News: Starbucks - New Handcrafted and Via Starbucks Refreshers

Starbucks has gone and expanded their line of Starbucks Refreshers to handcrafted versions mixed-to-order in stores and VIA versions to make at home. The drinks offer a natural energy drink alternative to coffee or tea and are made with green coffee beans.

Handcrafted Starbucks Refreshers are available in Very Berry Hibiscus and Cool Lime.

Very Berry Hibiscus is described as "Real fruit juice and whole blackberries shaken with Green Coffee Extract for a boost of natural energy, served over ice." The taste is supposed to be of tangy black berries and hints of hibiscus. I actually tried this last year when they were testing it in my area. You can check out the review here.

Cool Lime is "real fruit juice, mint and a lime slice shaken with Green Coffee Extract for a boost of natural energy, served over ice." So basically, mint limeade with a hit of caffeine. The flavor is marked by lime with hints of mint and cucumber.

The same flavors are also available as Via instant beverages where you can just mix it with water and drink. Via Refreshers come in packs of 5 for $5.95 and are available in Starbucks stores and online at Starbucksstore.com.

Looking at the ingredients for the Via version, it looks like Starbucks Refreshers achieve their relatively low calories with the use of stevia in conjunction with sugar.

Outside the U.S., markets to offer handcrafted Starbucks Refreshers include Canada, Brazil, UK/Ireland, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, China, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

Nutritional Info - Very Berry Hibiscus Starbucks Refresher - Grande (16 fl oz)
Calories - 70 (from Fat - 0)
Fat - 0g (Saturated Fat - 0g)
Sodium - 0mg
Carbs - 17g (Sugar - 15g)
Protein - 0g

Nutritional Info - Cool Lime Starbucks Refresher - Grande (16 fl oz)
Calories - 50 (from Fat - 0)
Fat - 0g (Saturated Fat - 0g)
Sodium - 0mg
Carbs - 13g (Sugar - 13g)
Protein - 0g