- Updated: Jun. 25, 2024, 6:46 p.m.
- Published: Jun. 25, 2024, 6:42 p.m.
![Starbucks Iced Energy beverages](https://www.lonestarlive.com/resizer/v2/XBKRPO4FMJA7DBW3GZYA33QGCQ.jpg?auth=2f8fac0183f8662566b92cb26e2214d210cbdd322f2620741de6fc2b919e3bf9&width=500&quality=90)
Starbucks is celebrating the official start to summer by launching a new lineup of energy drinks, some of which will be available year-round at stores.
The new Iced Energy beverages “combine sparkling fruit flavors with iced tea for the ultimate jumpstart,” the company said in a post on its Starbucks Stories page.
The energy drinks come in two sugar-free flavors that will be a permanent part of the menu: Tropical Citrus and Melon Burst Iced Energy.
The Tropical Citrus Iced Energy blends passionfruit and citrus flavors and is mixed with “mint-tinted” green tea. It contains 205 milligrams of caffeine, which is “similar to a grande Starbucks cold brew,” the company said.
The Melon Burst Iced Energy features melon and cucumber flavors mixed with passion tango tea and contains 180 milligrams of caffeine.
Finally, the Frozen Tropical Citrus Iced Energy with Strawberry Puree, which is available exclusively in the Starbucks app for a limited time, features refreshing flavors of passionfruit and citrus balanced with swirls of strawberry puree.
The new Iced Energy drinks are available only in the coffee chain’s venti size, which is 20 ounces.
While the Tropical Citrus Iced Energy has the caffeine equivalent of six cans of Coca-Cola, it’s still less than Panera’s Charged Lemonade, which had 390 milligrams of caffeine when it was served in a large, 30-fluid-ounce cup without ice. Panera started phasing out their energy drink on May 7 after multiple lawsuits caused a public relations nightmare. The company has denied any wrongdoing, saying it removed the beverage as part of a broader menu transformation.
Iced Energy and Charged Lemonade are part of a growing category called “functional beverages” that chains are eager to jump into. Such beverages contain ingredients that are said to improve health.
Except for the limited-edition Frozen Tropical Citrus Iced Energy with Strawberry Puree, Iced Energy is sugar-free and made with artificial sweeteners. In addition to caffeine and vitamins, the drinks have taurine, which is an amino acid common in popular energy drinks that has been touted as helping to improve exercise performance.
The Food and Drug Administration says healthy adults can generally consume up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day, the equivalent to about four or five cups of coffee.
Starbucks’ Iced Energy is different from its popular Refreshers beverages, which contain about 30 milligrams or more of caffeine.
Starbucks launches other new menu items
Lucky for Starbucks fans, the Iced Energy beverages aren’t the only new items for the season.
The Seattle-based chain also introduced a new non-dairy vanilla sweet cream and non-dairy vanilla sweet cream cold foam to the permanent menu. They both include soy milk and oat milk and can be added to any handcrafted beverage.
There’s also a new Caramel Vanilla Swirl Iced Coffee, which is perfect for coffee lovers with a sweet tooth. The drink takes Starbucks’ new iced coffee blend and features a swirl of caramel and a cascade of vanilla sweet cream.
As for food, the Egg, Pesto & Mozzarella Sandwich and Blueberry Streusel Muffin both join the permanent menu.
The vegetarian Egg, Pesto and Mozzarella Sandwich features a cage-free egg frittata with kale and basil pesto and mozzarella on a toasted cheddar and onion bun.
The Blueberry Streusel Muffin is baked until golden brown and is made with juicy blueberries and is finished with a rich cinnamon streusel topping.
- Treat yourself and three friends to Starbucks for $20 on Saturday
- Starbucks holds Triple Star Day on June 20 to celebrate summer solstice
- Starbucks enters value menu wars with new discounted Pairings Menu
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.