Caffeine Free Strawberry Acai Refresher

There isn’t much that is more refreshing on a hot summer day than a cold strawberry acai refresher on ice in your hand! This homemade pink drink provides a customizable beverage option, for caffeine or caffeine-free versions!

This is a delicious homemade recipe for the pink drink that rivals Starbucks, with optional ingredients to customize it to your preference! Enjoy this refreshing and delicious drink, perfect for a warm day or a flavorful treat at home.

If you adore Strawberry Acai Refresher, you have give this homemade version a try!

What’s in Starbucks Strawberry Acai Refresher? 

According to Starbucks, Strawberry Acai Refreshers feature “sweet strawberry flavors accented by passion fruit and açaí notes, caffeinated with green coffee extract powder —a welcoming sweet spot of refreshment.”

The recipe ingredients include a strawberry acai base, ice, and freeze-dried strawberries.

The strawberry acai base consists of water, sugar, white grape juice concentrate, citric acid, natural flavors, natural green coffee flavor, fruit and vegetable juice, and Stevia.

Storing Strawberry Acai Refresher 

I suggest storing the Refresher base in a large mason jar in the refrigerator. When stored properly, it should last for about 2 weeks.

How to Customize Your Refresher (Caffeine & Energy Boosts)

While this recipe is written to be a delicious, family-friendly, caffeine-free treat, it is incredibly easy to customize based on your energy needs. To build a drink that perfectly fits your day, use these exact measurements:

• For a Starbucks-Level Caffeine Kick: Add 1/4 teaspoon of green coffee bean extract powder to your concentrate while simmering. This gives you the exact natural caffeine boost found in the store-bought version without changing the juicy, fruity flavor.
• For a Clean Energy Boost: Drop 10 to 30 drops of MaryRuth’s Ginseng Extract directly into your drink shaker before serving.
• Turn it into a Copycat “Pink Drink”: Instead of mixing your strawberry açaí base with 1/2 cup of water during assembly, swap the water for 1/2 cup of creamy, sweetened coconut milk. Shake it vigorously with ice for that iconic, pastel-pink creamy refresher experience!

More Strawberry Recipes

If you like strawberries, you’ll love these strawberry recipes! Fresh Strawberry Pie! A fluffy Fresh Strawberry Pavlova. No milk needed Strawberry Milkshake and fresh Strawberry Walnut Salad!

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Caffeine Free Strawberry Acai Refresher

Whip up a refreshing Strawberry Acai Refresher at home by first making a flavorful fruit base, served over ice with strawberries!

5 from 1 vote

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Course: Appetizer, Drinks

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cooling Time: 2 hours hours

Servings: 4

Author: Juliea Huffaker

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Ingredients

For the Strawberry Acai Base:

• 2 ¼ cups white grape juice
• 1 cup hulled and sliced fresh strawberries
• ½ teaspoon acai powder
• 1/2 teaspoon passion fruit powder
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

For the Strawberry Acai Refresher (per serving):

• ½ cup Strawberry Acai Base prepared above
• ½ cup water
• 1-2 cups Ice cubes per serving about 6 cups for 4 servings
• ¼ cup freeze-dried strawberries or sliced fresh strawberries
• Optional: 10-30 drops of MaryRuth’s Ginseng Extract for an energy boost
• Optional: Additional Strawberry Acai Base for more sweetness or less for less sweetness.

Instructions

Part 1: Making the Strawberry Acai Concentrate Base

• Combine and Boil: In a medium saucepan, combine the 2 ¼ cups of white grape juice and the 1 cup of hulled and sliced fresh strawberries. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Simmer: Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes, or until the strawberries have softened and broken down.
• Strain: Remove the saucepan from the heat and carefully strain the hot strawberry and juice mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a large heatproof bowl.
• Extract Maximum Juice: Use a large spoon to press down on the cooked strawberries in the strainer to extract as much juice as possible. You can discard the leftover strawberry pulp or repurpose it for another use.
• Simmer Again: Pour the strained strawberry juice back into the saucepan and return it to low heat.
• Dissolve Powders: While the juice is simmering, whisk in the ½ teaspoon of acai powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of passion fruit powder until they are mostly dissolved. It's normal for the acai powder to leave behind some small granules.
• Add Lemon Juice: Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the 1 teaspoon of lemon juice.
• Cool and Store: Transfer the Strawberry Acai Base to a heatproof bowl or a large mason jar. Refrigerate until it is completely cooled. The base can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Part 2: Adssemble the Strawberry Acai Refresher

• Combine in Shaker: For each serving, add ½ cup of the chilled Strawberry Acai Base and ½ cup of water to an ice-filled shaker.
• Shake Well: Secure the lid tightly and shake well until the ingredients are thoroughly combined and chilled.
• (optional) add 10 to 30 drops of MaryRuth's Ginseng Extract or green coffee bean extract to the shaker. Shake again to incorporate.
• Pour and Add Strawberries: Pour the mixture into an ice-filled glass. Add ¼ cup of freeze-dried strawberries or sliced fresh strawberries to the drink.
• Adjust Sweetness (Optional): Taste the refresher. If you prefer a sweeter drink, add a little more of the Strawberry Acai Base. If you prefer it less sweet, use slightly less of the base.
• Enjoy: Your refreshing homemade Strawberry Acai Refresher is ready… enjoy!

Notes

When you whisk the açaí powder into your simmering juice, you might notice some tiny granules left behind that don’t fully dissolve. This is completely normal! High-quality açaí powder is made from real, freeze-dried fruit skin and pulp, meaning it behaves like real fruit rather than highly processed sugar. It won’t alter the texture of your drink at all, so rest assured you made the recipe perfectly!