The Unicorn Frappuccino gets a one-weekend Starbucks encore
Starbucks says the cult-favorite mango drink will return on Aug. 15, with baristas on Reddit already bracing for the rush.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
2 min read
Starbucks is bringing back one of its most chaotic-looking drinks for a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it run: the Unicorn Frappuccino returns to menus starting Aug. 15 for a single weekend, according to a company press release.
The comeback is timed for the end of summer, Starbucks said. The drink first landed in 2017 and more recently made a short appearance at Coachella, according to the company and an Instagram post cited in coverage of the promotion.
For anyone who missed the original pastel stampede, the Unicorn Frappuccino is a mango-flavored blended drink with both sweet and tart notes, according to Starbucks. It comes with a blue drizzle, whipped cream and pink-and-blue toppings.
Some fans have compared the flavor to Tropical Skittles in Reddit discussions, though that comparison comes from customers rather than Starbucks.
A short return after other Starbucks nostalgia plays
The Unicorn Frappuccino revival follows a run of attention-grabbing Starbucks drops. The company recently announced a new Bearista Cup, and it also brought back the S’mores Frappuccino before telling customers by email that the drink would be leaving soon.
The Unicorn Frappuccino’s return is the most limited of the bunch, at least based on Starbucks’ announcement. The company described the comeback as a one-weekend event beginning Aug. 15.
That short window could matter for fans who remember the 2017 frenzy, when the drink became a social media magnet because of its bright colors and limited availability.
Baristas are already talking
On Reddit, some Starbucks workers said they had suspected the drink might return after seeing ingredients such as spirulina and sparkle topping appear on inventory lists.
Several Reddit users who identified themselves as Starbucks employees also recalled the 2017 launch as a rough stretch behind the counter. In those posts, workers described stores being short-staffed, ingredients running out quickly and shifts ending with pink and blue powder stuck to them.
One Redditor wrote that every barista who worked during the original Unicorn Frappuccino rollout deserved “financial compensation.” Another said the launch was among the worst days they had worked during many years in Starbucks stores.
Those comments reflect individual Reddit users’ accounts, not an official statement from Starbucks.
Starbucks has not said in the announcement how many stores will carry the drink or how much supply each location will receive. The company’s current guidance is the key detail for customers: the Unicorn Frappuccino is back starting Aug. 15, and only for one weekend.
This story draws on original reporting from Mashable.