There were unicorn lattes, unicorn hot chocolates, unicorn cheesecakes, unicorn donuts and even (thatâs right, toast). For more than a year, social media feeds have been overrun with images of bright, colourful and sparkly unicorn-themed food and drinks dedicated to the mythical beasts.
Now that Starbucks has jumped on the bandwagon and released a limited-time only âcolour and flavour-changingâ Unicorn Frappuccino this week, many weary social media users are starting to wonder if this trend will ever end.
Unicorns are supposed to be elusive, right?
On Monday, Starbucks introduced their take on the unicorn craze with a âsweet dusting of pink powder, blended into a crème Frappuccino with mango syrup and layered with a pleasantly sour blue drizzle.â
Thatâs according to a news release posted online by the coffee giant. The cold drink is also topped with vanilla whipped cream (obviously) and sprinkled with sweet pink and sour blue âpowder topping.â
It all sounds so⌠um, delicious? The complicated-sounding beverage is only available for five days (April 19-23) at stores in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico because âthis limited-time offering is as fleeting as a rainbow.â
The most intriguing aspect of the new sweet and sour beverage is, perhaps, the claim that it can change colours and flavours as the consumer drinks it.
âThe Unicorn Frappuccino blended crème comes with a bit of magic, starting as a purple beverage with swirls of blue and a first taste that is sweet and fruity. But give it a stir and its color changes to pink, and the flavor evolves to tangy and tart,â Starbucks said.
The allure of a âmagicalâ and oh-so-Instagram-worthy Unicorn Frappuccino convinced enough Starbucks customers to rush out and purchase the whimsical treat that many online users complained about locations selling out of the drinks on the first day they were made available.
Can you bring back the unicorn frap asap? Tried surprising my gf but they sold out. Help me out .
â Zachary Bray (@Zachary_Bray)
Went to Starbucks this morning for my matcha and they were already out of the unicorn drink.
â Jen Humston (@JenHumston)
One Starbucks barista already tired of making the popular beverages on Monday just to rant. âIf you love us as baristas, donât order it,â Braden Burson, in Monument, Colo. pleaded to his viewers.âFor the love of God and everything that is good, donât get the Unicorn Frappuccino.â
Even though customers have been eagerly storming the gates of their local Starbucks to get their hands on the buzzworthy drink, many subsequent reviews have appeared to be⌠less than magical.
So I tried the Unicorn Frappe from Starbucks and it's disgusting
â Brittney (@itsbrittneeyyyy)
if you got a unicorn frapp at Starbucks... we aren't friends anymore
â jules (@juwiakennedy)
played us with that unicorn drink... I had maybe 3 sips of it before I threw it away it because it was so gross and it cost $5
â syd (@sydnaaygrace)
Other users appeared to be taken with the Unicorn Frappuccinoâs attractive appearance and likened the taste to various candies.
the unicorn frap is so cute
â lauryn âĄď¸ (@laurynkitten)
Decided to try that unicorn frappuccino from starbucks. Tastes like trix yogurt lol. â¤
â Jamila Young (@JY26)
The unicorn drink from Starbucks tastes like gummy worms
â Diamond (@diamondkg22)
Just got the Unicorn Frappuccino from . It's surprisingly pretty good.
â Victoria Boisson (@VICtheWise)
It seemed like the majority of the online posts dedicated to Starbucksâ newest beverage were concerned about the drinkâs ingredients, in particular the amount of sugar. , said a Venti-sized Unicorn Frappuccinoâs 76 grams of sugar amounted to the sugar in three Snickers candy bars, which have 27 grams of sugar each. So, not quite, but close.
âOr if you prefer, sitting down and eating 18 sugar cubes in one sitting,â Huot wrote on Monday. âThat should hurt your teeth to think about.â
And she wasnât the only one who took issue with the beverageâs sugar quantity.
Attracted to the new Unicorn drink from ? âď¸
â Kateâ (@kateoneil75)
It may look nice on the outside but there are 500 cal, 18g of fat & 76g of SUGAR.
The Starbucks Unicorn Frappucino... just, no.
â Sherise (@SheriseyPieces)
I don't think people should be so surprised with the amount of sugar in the unicorn frappe. It's from Starbucks!
â WANDERING MALIA (@WanderingMalia)
Even with all of the negative attention directed at the Unicorn Frappuccinoâs flavour and sugar content, some online users just didnât seem to care.
Don't care about the calories, it was worth it! @ Starbucks
â Jodi Meier (@HoosierGirl5)
Decided to take sugar drug in am.
â Ostap S. (@ukiman45)
Whatâs next, unicorn lasagna?