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Starbucks turns up the heat with latest drinks lineup of Spicy Lemonade RefreshersStarbucks turns up the heat with latest drinks lineup of Spicy Lemonade Refreshers

The newly announced Spicy Lemonade Refreshers joins the lineup of Starbucks Reserve drinks made with hot honey, announced in March

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

April 14, 2024

2 Min Read
Starbucks Spicy Lemonade Refreshers 2
On April 14 at Coachella, Starbucks unveiled the new Spicy Lemonade Refreshers in three flavors — pineapple, dragonfruit and strawberry — that are spiced with Starbucks’ proprietary chili powder blend.

Starbucks’ newest dual lineup of beverages takes on the “swicy” trend (that’s “sweet and spicy”) that has been popular with younger generations as of late. On April 14 at Coachella, Starbucks unveiled the new Spicy Lemonade Refreshers in three flavors — pineapple, dragonfruit and strawberry — that are spiced with Starbucks’ proprietary chili powder blend. 

These drinks, available at all Starbucks cafes for a limited time starting April 16, join the lineup of “swicy” drinks made with hot honey that were announced last month for Reserve stores in Chicago, New York City, and Seattle. Together, these beverages join the throng of hot honey pepperoni pizzas, sweet chili-flavored Takis, and chili pepper maple syrups that have been popular on menus and in grocery stores over the past year. 

The full Starbucks lineup of sweet and spicy beverages includes:

  • Starbucks Reserve Hot Honey Espresso Martini- Made with Starbucks reserve espresso, Kalak single malt vodka, vanilla syrup, Ancho Reyes chile liqueur, hot honey, and topped with spicy-sweet cold foam and a garnish of black sesame seeds

  • Starbucks Reserve Hot Honey Affogato- Made with vanilla gelato, Starbucks Reserve espresso, Scrappy's orange and firewater bitters, hot honey, and topped with an Amarena cherry

  • Spicy Lemonade Refreshers- Available in spicy dragonfruit (mango, dragonfruit, lemonade, and Starbucks’ spicy chili powder blend), spicy pineapple (passionfruit, pineapple, lemonade and the chili powder blend), and spicy strawberry (strawberry and acai, lemonade, and the chili powder blend)

  • Spicy cream cold foam- Can also be added to drinks at Starbucks cafes as a customization

Spicy drinks have been on cocktail menus for quite some time, and the spicy margarita was named one of Datassential’s Flavors of the Week last year, though the trickle-down to non-alcoholic beverages and coffees has not been as prevalent.

This is not the first time in recent years that Starbucks has played around with creative and unexpected flavors: Last year, the olive oil-infused Oleato was introduced and kicked up a stir on social media over allegations that the drink might cause digestive issues.    

 

Contact Joanna at [email protected]

 

About the Author

Joanna Fantozzi

Senior Editor

Joanna Fantozzi is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She has more than seven years of experience writing about the restaurant and hospitality industry. Her editorial coverage ranges from profiles of independent restaurants around the country to breaking news and insights into some of the biggest brands in food and beverage, including Starbucks, Domino’s, and Papa John’s.  

Joanna holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and creative writing from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in arts and culture journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Prior to joining Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018, she was a freelance food, culture, and lifestyle writer, and has previously held editorial positions at Insider (formerly known as Business Insider) and The Daily Meal. Joanna’s work can also be found in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, The New York Daily News, and Parents Magazine. 

Her areas of expertise include restaurant industry news, restaurant operator solutions and innovations, and political/cultural issues.

Joanna Fantozzi has been a moderator and event facilitator at both Informa’s MUFSO and Restaurants Rise industry events. 

Joanna Fantozzi’s experience:

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (August 2021-present)

Associate Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (July 2019-August 2021)

Assistant Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (Oct. 2018-July 2019)

Freelance Food & Lifestyle Reporter (Feb. 2018-Oct. 2018)

Food & Lifestyle Reporter, Insider (June 2017-Feb. 2018)

News Editor, The Daily Meal (Jan. 2014- June 2017)

Staff Reporter, Straus News (Jan. 2013-Dec. 2013)

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