Unicorn Frappuccino

Unicorn Frappuccino
A hand holding a purple drink with blue swirls and whipped cream.
A Unicorn Frappuccino pictured in 2017
TypeCréme Frappuccino
ManufacturerStarbucks
DistributorStarbucks
OriginUnited States
Introduced
  • April 19, 2017 (2017-04-19)
  • August 15, 2026 (2026-08-15) (return)
Discontinued
  • April 23, 2017 (2017-04-23)
August 16, 2026 (2026-08-16) (return)
    • US: August 16, 2026
    • PL: August 17, 2026
ColourPurple
FlavourMango

The Unicorn Frappuccino was a viral drink released by Starbucks in April 2017.[1][2][3] The drink, a créme frappuccino, released in select stores in North America.[4] It was made with mango flavored syrup, pink and blue sour powders, ice, milk and whipped cream.[5]

The drink was released as part of the social media-fueled embrace of the unicorn in 2017. It was described online as color-changing, vibrant and flavor-shifting.[6][7][8] In April 2026, Starbucks announced that the Unicorn Frappuccino would return during the Coachella 2026 music festival.[9] Following this, in June 2026 the company announced the drink would make a worldwide return in late summer 2026.[10]

Reception

Due to the high publicity of the drink, many social media users had opinions about parts of the drink, such as the flavor and nutritional facts. These reactions encouraged more interest from viewers and sparked concern from health-focused peers and institutions.[11] Notable reactions included food reviewer and critic Anthony Bourdain stating "Wow, that's like four things I hate [...] It's the perfect nexus of awfulness."[12] when asked about his feeling on the newly released drink in an interview with Town & Country Magazine.

Another celebrity reaction that created a public moment was a viral video of singer Katy Perry spitting out the drink in an Instagram story with the caption "I couldn't handle drinking my own blood".[13] Additional reactions from baristas ranting online about the intense demand for the limited edition drink combined with the labor intensive process of creating the drink and the many complex ingredients spread across the internet.[14]

The Unicorn Frappuccino was criticized by the Stratford Health Department for having too much sugar.[11] The drink, containing 59 grams of sugar, was well above the American Heart Association's recommendation 25g of sugar a day for women, and 36g for men.[15]

2026 rerelease

On April 1, 2026 Starbucks announced the return of the Unicorn Frappuccino, sold exclusively at Coachella 2026.[9] This partnership and return was part of a larger marketing effort announced in August 2024[16] after the hiring of new Chief Executive Officer, Brian Niccol. By capitalizing on nostalgia and comfort, this campaign focused on bringing Starbucks back to its simple coffeehouse roots. Starbucks's efforts to collaborate with a major music festival and reviving the Unicorn Frappuccino was stated as a way of "returning to relevancy" by Nation's Restaurant News' Executive Editor, Alicia Kelso.[17]

In June 2026, the company announced that the drink would be making a return to stores globally for one weekend in 2026.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Roy, Jessica (April 19, 2017). "Taste test: Starbucks is now serving a Unicorn Frappuccino". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. OCLC 3638237. Archived from the original on April 19, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  2. ↑ Bowerman, Mary (April 18, 2017). "People are freaking out over Starbucks Unicorn Frappuccino". USA Today. Gannett Company. ISSN 0734-7456. Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  3. ↑ Judkis, Maura (April 19, 2017). "Starbucks' Unicorn Frappuccino tastes like sour birthday cake and shame". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 2269358. Archived from the original on April 20, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  4. ↑ Coleman, Kara (April 23, 2017). "Believe in magic with the Unicorn Frappuccino". Columbia Daily Herald. Archived from the original on August 18, 2025. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Unicorn Frappuccino® Blended Crème". Starbucks. 2017. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  6. ↑ Kline, Daniel (June 7, 2017). "Is 1 of These Drinks Starbucks' Next Unicorn Frappuccino?". The Motley Fool. Archived from the original on June 7, 2017. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  7. ↑ Eaton, Hillary (June 2, 2017). "You Can Now Turn All Your Food into Unicorn Food". Food & Wine. Archived from the original on June 11, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  8. ↑ "How social media influences food trends". Al Jazeera. May 28, 2017. Archived from the original on June 1, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  9. 1 2 "Starbucks joins Coachella 2026 as official sponsor". Starbucks. April 1, 2026. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  10. 1 2 "Unicorn Frappuccino Blended Beverage makes its magical return later this summer". Starbucks. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  11. 1 2 "Stratford Health Department says 'No' to 'Unicorn'". AP News. April 23, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Anthony Bourdain, American Hero, Calls the Unicorn Frappuccino "the Perfect Nexus of Awfulness"". Town & Country. April 20, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Katy Perry spits out Starbucks' Unicorn Frappuccino after one sip". USA TODAY. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Why Starbucks Baristas Are Rebelling Against the Unicorn Frappuccino". Inc.com. Archived from the original on August 16, 2022. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  15. ↑ Cuda, Amanda (April 23, 2017). "Stratford Health Department says 'No' to 'Unicorn'". Connecticut Post. Archived from the original on April 30, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  16. ↑ lkami (September 9, 2025). "How 'Back to Starbucks' is reshaping every aspect of the coffeehouse experience". About Starbucks. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Starbucks' Coachella sponsorship aligns with marketing goals". Nation's Restaurant News. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
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