McDonald’s is entering the handcrafted beverage market with three new refreshers. I had the opportunity to visit McDonald’s Global Headquarters recently for an early tasting; before diving into my impressions, let’s look at the specifics of these drinks ahead of their May 6th launch. All three options can be prepared with either water or lemonade, depending on your preference; the samples I tested at MHQ were made with lemonade. Because these drinks incorporate either popping boba or freeze-dried fruit, they will be served with the same new “sip lid” used for the trio of dirty sodas launching alongside them.
It is also worth noting that all three refreshers contain a significant amount of caffeine: 65mg in a regular size and 80mg in a large. While the caffeine levels fluctuate by size, they remain consistent even if you order the drinks without ice. Based on my time in the test kitchen and information from a McDonald’s franchise owner on Twitter, the ice is added last—which makes sense for a beverage line built on precise ratios and recipes.
McDonald’s Blackberry Passion Fruit Refresher Review
McDonald’s Refresher!
Pros: This is easily the most subtle of the three new McDonald’s refreshers. Blackberry and passion fruit are both mellow flavors that create an easy-drinking experience, especially when compared to the bolder options below.
Cons: The freeze-dried dragon fruit pieces are extremely small, to the point of feeling somewhat gritty; two of these refreshers contain freeze-dried fruit in a format that I wouldn’t consider ideal for drinking.
McDonald’s Mango Pineapple Refresher Review
McDonald’s Refresher!
Pros: These are the smallest popping boba I have ever encountered, and for good reason: McDonald’s wants to avoid introducing a specialized jumbo straw just for this drink. These micro-bubbles of strawberry flavor travel up the standard red-and-yellow straw at a surprisingly fast pace.
As for the beverage, the flavor profile shifts significantly depending on whether you get a serving of boba. The base drink is pleasantly acidic and tropical, thanks to authentic mango and pineapple notes, while the popping strawberry bubbles provide a nice sweetness.
Cons: That strawberry popping boba also masks how much this actually tastes like mango and pineapple. If a drink is labeled “Mango Pineapple,” strawberry shouldn’t be the dominant flavor. (I feel particularly strange saying that as a known mango critic.)
McDonald’s Strawberry Watermelon Refresher Review
McDonald’s Refresher!
Pros: Before the taste test, I suspected this would be my favorite of the group, and I am happy to report that my affinity for bright red beverages was justified. This refresher is, unsurprisingly, refreshing—light, well-balanced between two quintessential summer fruits, and topped with impressively large pieces of freeze-dried strawberry…
Cons: …the pieces are so large that it was difficult to get them through the sip lid! These three McDonald’s refreshers really achieved a Goldilocks scenario: the freeze-dried dragon fruit bits were too small, the strawberry slices were too big, and the popping boba was just right.
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