Starbucks is testing a new Frappuccino beverage. It’s called the “Pink Lime Frozt” and is available in a limited number of cities. I went to a store in California just to give this a try. I’ve also heard that these are being tested in a small region of Michigan as well, but I don’t know the specifics of where in Michigan. So this is my review of this test drink. Before I go any further, I should remind my readers that Starbucks tests all kinds of things that never launch nationally, and so the fact that there is a small test of this beverage in California and Michigan doesn’t have overwhelming significance. It just means they’re trying a few new things. If you like reading about Starbucks tests, take a look at this category:
http://starbucksmelody.com/category/test/
I am really curious to hear from others who have tried this beverage. I fear that this review of this new Frappuccino is mostly going to be two thumbs down. Well, this is why we test things.
First off, this is a very sweet drink. This is the number one reason for me to give it a thumbs down. It’s much too sweet for my taste. In addition, this drink separates very fast. I didn’t get a good photo of that, but the consistency of the drink doesn’t hold together quite like a Frappuccino. It’s pink. There’s nothing wrong with pink as a color, but it does oddly look like it should be a child’s beverage, and with the very sweet flavor, I can imagine that this might be a very popular drink for children. While I think this drink could have a small devoted following, I don’t think it will have the kind of wide-spread appeal needed for a national launch.
Lastly, — and mind you I realize this is wholly subjective — I don’t like the name “Frozt.” That’s a name that’s trying too hard. It sounds like it’s trying to be a cool name. At least Starbucks didn’t give in to the trendy pattern of throwing an umlaut on words, as if this makes them appear more exotic. I would have laughed out loud at “Frözt.” The name of the beverage is not a fair reason for me to give this a thumbs down, so let me reiterate that primarily I disliked the drink is because it’s too sweet for me.
A partner I was with suggested that a better variation on the drink was to add a little more spearmint, and substitute in green tea instead of passion tea. I tried that too and thought indeed it was a little better, and a little less overly sweet.
For those curious about the recipe for this drink, I hear that it’s as follows: Limeade base to first line. Passion Tea to second line. Then add in dried spearmint leaves.
What do you think? Have you tried this or would you try the Pink Lime Frozt?
Edit on April 30, 2012: I have heard that this same drink goes into another round of testing starting May 1, 2012. Apparently, it will be tested in San Diego and Austin. Let me know if you’ve tried it!
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@CaBarista – As far as I know, this drink does not have the Frappuccino creme base in it – However please do not hold me to that. I could be wrong. The limeade base is fun, and I’d love to find other ways to play with it too. Blended with strawberry puree sounds great!! I like that idea.
@CABarista: No, the Frozt doesn’t contain any glue (although that would probably help the separation issue!) – just lime stuff, passion tea, spearmint leaves, and ice. The strawberry idea sounds fun. We bought a cherry drink from the gas station across the parking lot and tried it with that instead of the passion tea – it was delicious.
Which store(s) in California have these?
I’m in the Bay Area and haven’t seen them…or the Refreshers. 🙁
We’re so left out up here.
I’ve tried this drink a couple of weeks ago at a Starbucks in Sacramento. I thought they have it everywhere until I came back to SoCal and didn’t find them. I loved the drink mainly because I like the lime and passion flavor. (: I hope they’ll have this drink around SoCal as well.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this drink! Refreshing and tastes like a non alcoholic mojito!. please keep this one around.
Wow! This is such a welcoming and well-designed site. I especially like the reviews you have of the drinks, I just came back from a vacation to California and I’m kicking myself for not having tried this Pink Lime Frozt xD Oh well maybe next time
The Name Frozt comes from the type of Tea the Pink Lime Frozt is made out of.
Is this drink available in Seattle yet?
I had one of these in Michigan (Troy area) and it is very sweet and I was a little put off by the separation, however, the flavor really grew on me. I would love it so much better with the sweetness toned down.
@Sabreena – I agree with you in that a few tweaks to the recipe and this might be a great drink! I generally do like lime, but just not sure about >this< combo of lime and passion tea!
@Lisa – It’s not in Seattle yet. Lots and lots of test products never have a widespread launch or make it nationally, so there’s a good chance we’ll never see this drink up here in Seattle. Welcome to the blog. Hope you’ll subscribe (add your email) or click “like” on the blog’s facebook page.
Thanks!
Melody
Thanks for the information! 🙂 I also subscribed to your blog! Great information, thank you!
I was looking for a yogurt shop around my work and couldn’t find anything close. Starbucks is right around the corner and I decided to try this new drink and think it is completely refreshing. I love passion tea but enjoy it even more mixed with the spearmint and lime…its wonderful.
I tried the Pink Lime Frozt at 2 different locations in Sacramento and they tasted quite a bit different. The first place I went, it didn’t separate at all and wasn’t too sweet and I liked it a lot! The second location I went, it was much too sweet and separated fast. I didn’t get to give feedback, but if anyone has that website let me know. The name frozt is ok; if anyone can come up with anything better? Maybe Pink Lime mojito…haha frozt sounds like winter to me!
Hi Debbie! Welcome to the blog! Please take a look at some of my other posts too – I’ve got a petition related to political campaign donations that I hope you’ll check out.
I recall someone telling me that the Sacramento area actually had two different recipes in testing, as they are trying to figure out what will work best. So your experience does not surprise me.
I have a link to a Pink Frotz survey but the card that it’s on says that it expires on August 14 – Here it is if you want to give it a try:
http://surveys.ipsosinteractive.com/wix/p109590345.aspx
Please look around my Starbucks site, and “like” the blog’s facebook page too.
Thanks!
Hope this helps!
~Melody
I tried the drink in the Birmingham area in Michigan. I loved the taste, now I’m addicted.
Is this available in Seattle? I hope so.
Steve, in the first paragraph of this article I mention that this drink is a test product in small areas of California, and Michigan.
I tried the drink (Sacramento) and love it! I didn’t know what the dried twigs were in the drink but loved it anyway. I’ve had it two more times since and addicted. Everything is just right, love the dried spearmint. Did notice it doesn’t stay “frozt” for very long but even when it’s melted a bit, I like it!! One barista said it’s like a starburst in your mouth.
I live in Michigan and the starbucks by my house has the pink lime frozt and i LOVE it! I hope they decide to keep it bc its so yummy and healthy for you than an actual frappacino
Well, no woder I haven’t been able to find my new favorite drink in Texas!! I called around to acouple Starbucks yesterday and no dice! I had this drink a few weeks ago in Michigan and I loved it. I had no idea MI was just a test market for it. I hope it makes it- other than the separation issues, I thought it was great!
@Laura Wilhelm-Bruzek – Welcome to the blog! I suspect that if /when Refreshers launch natonally, you’ll be able to get this drink again. With the lime base for the Refreshers, you’ll be able to get this Pink Lime Frappuccino, or something close to it, but I doubt this drink will make the menuboards. Hope you subscribe to the blog or click “like” on the blog’s facebook page. Thank you!
Melody-
I thought you’d be interested to know Texas (at least N. TX, I think) is a new Test Market for the “Frozt” beverages! Starting Tuesday May 1st we will have the Pink Lime Frappuccino Frozt and the Coconut Lime Frozt. I think the Pink Lime is absolutely superb! The Coconut Lime kind of tastes like a snowcone gone wrong, but I’m sure it’s delightful without the Coconut (as it contains both the limeade and lemonade).
I will have a blog article about all of our upcoming summer drinks and coffees. 😀
@Bcav – That is totally awesome! I wonder if it will be tested in San Diego too? I was thinking of taking a trip to Calif in June to go to the new Disneyland, and maybe I can squeeze in a trip to San Diego too at the same time? I hope that Starbucks has improved the recipe. I recall hearing that when I tried the Pink Lime Frozt, there were actually a couple of different recipe variations in testing at the same time. I seem to get the overly sweet, separates too fast version!! I will definitely be on the look out for your blog post BCav!
I just had the coconut lime and I LOVED it! Just wish I could find nutrition info.:)
I agree with Erin! I had a tall Coconut Lime and it was delicious! Unfortunately, I cannot find the nutrition info anywhere. 🙁
This drink is now out ink Atlanta. They also have a coconut lime version.
I am a barista in Texas and we are testing these drinks also and I love the Coconut Lime!!!! It has met with rave reviews in our Store!!
ITS NOW IN ARLINGTON TEXAS
I really like mint, but WOW the mint is the first thing I noticed. Almost overwhelming. I’m just starting to drink it and haven’t gone down to the bottom layer. Here I go. Not too sweet for me. But I was hoping for more lime. I didn’t expect such a strong mint that over powers. It tastes more like grapefuit juice with quite a bit of mint. I’ll see if it grows on me. I would like to know how much this is costing in calories. Next time, I’ll try the coconut lime.
We are doing this drink at our store in GA…but spearmint is not part of our recipe. Interesting.
I thought this was delicious. Not to sweet. I like the name frozt. How perfect to cool down with on hot summer days. It’s like a slushy that tastes real as opposed to something out of a 7-Eleven store. It doesn’t have to be the texture of a creamy frappuccino to be amazing. Hope they keep it around. Next time I am going to try the new Coconut Ice drink.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell me how many calories are in a pink lime frozt.!!! QUICK!
It’s in Atlanta….but no “nutritional” info. I wonder how many calories and sugar, too
I really need to write a follow up article about the Frozt drinks. In July 2011, I flew down and tried the Pink Lime Frozt and tried this drink. Little did I know that a year later (almost), it would be re-tested and at a much larger scale. Wow. What’s happening is that numerous people are doing google searches on this drink, and many of them are routed here. The Coconut Lime Frozt didn’t exist when I wrote this article.
If ANYONE wants to send me any kind of image of either the new Frozts, I’d be super appreciative. Send me a pic of your beverage, or any in store signs, or your receipt or whatever. I’ve got to do a follow up article now.
My email is Melody @ StarbucksMelody dot com.
A google search also shows a tweet about nutritional info but I can’t find the original tweet: “@CGJohnson @starbucks Was emailed info that the grande pink lime frozt has 50 cal and 12 g of sugar. … Having my probably last pink lime frozt at #Starbucks.”
It also appears that the separation problem that my Pink Lime Frozt had in July 2011 has been solved: No one above me has mentioned it.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can email me anything!! – Would especially be interested in a pic of an in-store sign for the Coconut Lime Frozt.
Melody @ StarbucksMelody dot com
It’s out in the Atlanta Area, it tastes minty and almost like a mixed drink minus the alcohol of course.
We just tried this drink today in Alpharetta, GA. Loved it. Perfect for hot GA summers.
Had one and LOVE IT! no separation. The the fact that it is HERBAL TEA and Juice and very refreshing and not sweet at all in fact has a sour bite to it. need to try the coconut lime after my juice fast is over.
I jut got my first one, here in Northern Cali.
It tastes like bubblegum with lime. It’s nasty. It separates very quickly, so they never fixed that before keeping it on the menu.
Wish I had ordered something else.
Oh I still need to write a follow up article on this! I will get to that. Mindy, it is possible that Starbucks is testing more than one recipe, and that the drink you’re drinking in Northern Calif, is a very different recipe than what’s being offered in Dallas or Atlanta. That’s a common testing strategy is to try more than one recipe at once. ?
In Palo Alto, Starbucks is also testing the Coconut Lime Frozt. I tried it and it is pretty sweet with a hint of mint.
“Too Sweet” and you think it won’t have national appeal? Huh? Everything at Starbucks is sickly sweet. I was a partner for nearly a decade at HQ and tested in the R&D lab all the time. I especially like Green Tea and tested reformulation of GT Latte and Fraps month after month. EVERY SINGLE ONE WAS WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY too sweet. My feedback was very clear: USE LESS SUGAR…or at the very least let the customer decide how much sugar. As you know, sugar cannot be entirely removed from any Green Tea drinks at Starbucks. To make matters worse they switched how they give Green Tea drinks to Foodservice locations and now when you get a GT Latte or Frap, there is no choice but to get the full sugar with some putrid melon. Don’t get me wrong…I don’t blame Starbucks…I blame our fast food nation.
@Mawenzi – Just a few thoughts: First off, iced teas can be ordered unsweetened. Not a problem. Melon syrup was discontinued from the Starbucks lineup about two years ago. The date on this blog post was one year ago: Note, since you’re really familiar with testing, you know how drinks can go through some recipe changes along the way too.
You sound very upset or passionate or something – and forgive me if I’ve read your tone of voice wrong, that’s a challenge of writing online – but this is one drink, and sweet for me, and still going through recipe changes too likely. And as you saw above, you can customize it for even nicer variations. 🙂
Welcome to my little blog!! Hope you like it here.
Was at Starbucks in Palo Alto, CA (on the El..not Univ Ave). Just tried the Pink Lime..i liked it..and it wasnt too sweet for me (and i dont like super sweet stuff).
Bummer that it’s only in testing mode..I had serious plans to get the coconut lime this weekend and throw in some Malibu or vodka, but cant find it in any other location around here.
They’re selling the Frozt drinks in Atlanta Georgia and I actally like the Pink Frozt drink since I love tart tangy taste but I don’t think it fits well with Starbucks.
I tried the Pink Lime Frozt in Rowlett, TX. To me it tastes like sweet tarts candy. It was refreshing and light. I liked the fact that it did not have a cream base and that it was caffeine free. I hope Starbucks will make it a regular offering on their menu. Two thumbs up.
I tried it in Fort Wort on the north side, on Beach, and it wasn’t that sweet at all. Very Tart and very Limey, But I liked it.
Love Starbucks, but didn’t like pink Frozt,
probably my fault as I thought it would
some type of berry flavor and it tasted like
grapefruit juice
Hi Lana! Thank you for weighing in – it’s been interesting to read the many responses on how people like the Frozts. I know I’ve only replied to a small percentage of them, but still it’s been fascinating. Hope you will “like” the blog too. Maybe it would taste better as a Strawberry Lime Frozt? I wonder if anyone has tried substituting Strawberry in for a unique customized drink? It sounds pretty good!
Hi, I just tried the Pink Lime Frozt in Dallas. Excellent! However, I found it a bit more sweet than I expected, based on what the barista said was in it. I often get the unsweetened passion tea, and hoped this would be a great summer alternative. I have emailed product support to find out what made it so sweet, because I am not interested in a lot of calories in a summer drink I will stick with the unsweet passion tea if I have to. But, I have to say I loved the taste! Very much like a mojito without the alcohol. (And it has sugar in it!)