Very Berry Hibiscus Lemonade Recipe

DIY Starbucks Very Berry Hibiscus Lemonade

How to Make Blackberry & Hibiscus Tea Lemonade at Home

For something sweet and sippable this summer, try this DIY twist on the Starbucks very berry hibiscus lemonade refresher! A vibrant, floral hibiscus tea mixed with sweet-and-tangy lemonade, served over ice and muddled blackberries. Learn how to make a blackberry and hibiscus tea lemonade in just minutes – including a low sugar and sugar free option.

The Starbucks very berry hibiscus lemonade is a summertime favorite, known for its bright magenta color and sweet, fruity flavor. It’s pretty much a refreshing blackberry lemonade with a fragrant hibiscus tea twist! But, although it’s known for being a lighter option on the menu, the grande (16oz) drink still contains 25g of sugars—much of which is added sugar.

Instead, using my homemade lemonade recipe, you can make your homemade hibiscus lemonade with only 18g of sugars per 16oz, or as little as 2g! Really, it all depends on the sweetener you use—whether you try my cane sugar simple syrup, my sugar free keto simple syrup, or my low sugar version. I’ll show you how to make hibiscus lemonade that’s satisfyingly sweet, with the sugar content that suits your lifestyle.

What does hibiscus lemonade taste like?

Hibiscus tea is made from dried parts of the hibiscus plant, which gives it a vibrant, deep ruby color. Flavor-wise, it has a floral, earthy, tart-yet-fruity taste—similar to cranberries—and the tea is unsweetened. Combined with fresh squeezed lemonade and muddled blackberries, you get a gorgeous hibiscus lemonade with a delicious balance of tartness, sweetness, and berry flavor!

What’s in the Very Berry Hibiscus Lemonade at Starbucks vs. Homemade?

The Starbucks very berry hibiscus lemonade refresher is made with their sweet lemonade, freeze dried blackberries, and a “berry refresher base.” (The base consists of sugar, white grape juice concentrate, green coffee extract, and natural flavors.) It’s got plenty of sweetness, yummy berry goodness, and a bit of caffeine for a pick-me-up! But, interestingly, there’s no actual hibiscus in the drink at all.

In this homemade hibiscus tea lemonade recipe, I start by steeping some hibiscus tea. Instead of freeze-dried, I muddle some fresh blackberries for flavor. Finally, I combine the hibiscus tea with my fresh squeezed lemonade recipe—which allows you to adjust the sugar content to your liking. (Of course, feel free to use store-bought as well.)

How much sugar is in the Starbucks Hibiscus Tea Lemonade Refresher?

In a grande (16oz) Starbucks hibiscus lemonade refresher, there are 120 calories and 25g of sugars. Go up to a venti, and that’s 170 calories and 36g of sugars. Undeniably delicious, but I like having the option to lower the sugar content. Instead, by making this very berry hibiscus lemonade recipe with homemade lemonade, you control the sugar content with the type of simple syrup you use.

Per 16oz of very berry hibiscus lemonade made with:

• Cane Sugar Simple Syrup—18g sugar
• Sugar Free Keto Simple Syrup—2g sugar (made with allulose, erythritol, or monk fruit)
• Low Sugar Simple Syrup—10g sugar (made with half sugar + half sweetener)

Does the Very Berry Hibiscus Lemonade have caffeine?

Yes, the Starbucks very berry hibiscus lemonade contains 45mg of caffeine per grande (16oz) drink. This comes from the green coffee extract in the berry refresher base, which many people enjoy for a fruity pick-me-up. In contrast, this homemade hibiscus lemonade has no caffeine. It doesn’t contain any coffee, and the hibiscus tea is a naturally caffeine free herbal tea.

Watch how to make hibiscus tea lemonade in my Homemade Lemonade + Summer Drinks video!