About one year ago, I wrote a blog post reviewing the Pink Lime Frozt beverage, which was in an early testing phase. That test lasted just the summer season in a small area of California (as well as a small area of Michigan) and then was removed from their menu. That’s a classic test: Try a new product out in a couple of geographies for a little while and see how it goes.
As of early May this year, the Pink Lime Frozt has now entered a second stage of testing. From the comments in the previous blog post, it is clear there are two Frozt beverages now: Pink Lime Frozt and Coconut Lime Frozt. By the way, when I tried the Pink Lime Frozt back in July 2011, I had heard that there were a couple of small variations of the recipes being tested. It could be that the new May 2012 Pink Lime Frozt has again had recipe tweaks. The Coconut Lime Frozt is new, and was not part of the July 2011 testing.
Also from tweets and the comments in the previous blog post, it appears that the new 2012 Pink Lime Frozt and the Coconut Lime Frozt are being tested in Dallas (and its suburbs); Atlanta, Georgia (and its suburbs); San Jose, California; and possibly parts of San Diego, California.
I haven’t had the chance to try the new Frozts, though I wish I could! Feel free to weigh in on how you like them. What do you think of these new beverages?
Thank you so much to my regular readers who sent these great photos!
(By the way, if you like reading about Starbucks tests, there are more here. Keep in mind, very few tests actually get to the point of a national launch.)
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I walked into a store one day and there it was! I was so excited because the Bay Area finally gets a test beverage, which IIRC is the first one since the red tea latte back in 2007.
That being said…they’re too sickly sweet, but I guess that’s the problem with every Frappuccino. There’s an extremely acidic lime mix, and from what I gather the coconut lime frozt uses the lime mix and coconut syrup, whereas the pink lime frozt uses the lime mix and passion tea. From what I can tell they both use frappuccino glue.
An unsweetened green or passion tea with a splash of lime is heavenly, though.
I looked when i was in austin, alas no frozt 🙁
They are both made with a plain Frappuccino base to hold them together. If you get a chance try the Pink Lime Frozt with coconut syrup, AMAZING! I hope they keep these frozts around.
Of course, I’m not in one of these areas but would likely try the coconut lime…..not so much the pink….just sounds too…..pink. Will be interesting to see if they fly altho as I’ve said over and over (as I watch it decline) , I wish there were more focus on the coffees…they keep disappearing.
We’ve had mostly not especially frapp. weather for this weeks Happy Hour promo but there are always the teenagers who head to Sbux for the deal. Without them, due to colder/rainy weather, the promo would likely have been not very successful this week.
Happy Mother’s Day to any moms out there!
@David – I liked the red (and black) tea lattes. A bit sweet, but too bad they didn’t make it past the testing phase.
@denise good point about the weather. I know Starucks wanted to Jumpstart summer but the weather didn’t seem to cooperate. I didn’t see big crowds as I had in years past.
Our weather here has been ok not too much rain or cold, however, I have seen some folks getting the frapps but I also find it interesting that at my local SB I have seen more samples of the frapps. I wonder if that is because they are not selling the way they hoped? Also, we have not been a test market for anything that I can remember.
@purple1 To a large degree, Starbucks does use the same stores over and over again for testing – or at least the same regions. San Diego is well known to have tests. Looks there are a few key cold weather and warm weather cities used for tests. But most places never get a test so NJ is probably like most places in that there arent tests. Btw, Seattle gets extremely few test compared to cities like San Diego.
Yuuummmmm! That coconut lime frost sound like the perfect thing to keep cold this summer. To bad there not testing it in the bay area… but whatever i would still love to try one! Also I had one of the “refreshers in a can” yesterday and it was surprisingly good. I expected more of a coffee taste to it as they contain coffee grounds (I think) but it was very fruity
Having seen (and largely ignored) the full-size signs in stores in ATL, I didn’t realize we were actually a test market. This concept is an instant turn-off for me and is not something I would ever consider buying, if for the name alone. SBUX makes sense when it sticks to coffee (and normal names. Tiazzi, anyone?).
@CD – Wait. What was a red tea latte?
@DeniseR – Frappuccino happy hour mostly didn’t look too busy here either. The weather only cooperated for it on a couple of days. I’m not saying that it was fun for the partners, I’m just saying it could have been even worse.
Blakeco: They are testing it in the bay area, but not all of it… just San Jose.
Melody: They really have been going crazy with tests in San Diego in recent years! (as well as L.A.) But this was not always the case. When I lived there in 05-07 we didn’t get a single one. 🙁
Sacramento & Arizona also seem to be big test markets. Others that I know of (that aren’t featured in previous blog articles)
New Jersey, Vancouver BC & NorCal: Red/Black Tea Lattes (07)
Austin, TX: Acai Juice Blend Frappuccinos (06, along with the other two national ones, Pomegranate &Tangerine)
Denver, CO: Blueberry Frappuccino (before national launch)
Parts of Chicago & NYC: Tazo Green Tea Frappuccino (before national launch)
Wisconsin: Chocofino
David interesting breakdown of test areas and their drinks. What is the Chocofino? A type of Frap?
David – It always does seem to me like Starbucks goes back to certain cities for tests. I generally won’t write a blog article unless I have something definitive like a photo – or at least something. And a number of those tests pre-date this little blog.
@Purple1 and @David – Chocofino was the early test name for Chantico which launched in about 2007??? Same product, different name. Winter – the guy who is famous for going to all Starbucks in the world – mentioned to me that in about 2005-ish he was visiting a number of Starbucks in Chicago area and stumbled upon Chocofino. So it was tested somewhere in IL too.
Other tests I’ve heard about but just dont know any details at all: (some could be urban legends! LOL)
Denver: The earliest Gold Card test was a solid white card with a gold cup and tested in about 2007 in Denver. Denver also tested blueberry pancakes (or waffles?) in about 2007 0r 2008.
Marysville, WA – 2008 – Tested “layered espresso” – I tried it. How I wish I’d taken a photo of the signs for it!! I didn’t know I’d ever have a blog. It was gross. It was very very thick sweet sauces drizzled directly over espresso.
Sacramento was the test market for the Honey Vanilla Vivanno which was my first blog post in 2009.
San Deigo tested some kind of Vietnamese Iced Coffee in the Spring of 2011 –
http://mystarbucksidea.force.com/ideaview?id=08750000000HKwnAAG
^ I know from twitter conversation, that was San Diego
I heard very vague twitter murmurs that about a year ago, there was a test of in-store ice cream in New England, but I don’t know enough about it to even say which state.
That’s all I can think of off the top of my head right at the moment. Of course, there was the HUGE Sorbetto test in Southern California too.
http://www.starbucksmelody.com/2010/10/20/starbucks-sorbetto-the-2008-delicious-test-product-that-didnt-make-it-a-piece-of-starbucks-history/
Actually, this conversation reminds me why I like my “tests” category – it is interesting stuff!
http://www.starbucksmelody.com/category/test/
re: the chantico in the Chicago area. I remember it well and I would guess 2005 was even ‘late’..I’m thinking it was maybe a yr or 2 earlier that we had it. ?
@Melody – Starbucks tested two tea lattes in a few places, including San Francisco in early 2007. They were a tea/sugar concentrate like the regular Chai lattes but came in Red and Black (rooibos). They were good, but sweet, like the regular Chai lattes. I personally preferred the red over the black.
Chicago also tested a Chantico replacement that was a variety of hot chocolate flavors (Mexican, etc.) Perhaps the “Signature Hot Chocolate” is was evolved out of those tests.
I tried the Pink Lime Frotz and can’t wait to go back and try it again, but I think I will have to try the coconut one. The only thing is it made my lips and tongue tingle which makes me wonder if it has preservatives in it. Loved the taste, hate preservatives!
Sorbetto was technically not a test according to the Starbucks website — it was a “new product launch”. Not really sure what the difference was, but whatever the case it didn’t last long.
I loved the Coconut Lime refreshing drink! I hope Starbucks keeps this on the menu – it was so yummy and refreshing on a hot day!
Wow! I think that I’ve just found my new favorite for the summer! I’ve just tasted Coconut lime frozt last week and I fell in love with it!
Wow! I think that I’ve just found my brand new favorite for the summer! I’ve just tasted Coconut lime frozt last week and I fell in love with it!
These sound interesting!
It sounds like mostly people like the new Frozts! I’m hoping to try the coconut lime in June on a short trip to southern Calif, but I don’t know if I can squeeze it in. Fabulous seeing everyone’s feedback. These sound interesting to me too – And I’d want to try the Pink Lime one again too if I could.
My first thought when I saw the POP sign was “Pink Slime”. That name combined with the image is just too similar to the recent news.
I live in Dallas and was able to sample the Coconut Lime and Pink Lime this afternoon. It is the best drink to bring in the summertime weather (Texas, it’s hot already!). They are both equally the perfect refreshing drink (especially in the afternoon when I don’t really feel like having coffee). Loved them both. I hope they do well in the market so everyone gets a chance to try them!
Just had a Coconut – Lime Frozt. Very excited to try as I love frozen drinks and anything coconut.
This drink was down right unpleasant. I will never purchase another.
We tried the Pink Frozt and loved it! We are in North Texas and this is perfect for the hot summer months to come!
I Love the Pink Lime Frozt. That’s my favorite new drink.. Eventually, I will have to try the Coconut Lime Frozt whenever I can.
I tried the Coconut Lime Froszt at the Starbucks in Bethlehem, GA. Tres yummy! I hope they continue it.
I never realized the suburbs of Atlanta was a test market either. Pink Lime is my favorite because it has the Passion Tea in it without any syrups and it’s pretty cheap, too. I want to say it was $1.98 for a Venti during happy hour.
How do you make the frozen coconut lime drink? What is in it?
Love them both..the coconut one tasted like a mixed drink…LOL! Had it in Milpitas, CA I believe or San Jose…totally found it by accident!
Oh, I had no idea it was just a tester. I’m from the San Jose area, so glad we got these. THEY’RE AMAZING. Pink is my favorite, but coconut is delicious too. They’re so refreshing and satisfying, a great alternative to the passion fruit tea since those go so quickly, not being blended. I hope these stay, I’m in love.
http://instagr.am/p/K3qcwxDjzC/
Just tried the Pink Lime Frozt in Kennesaw, GA. So refreshing, and more natural tasting than I expected. I went in for a breakfast egg sandwich (bacon, gouda, parm…YUM) and really wasn’t in the mood for coffee. This was perfect with the sandwich.
I LOVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the Coconut Lime Frozt. I just had it on Sunday, May 20th going through Gilroy, CA. I was very sad to find out that they’re not everywhere. I would love if they would bring them to the Central Valley.
The coconut lime was fantastic!
I tried the coconut line while on a business trip in Dallas – heavenly! I enjoyed it so much that I had one everyday while there. I am so disappointed to learn they are not here at home in Seattle.
I was in San Jose airport yesterday (5/30/12). I usually get an unsweetened green tea lemonade. I decided to try the pink lime frap/frozt. It was delicious. I wish they served it in Phoenix.
I tried the coconut lime frozt (obviously! Lol!) originally but finally got around to trying the pink lime frozt just the other day! I thought it was really yummy and refreshing! Maybe it’s just me, but it reminded me of the passion tea lemonade, only blended. Yum!!
Bought a Coconut Lime Frozt as I was leaving Target in Norcross, Ga. By the time I finished it I was wondering if it was too soon to go get another one. SUPER yummy! Picked up another one tonight on our way home from the movies. I have a new favorite drink. I really hope these will stay around!
I just had the Coconut Lime Frozt today and I thought the coconut flavoring was gross. It tasted like perfume, which was disappointing, since I usually love lime & coconut. Probably the coconut ‘syrup’ is too fake under the lightness of the lime. Coffee drinks can mask that artificial flavor taste, but in this case – just, no. Maybe I’ll try the pink next time.
I walked into a Dallas Starbucks while visiting last week and was introduced to my new love….
only to be broken hearted when I returned to Houston, TX 🙁
PLEASE… PLEASE… PLEASE test these out at one of these six location in Houston and I bet you will not be let down.
11805 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX
1535 Eldridge Parkway, Houston, TX
11611 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX
14607 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX
14610 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX
803 Hwy 6 S, Houston, TX
I tried the Pink Lime Frozt this morning and it was soooo tasty that I went back on my lunch and got the BIG one!!!! Love it!!! 🙂
Just tasted the Pink Lime Frozt in Atlanta. Somewhere in this thread I read that it contains passion tea. Perhaps that’s why it has a bitter after taste. I don’t care much for teas. I was really hoping for more of a pink limeade taste so was sadly disappointed. I’ll have to try the coconut flavor instead. Maybe it’s just not for me.
I was in the test market for the Pink Lime Frozt last year and absolutely loved it. I luckily am coming to Dallas, regularly, and was very excited to see both the Pink and the Coconut Lime Frotz. I LOVE them both (where I don’t like any of the other frappcchino drinks that Starbucks serves). The Coconut is sweeter of the two and I go all out and get it with whip and coconut flakes on it. I wish they were re-testing in Michigan. I hope they keep them both – they are great summertime drinks when it is 90+ degrees out.
I am totally hooked on the Coconut Lime. It is the best! The Pink Lime, not so much!
I live in ATL and just got a venti coconut-lime frozt as my free birthday drink! It is delicious and not too sweet! Need more coconut. Hope it stays around for the the summer because HotLanta needs it.
The coconut lime tastes like a mojito.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the pink lime frozt…….I hope they keep it!!
I live in the Dallas area and the coconut lime frozt is AMAZING!!! It is soo refreshing and just simply awesome!!! Definitely a summer drink!!!