Trader Joe’s Launches Copycat Version of Discontinued Starbucks Favorite
Trader Joe's released a dupe of a now-discontinued Starbucks drink.
Trader Joe’s has released a dupe of a popular, discontinued Starbucks beverage.
The retailer introduced its Sparkling Matcha Lemonade in late April, and social media has declared that the Trader Joe’s drink is a dupe of an item eliminated from Starbucks’ menu, its Iced Matcha Lemonade.
The Instagram page Trader Joe’s Treasure Hunt shared details of the beverage. It retails for $1.99 per can, while the Starbucks version clocked in at around $4.50 per cup.
The retailer’s website describes the product in the following manner: “The sweet, citrus-y sensations of a classic lemonade and the delicately earthy notes of matcha green tea are a match made in heaven in Trader Joe’s Sparkling Matcha Lemonade! Together, the elements of this complementary combo, along with a brilliantly bubbly base of sparkling water, provide a dazzling depth of flavor in every sip. Available for the spring and summer seasons, it’s the ideal drink for cooling down as temperatures rise, and it’s only available at your neighborhood Trader Joe’s.”
A subreddit shared remarks from Trader Joe’s fans about the new beverage.
“I miss the Starbucks matcha lemonade,” wrote one Redditor. A second suggested, “Yuuuuuum I’m into this! The sparkling strawberry juice is delish, I could see the two being mixed as a yummy combo,” while a third noted, “Just bought it. Tastes awesome. Perfect blend of matcha and lemonade.”
Trader Joe’s Picked up Starbucks’ Discontinued Drink After Coffee Retailer Eliminated It From Its Menu
In February, Starbucks told TODAY that it would be discontinuing 13 drink items from its menu to streamline service and make fulfilling orders easier for its baristas. The company’s Iced Matcha Lemonade was one of those items, later duped by Trader Joe’s.
“As part of our plan to get back to Starbucks, we’re simplifying our menu to focus on fewer, more popular items, executed with excellence,” Starbucks said in a statement at the time. “This will make way for innovation, help reduce wait times, improve quality and consistency, and align with our core identity as a coffee company.”
On Jan. 28, Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol spoke during the company’s first quarter fiscal year 2025 earnings call and revealed that the coffee giant would be reducing its food and beverage offerings by nearly a third by the end of 2025. “In the coming months, you’ll see us begin to optimize our menu offerings, resulting in a roughly 30% reduction in both beverages and food,” Niccol said.
The discontinued menu items include:
- Iced Matcha Lemonade
- Espresso Frappuccino
- Caffè Vanilla Frappuccino
- White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino
- Java Chip Frappuccino
- Chai Crème Frappuccino
- Caramel Ribbon Crunch Crème Frappuccino
- Double Chocolaty Chip Crème Frappuccino
- Chocolate Cookie Crumble Crème Frappuccino
- White Chocolate Crème Frappuccino
- White Hot Chocolate
- Royal English Breakfast Latte
- Honey Almondmilk Flat White
Alternatively, per TODAY, Starbucks recommends customers replace their Iced Matcha Lemonade order with the coffee chain’s Green Tea Lemonade, noting that the beverage shares similar citrus and grassy flavors to the discontinued drink.
The retailer addressed the drastic menu changes in a website post. The statement reads, “This Spring we began removing a selection of less popular beverages and food from our menu. These items aren’t commonly purchased, can be complex to make, or are similar to other products already on our menu. We’re simplifying our menu to focus on fewer, more popular items, executed with excellence. This will make way for innovation, help reduce wait times, improve quality and consistency, and align with our core identity as a coffee company.”
The statement concluded, “By simplifying our menu, we’re helping to create a more intentional, thoughtful experience for our customers — one where every drink is handcrafted with precision and care. ”
