Starbucks Serious Strawberry Frappuccino Review

When a Secret Menu item is too good to be kept a secret anymore, it joins the main menu as a fan favorite – just like Starbucks’ Serious Strawberry Frappuccino. More than just a frap with some strawberry syrup, it’s a blend of delicious ingredients with a hint of floral flavors. Even if you’re not a fan of strawberry-flavored drinks, this one is an exception worthy of trying. We’ll explain why in this Serious Strawberry Frappuccino review.

History and Inspiration

Frappuccinos are some of Starbucks’ most popular drinks, and those of us who love them can’t get enough of the flavor variations. Starbucks knows this, so they continue working out new recipes and seeing how much we love them. Honestly, I haven’t met a frap I didn’t like. The Serious Strawberry Frappuccino was a Secret Menu item that moved up to the main menu as Starbucks began re-working its Strawberries & Créme Frappuccino, another pink drink. It officially joined the ranks of the franchise’s other vibrantly-colored drinks nationwide in June of 2018. 

Types of Serious Strawberry Frappuccino

Stateside, you can order it as it’s named- a Serious Strawberry Frappuccino, and your barista will whip it up for you. To order it outside of the US, ask for a Strawberry Frappuccino but with vanilla sweet cream instead of milk. It would be best if you also asked for strawberry puree at the bottom of the cup. Then drink should then be topped with a strawberry drizzle and whipped cream. I know this because I tried to order one in Mexico, and we had to pull up good ol’ Google to figure it out. 

Serious Strawberry Frappuccino Review

The Serious Strawberry Frappuccino is super flavorful, layered with swirls of strawberry puree, mixed with Starbucks’ reinvented Strawberries and Crème Frappuccino (a blend of ice, milk, and their strawberry infusion blend). It’s then topped off with strawberry puree and vanilla whipped cream.

1.      Taste and Texture [4/5]

This new flavor is surprising. I expected it to taste like a vanilla frap with syrupy strawberry favors, but it was more than that. The strawberry puree tastes real and fresh, and there’s a botanical, floral flavor in the aftertaste that was quite pleasant and interesting. Because the frap is layered, you get different levels of sweetness. A sip with more white frap gives you a creamy, light tart flavor, while sips with more strawberries are filled with more fruity flavors. It’s different from the re-vamped Strawberry & Creme Frappuccino in that this drink looks marbled and layered, whereas the old version is an all-pink drink. The vanilla whipped cream rounded out this classic combination of berries and cream.

2. Are they healthy? [3/5]

Because this strawberry treat is fruit-infused and caffeine-free, it’s great for kids and the younger Starbucks fan crowd. If you prefer to skip dairy, you can order it with any of the alternative kinds of milk Starbucks offers, including soy, almond, and coconut milk, added in 2015. A Grande Serious Strawberry Frappuccino contains 350 calories, 14 grams of fat, and 50 grams of sugar, according to Starbucks. Considering that you could eat a healthy meal (like a fast-food chicken salad) for 350 calories, this does seem a bit high. But as a treat every once in a while, why not? The sugar content is high, so if you’re ordering it for kids, make sure they have open spaces to run around and burn that energy off. I wouldn’t recommend it for a road trip. 

3. Are they Worth it? [4/5]

I’ve only had this drink one time, but my kids really enjoy it. It’s a delicious mix of fruity and creamy flavors, reminiscent of strawberry ice cream but better. There are real fruit and no caffeine, making it a top choice for all my little ones. The price is a bit steep when I have to purchase for all three kids, but it’s definitely worth it as a special treat. 

Final Verdict

You might be surprised by the quality of flavors in this drink. I used to order my Caramel Macchiatos with two pumps of raspberry, but I stopped because it tasted more like an artificial flavoring. The Serious Strawberry Frappuccino does not have that same flavoring. It’s real strawberry puree with real strawberries and seeds, and it’s a fantastically fresh summer drink. 

Serious Strawberry Frappuccino Nutrition Facts

• Calories – 350
• Total Fat – 0 g
• Saturated Fat – 0 g
• Trans Fat – 0 g
• Cholesterol – 0 mg
• Sodium – 230 mg
• Total Carbohydrate – 55 g
• Dietary Fiber – 1 g
• Sugars – 54 g
• Protein – 4 g
• Caffeine – 0 mg

Serious Strawberry Frappuccino Pricing

The price varies slightly according to location, but Starbucks’ Serious Strawberry Frappuccino costs between $4.95 and $5.45 for a grande size, just a bit more than a Mocha Frappuccino. It’s right in line with the prices of Starbucks’ other fraps as well.

What do you think?

That covers it for our Serious Strawberry Frappuccino review. How would you compare the new Serious Strawberry Frappuccino to the previous Strawberries & Creme Frappuccino? Do you prefer one over the other? We’d love to hear your experience in the comments below.