Starbucks Korea Has An Exclusive Jeju Starlight Apple Juice Drink And Here’s How To Recreate It At Home

Starbucks Jeju Starlight Apple Juice

If there’s a competition for the prettiest Starbucks drink, the Jeju Starlight Apple Juice will definitely be one of the top contenders. The Jeju-exclusive concoction has gone viral because of how it beautifully resembles a starry night sky. Besides the aesthetic drink, Starbucks Korea’s Jeju-only menu also features a plethora of food and drinks with unique Jeju flavours.

Jeju Starlight Apple Juice’s aesthetic appeal

Image credit: @b._.hz

The Jeju Starlight Apple Juice is a drink made with ginger, apple juice, lemon, and chewy star jellies. Apple juice forms the yellow layer on the bottom, while the top purple layer is made of light ginger juice. It costs KRW6,800 (~USD6.11) and is available iced or warm, in grande size.

Image credit: @flower_korim

The drink’s aesthetic appeal comes from its purple and yellow gradient, which resemble a starlit night sky. The star-shaped toppings – which are chewy jelly bits – also add to the celestial appeal of the drink.

Image credit: @_ro_1.28

The Jeju Starlight Apple Juice’s clear translucent colours also let it “sparkle” under the sunlight, creating a holographic effect. Although the drink was first released in September last year, along with the Jeju Shining Banana Latte (KRW7,200, ~USD6.47), it’s still popular today.  

How to make your own Jeju Starlight Apple Juice

Image credit: @lurlukjy

If you can’t get your hands on a Jeju Starlight Apple Juice, fret not because you can recreate it at home.

Ingredients:

• Clear apple Juice
• Fresh ginger
• Yellow agar jelly cubes (or any topping of your liking)
• Lemon slices
• Butterfly pea flowers
• Water
• Lemons
• Sugar 
• Ice

Steps:

1. Heat 600ml of water and 10g of butterfly pea flowers over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. You can adjust the ratio of water and butterfly pea flowers to your liking.
2. Mix in sugar while the infusion is still hot and set it aside to cool. The liquid should be a clear blue.
3. Blend fresh ginger until you get a mixture of juice and pulp.
4. Line the bottom of a glass with agar jelly.
5. Fill the glass with ice.
6. Muddle ginger and apple juice together, then pour it into the ice-filled glass till half full.
7. Top up the rest of the glass with the butterfly pea infusion.
8. Garnish with a slice of lemon and serve.

The beauty of butterfly pea flowers is that its colour changes from blue to purple when acidity levels change. That’s why adding in lemon slices or lemon juice can help you achieve the Jeju’s Starlight Apple Juice’s purple top layer. 

Exclusive Jeju Starbucks menu

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Starbucks Korea outlets in Jeju are known for having an exclusive menu that brings out local Jeju flavours, such as hallabong – a type of citrus fruit – and black pork. Every year, new items, including desserts, sandwiches, pastries and drinks, are released.

Image credit: Starbucks Korea

In July this year, Starbucks Korea released a new Taste of Jeju menu which includes local delicacies such as the Jeju Black Pork Sandwich (KRW7,400, ~USD6.65) made with Jeju’s signature black pork ham, scrambled eggs, and ketchup. Another unique addition is the Olle Mini Croissant (KRW4,900, ~USD4.41), a chocolate-coated croissant topped with peanuts from Udo Island and hallabong peel for a nutty citrusy taste.

Image credit: Starbucks Korea

At the end of last year, Jeju Starbucks outlets also welcomed highly-raved savoury favourites such as the Jeju Black Pork Avocado Sandwich (KRW7,200, ~USD6.47) made with black pork bacon, lettuce, avocado, and tomato. Those with a sweet tooth can indulge in the Jeju Real Green Tea Tiramisu Island (KRW7,200, ~USD6.47), which boasts light mascarpone cream and a rich green tea flavour that comes from Jeju-grown tea leaves.

Image credit: Starbucks Korea

The Jeju-only Starbucks menu also includes drinks with healthy locally-grown ingredients such as carrots, mugwort, and black sesame. The Jeju Mugwort Cream Frappuccino features black rice cakes and a fresh mugwort taste while the Jeju Black Sesame Cream Frappuccino is topped with streusel, whipped cream, and black sesame rice cakes.

Starbucks Korea’s Jeju Starlight Apple Juice

It’s not the first time Starbucks Korea has incorporated unique local flavours into their menu. Furthermore, Starbucks is always drawn to creating food items, drinks and merchandise with aesthetic appeal. In time to come, there’ll surely be even more exciting items on their menu.

Check out other Korean dessert articles:

• DIY Korean home cafe drinks
• DIY Korean alcohol concoctions 
• Gorgeous Korean desserts
• Aesthetic Pepero Day desserts
• Starbucks Korea’s 2020 Halloween menu

Cover image adapted from: @yejinlee_6u6 and @b._.hz