape juice, other pre-bought fruit juice or even a simple syrup that you need to make or buy. Instead, it’s diced dragonfruit in the cup with an iced, tangy dragonfruit green tea and a sweetener of your choice. It’s easy to make – the ingredient list includes green tea bags, fresh dragonfruit and a lemon! Then you can sweeten it as you wish, add ice and the drink is ready to serve.
Why You’ll Love This Iced Pink Dragon Fruit Refresher Tea
Vibrant Fruit: The bright pink color of this tea is visually appealing and makes you want to drink it, just from visual appeal. Plus, Barbie movie is out this weekend so can you really say no to your very own pink drink? (okay, not exactly the famous pink drink, but you know what I mean). The vibrant colored drink of this Starbucks refresher (and making it in the comfort of your home) can instantly uplift your mood and make it feel more refreshing and fun!
Exotic Flavors: It’s not everyday you come across dragonfruit-based drinks, since this tropical fruit is not sold at every supermarket. They’re usually found in stores that carry exotic fruits from abroad, such as local grocery stores for international food (that’s where I found mine)! Sometimes, larger chain grocery stores may carry them as well. Making iced summer drinks that are not made of coffee are great, because it’s more unique as compared to caffeine-heavy drinks. This is especially true for someone who may not be a big coffee drinker.
Boosts Immune System: The vitamins and minerals in dragon fruit provide myriad health benefits and can help support your immune system and promote overall wellness. Did you know that dragon fruit is a rich source of Vitamins A, B, C as well as contains many other antioxidants, fiber and minerals like iron? The iron and Vitamin C combination in the dragonfruit helps with the iron absorption. This gives you energy and helps move oxygen through your body. Additionally, this drink has a lot less sugar than buying it pre-made, since you can control the added sugar.
Substitutions
Dragonfruit: For the best flavor and color, use fresh ripe dragon fruit. Look for dragon fruit with a bright colored, magenta flesh. If the fresh fruit is not available, you can use frozen dragon fruit pulp or packets of dragon fruit concentrate.
Sweetener: Dragon fruit itself has a subtly sweet flavor. You can add additional sweetener of choice to enhance the sweet flavor. Great options include agave syrup or pure maple syrup. Start with a small amount and adjust to your desired sweetness level for a sweeter drink.
Lemon Juice: Use fresh lemon juice, as bottled juice has more of an acidic taste. You can also use limes instead of lemons.
Iced Pink Dragon Fruit Refresher Tea Recipe Notes
- Garnishing and Serving: Serve the tea in tall glasses filled with ice. Garnish this delicious drink with a slice of fresh dragon fruit on the rim and a sprig of mint or a wedge of lemon for an extra pop of color and flavor. You can also add some chia seeds or basil seeds for a different texture.
- Mixing the Ingredients: After brewing the tea and allowing it to cool, blend it with the fresh or frozen dragon fruit until smooth. If using frozen dragon fruit, you might not need to add as much ice when serving.
- For a creamier variation, you can add a splash of full-fat, canned coconut milk, giving it a tropical and velvety touch. I do not recommend to use a low-fat milk, such as carton almond milk or cashew milk. The drink won’t be as rich as coconut milk and the drink may taste diluted.
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If you make this Iced Pink Dragon Fruit Refresher Tea, then leave a comment and star rating! Don’t forget to tag your photos @peanut_palate on Instagram. Enjoy!
Iced Pink Dragon Fruit Refresher Tea
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
- ½ cup water
- 1 green tea bag
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ¼ puréed fresh dragonfruit
- 2 tbsp fresh dragonfruit diced
- 6-7 ice cubes depending on cup size
- liquid sweetener as desired
Instructions
- Bring the half cup of water to a boil. Remove it from the heat and add in the green tea bag. Allow the tea to steep and the mixture to come to room temperature for at least a half hour.
- Once the water has cooled down, remove the green tea bag.
- Add the water to a glass cup, followed by the dragonfruit purée, the fresh dragonfruit and the lemon juice.
- Taste test it and add sweetener as desired. Pure maple syrup or agave nectar will work well.
- Cover the cup and shake the dragon fruit mixture well or blend it, to make sure it is thoroughly mixed.
- Add 6-7 ice cubes, or as many as desired.
- Enjoy the drink cold!
Notes
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Storage
- Store in a covered cup for up to one day in the refrigerator. Shake the drink once more and add the ice cubes only when ready to serve.
