If you want to tap into a burgeoning fashion trend, it’s not just about what you wear anymore.
In fact, it’s also about what you drink, as Starbucks has launched a multi-coloured Frappuccino inspired by the groovy aesthetic of the 1970s that has sprung back into the sartorial spotlight this summer.
The coffee chain’s “Tie-Dye Frappuccino” might sound odd, because it is. But this tropical flavoured, cream-based beverage is set to be all over you Instagram feeds.
The drink is made using a blend of coffee, cream and tropical flavourings. It contains naturally-coloured powders that get their vibrant shades from tumeric (yellow), beetroot (red) and spirulina (blue). Then the beverage is topped with whipped cream and a final dusting of multi-coloured powder.
The unusual drink is only available in selected Starbucks stores in the US and Canada and will be sold while stocks last this week.
Paloma Carrington-Bataller, product developer at Starbucks, explains that the drink “celebrates summer” through its flavour and its appearance.
“It’s summer in a cup and something everyone can relate to; it takes you back to sunny warm days of summer spent at camp or with friends and family,” she said.
But the beverage has received mixed reviews thus far on social media, with some claiming it tastes like a banana-flavoured Laffy Taffy sweet while others described it as “gross” and a “flop” on Twitter.
Some people claimed that the drink is time consuming for baristas to make and is therefore creating long queues in their local Starbucks.
That's not to say there aren't some dedicated Tie-Dye Frappuccino fans out there, with many customers posting enthusiastic snaps of them and their colourful drinks on Instagram.
