I have great news – I’ve recently opened an Instagram account! I may be a bit behind the curve, but late is better than never, and it seems I’ve joined up just in time to fully appreciate Starbucks’ newest Instagrammable blended beverage — the Tie-Dye Frappuccino.
Working at a store where rainbow-wearing hippies are the norm, I’m no stranger to tie-dye. In fact, I own quite a few tie-dye shirts of my own and even decided to wear one to Starbucks in hopes of matching my drink. Those hopes began to fall as I saw several people with staggeringly yellow Frapps walk by as I waited my turn in line.
Observing the lone, harried barista create my drink, I realized the tie-dye effect isn’t created by blending together multiple colors of syrup. Instead, multicolored sanding sugar was shaken onto the bottom and sides of my cup before a deluge of neon-yellow Frappuccino base was dumped on top. The colors start to bleed after everything settles for a minute, and, TAH-DAH! You’ve got a tie-dye drink.
Well, you’re supposed to have one, anyway.
My drink, like those of the people in line before me, was colored Big Bird yellow and had only a light bluish tint going along one side of the cup. Completely missing were the vibrant reds, oranges, and greens promised by Starbucks’ in-store promotional material.
The extra dusting of sanding sugar shaken on top of the whip was the most tie-dye thing about my drink, and even that looks like it could have been stolen off the Unicorn Frappuccino, which, by the way, was so influential in fast food history that it has its own Wikipedia page.
Although it’s hard to set looks aside concerning a treat with such visually focused marketing, the Tie-Dye Frappuccino actually tastes pretty good. It’s sweet – which is no surprise since a Tall has over 39 grams of sugar – but not cloyingly so, and it’s got a pleasant hint of banana that keeps it from tasting as blah as it looks.
I wouldn’t order this over my usual Cold Brew with Cold Foam but found it to be a pleasant departure from what I typically order, and thought it was especially refreshing on a hot and muggy July afternoon.
Even though Starbucks’ Tie-Dye Frappuccino may not be groovy enough to inspire everyone to forget their differences and love each other à la Woodstock-style, it’s still an enjoyable summer treat, and worth giving a shot while it’s still around.
Purchased Price: $4.95
Size: Tall (12 oz.)
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (Tall beverage with whip) 280 calories, 100 calories from fat, 11 grams of total fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 35 milligrams of cholesterol, 170 milligrams of sodium, 41 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 39 grams of total sugars, 4 grams of protein, and 0 milligrams of caffeine.
Tried this yesterday and was disappointed. Waited over 10 minutes for basically a yellow Frappuccino with a few blue spots in it that melted quickly. Pretty much tasted like artificial bananas and cream. Not worth the $ or the wait! My daughter gave it 5/10. I give it less.
I think the only time I’ve really enjoyed one of these fancy one is when I asked for the Pokemon one, that’s featured when you spin a Starbucks Pokestop in Go. The lady had no idea how to make it, but since there was no one in line behind me I googled, it and she faked it. It was great. All I remember now is that there were berries.
I didn’t like the taste (like leftover Crunch Berry milk) but mine was much more gorgeously colored than yours, thank the universe. At least it was pretty to look at.
A friend tried this yesterday and described the taste as “Nothing, plus banana.” So I think I’ll pass! ?
I just got mine, it will be last time I get one. The drink had bit of blue swirled in what was kind of sea foam green color at first. The it was the fake banana yellow color. It did have blobs of mixed color sugar on top but since it was not sprinkled carefully on top it was more of a blob of mixed colors. The first few sips were fruity but after that is was a watery weak banana-ish flavor. Not worth the money!