In summer, there’s one iced beverage that’s still taking center stage. The “pink drink” from Starbucks. Reportedly as yummy as it is adorable, it’s pretty much a strawberries and cream experience in a cup. But if you’re following the keto diet, the “pink drink” is yet another delicious trend you may need to skip—unless you opt for the keto pink drink version.
Currently taking Instagram and TikTok by storm, keto pink drink sippers swear it’s every bit as delicious and refreshing as the original. But is it? And is it any healthier than the regular pink drink, which boasts 24 grams of sugar? Here, we’ll fill you in on everything you need to know about one of the biggest trends among keto community.
Related: 10 Hacks to Get a Healthy, Low-Calorie Starbucks Drink
What is the keto pink drink and does it taste good?
The original “pink drink” is made of a strawberry acai tea base with added coconut milk and freeze-dried strawberries. The keto version, however, swaps the base for a Passion Tango iced tea (which contains zero sugar), and adds sugar-free vanilla syrup and a dash of heavy cream. It’s a simple workaround that eliminates the carbs in the original version of the drink.
Fans of the original pink drink are divided on whether the keto version is as tasty. Some love it, like Instagram user Ketohealthyme, who called the drink “oh, so so good.” Others, however, admit that when compared to the original version, the keto-friendly pink drink falls flat, with much less strawberry flavor and a slightly heavier mouthfeel than its coconut milk counterpart.
Related: What Is the Keto Diet and How Does It Work?
Is the keto pink drink healthy?
While it does adhere to keto standards of low to no carbs, the jury’s out on whether the keto version of this popular drink is truly any healthier. Kathleen Obert, a Washington University nutritionist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital says, “While this beverage does qualify as part of a keto diet because it is lower in carbohydrates than the regular pink drink, it’s still not made up of ingredients that can be considered healthy.”
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It’s coconut milk that adds creaminess to the original drink, while the…