The Iconic Frappucino
Starbucks Brings Back the Legendary Unicorn Frappucino
For the weekend of Aug. 15-16, Starbucks brought back their Unicorn Frappucino. The drink features a vibrant pink mango flavored base and a sour blue drizzle. Initially debuting in April 2017, this fan-favorite came back briefly as a Coachella teaser in April before returning this August.
Originally, this magical drink was meant to be a limited time item, but its release was cut even shorter because of the congestion it caused in stores and in drive-through lanes due to the difficult and time consuming process to assemble the frappuccino.
The reviews of the drink in 2017 were mostly positive, and the drink was trending on social media apps such as Instagram, Facebook and Tumblr. However, since its return this year, many have noted that this response was mainly due to the aesthetic pictures the drink provided for social media rather than its taste.
While many Starbucks fans pleaded for the re-release of the drink, the reviews were mixed upon its return. Some say the sour note tasted like Warheads candy and wonder if the drink was this bad when first released.
“I’d rate it a four out of ten,” freshman Dawson Kitrell said. “I liked the idea of bringing it back but it did not live up to my expectations.”
The drink was expected to taste like cotton candy due to the pink and blue hues, but the surprising duality of the sweet mango and sour flavor was unique and felt like a throwback to 2017.
“I was expecting it to taste like cotton candy,” sophomore Blythe Lewis said. “But I liked it a lot.”
While many fans felt let down with the flavor of the drink, the drink’s opening weekend was extremely successful. In stores all across North America, over 2 million Unicorn Frappuccinos were sold, making a new record, and Aug. 15 became Starbucks’ highest sales ever on a Saturday in the continent. Many baristas and customers dressed up in a variety of different unicorn costumes, from inflatable costumes to professional face paint.
Regardless of the drink’s mixed reviews, the Unicorn Frappucino’s re-release will go down in Starbucks history, forever cementing itself as an iconic drink.
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