Since pretty much the beginning of time, humans have searched painstakingly for a viable hangover remedy capable of rescuing even the most tortured souls. I’ve been there.
If you have a pounding headache or nausea and are wondering why you decided to accept those shots of Fireball last night, you may be feeling desperate for a solution.
Could the right Starbucks drink cure those nasty hangover symptoms? I’m here to cover the 11 best Starbucks drinks to cure your hangover.
Top 11 Starbucks Drinks To Cure Your Hangover
When looking for the best Starbucks drink for hangovers, you may feel inclined to reach for a caffeine boost from your favorite nitro cold brew.
We’ll get more into the ins and outs of this in a second, but we want to focus on consuming hydrating beverages to feel better.
Here are the best drinks at Starbucks to cure dehydration:
1. Water
Water is hands down the best option for hangovers—the OG refreshing beverage: good, ol' H2O. Alcohol is a diuretic, which is the enemy of hydration.
While you probably aren’t going to make the trip to Starbucks for a cup of water, I suggest ordering one alongside whatever other drink you decide on in the morning.
In most cases, your barista will offer you a venti iced water for free.
2. Refreshers (All Flavors)
The aptly-named beverage is lightly-caffeinated, typically made with real fruit juice and green coffee extract.
The refreshing drink isn't usually overwhelmingly sweet and offers a natural source of energy that can help you get through the day.
Currently, Starbucks has 12 different Refresher variations on their menu. My top choices for the ideal hangover beverage are:
3. Iced Matcha Tea Latte
For me, I’d almost purposefully get a nasty hangover if it meant I could have an Iced Matcha Tea Latte in the morning. (Just kidding!)
Matcha on its own is packed full of antioxidants, which could help lessen the effects of alcohol.[1]
Not to mention it’s delicious. Sub out coconut milk instead of the standard 2%, and you are well on your way back to hydration land.
4. Pink Drink
Ah, yes, the Pink Drink. It's pretty, tasty, and super hydrating - it's quite possibly the best Starbucks drink for hangover resolution.
The blend of the Strawberry Acai Refresher and creamy coconut milk is just what the doctor ordered, containing plenty of natural electrolytes and vitamins to help keep you hydrated.[2]
Best of all, a Venti Pink Drink will only set you back 200 calories.
5. Iced Matcha Lemonade
The Starbucks Iced Matcha Lemonade is packed full of vitamins to help your body recover from hangover symptoms. It’s refreshing, with slightly fruity flavors to create a comforting beverage.
It’s not on the official menu, but you can also ask for a Hot Matcha Lemonade, and your barista will mix you up a cup of hot matcha and steamed lemonade.
Tips From A Barista!
Order it without water for a stronger lemonade taste.
6. Iced Golden Ginger Drink
This play on the classic Golden Milk beverage involves turmeric and ginger, which can help reduce inflammation and alleviate nausea!
Ginger has a calming effect on the digestive system and mind, while coconut milk offers electrolytes to help with hydration.
For as sweet as it tastes, I was surprised that a grande only has 19 grams of sugar.
7. Iced Shaken Espresso
Sometimes, when you have a hangover, you don’t want to go overboard with different flavors.
An iced shaken espresso is chilled and has some milk (coconut milk is even better), with caffeine that will keep you going after a night out. It can even help get rid of headaches![3]
If you're a coffee lover like me, you'll surely enjoy this delicious espresso beverage.
However, I highly suggest getting it on ice. Drinking a straight, hot espresso could dehydrate you quickly, and suddenly you may feel even more hungover!
8. Green Tea (Iced Or Hot)
Green tea is basically a magical elixir for getting rid of a hangover!
The Starbucks Iced Green Tea drink is my favorite, but various studies have suggested that hot water and herbal tea can help kickstart your digestive system, stimulate your circulation to flush out alcohol, and have other benefits like helping to protect your liver from damage![4]
9. Honey Citrus Mint Tea (Iced Or Hot)
The Honey Citrus Mint Tea is a Starbucks concoction that serves as a calming drink ideal for recovery.
The combination of Jade Citrus Mint green tea, Peach Tranquility herbal tea, steamed lemonade, and honey is actually my go-to when I start getting a hint of a cold.
It’s also the perfect solution after a big night out.
10. Evolution Fresh Orange
If you're in a hurry or don't want to wait around for a tea to steep, grab an Evolution Fresh Orange from the cooler and benefit from the fructose and vitamin C.
It even includes some green tea to help further lower your blood alcohol concentration.
11. Evolution Fresh Super Fruit Greens
The Starbucks Evolution Fresh Green Devotion/Superfruit Greens drink is 100% juice, packed with mango, orange, spinach, spirulina, chlorella, and lots of vitamin C.
This great drink does taste quite a lot like organic celery mixed with fruit, but it'll make you feel better.
What Are The Ultimate Hangover Elixirs?
Caffeine Vs No Caffeine For Hangovers
When you're feeling sluggish and can't seem to get yourself out of bed, the first thing you may reach for is caffeine. However, caffeine is a diuretic that can make you even more dehydrated.
Let me make this clear. There is no “best coffee for hangover” (sorry nitro cold brew lovers). Seeing as how dehydration is the main cause of a hangover, we definitely don’t want that!
However, we also know that caffeine can give you a shot of energy which you may need to get up and going.
If you are going to drink an espresso or another drink with caffeine, I just recommend pairing it with something with electrolytes. Maybe add in some coconut milk with your coffee (fantastic combo, by the way).
Hot Drinks Vs Cold Drinks For Hangovers
I personally find hot water-based drinks like the Honey Citrus Mint Tea, Green Tea, and Peach Tranquility Herbal Tea to be comforting after a big night out drinking.
Some people enjoy the jolt that cold water gives them, which can also feel nice on the stomach.
At the end of the day, the most important thing is drinking enough water and electrolytes, no matter the temperature. Hydration is good for hangovers.
How We Chose The Best Starbucks Drinks For Hangovers
It’s no secret that Starbucks has a ton of drink options out there - many of which would make a great choice for the hungover individual. The drinks we chose are definitely not a one-size-fits-all.
For example, some people may be averse to cold or caffeinated beverages while hungover. In that case, a shaken iced espresso would not be the ideal beverage for them.
You may already know if your body does well with caffeine with a hangover. I’ve found out the hard way that while I have a coffee addiction, I have to drink iced water to counteract the diuretic effects, or my hangover gets even worse.
One thing that we all can benefit from, though, is electrolytes.
Coconut milk-based options will have plenty of electrolytes, and many of those include added antioxidants and vitamins to further help move that alcohol out of your body and promote recovery.
Adding onto the hydration front, we considered water-based drinks heavily, as water is essential for recovery from a hangover.
We prioritized teas that are a great option for the morning, oftentimes including stomach-friendly ingredients like ginger and honey.
We tried to steer clear of any drink with added sweeteners and artificial flavors, as these can sometimes have a detrimental effect on blood sugar levels and irritate the stomach further.
Starbucks Drinks For Hangover FAQs
What Starbucks drinks are good for nausea?
The Iced Golden Ginger Drink is probably the best Starbucks drink for nausea. The Iced Green Tea is the runner-up, which is rich in polyphenols and can help with digestion. Just note that it does contain some caffeine.
What Starbucks drinks are good for a headache?
Once again, the Iced Green Tea is a great Starbucks drink for a headache, along with coconut-milk-based drinks like the Iced Matcha Tea Latte (sub out 2% for coconut milk).
What Starbucks drinks are the most hydrating?
The Pink Drink (Strawberry Acai Refresher + coconut milk) is the most hydrating Starbucks drink, alongside the Iced Matcha Tea latte and, of course, an iced water. Oh, and I personally like ordering either the Jade Citrus Mint Green Tea with some coconut water for a tasty, herbal drink that hydrates well.
Is coffee best for a hangover?
Unfortunately, coffee is not best for a hangover. However, if you have a caffeine addiction, you probably aren't giving up your coffee so easily. Just make sure to add in some electrolyte-heavy drinks alongside the cup o' Joe.
How do you cure a hangover fast?
Hydration is the best way to cure a hangover, fast. To achieve proper hydration, you'll need to drink enough water and consume enough electrolytes. Drinking water without electrolytes can actually have the opposite effect, which we don't want!
How long does a hangover last?
Hangovers can last anywhere from around 8 to 24 hours. However, you may not feel 100% until a couple of days later. It all depends on the person and what you've consumed.
What alcoholic drinks give you the biggest hangover?
Darker alcohols, like whiskeys, bourbon, and red wine, contain more congeners than lighter alcohols, making hangovers more intense. Also, drinking beverages with lots of sugar will make hangovers worse.
Start Feeling Better Fast With These Drinks!
I know you want to start feeling back to normal after a long night out, and if you’re determined to do so, make sure to try one or more of these hydrating drinks from Starbucks that will help detox you of that alcohol!
They’re packed full of vitamins, are refreshing, and are just a great choice to speed up recovery. Oh, and they’re delicious!
References:
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324178
- https://medlineplus.gov/fluidandelectrolytebalance.html
- https://www.uclahealth.org/news/caffeine-connection-between-coffee-and-headaches
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4538013/
