Over the course of this weekend, I noticed Blueberry Pie Oreos at Target, a Blueberry & Crème Pie at McDonald’s, and a whole menu of blueberry ice cream specials at Häagen-Dazs. After all, the vibrantly colored fruit makes the perfect summer snack—it’s in season, it’s light and lively, and it’s refreshing. That last keyword is why I only had eyes for one cerulean sweet, Dunkin’s new summer star, the Blueberry Breeze Refresher.
The press release for this drink emphasizes its customizability, and there is an array of options for bases that almost overwhelmed even my choice-loving brain. Perhaps you’re feeling simple (you can stick with water), fizzy (go for sparkling water), classic green tea (how about black tea?), or sweet ‘n sour (hello, lemonade). But I must have been swayed by the dessert-y blueberry foods I passed by, because I eschewed all those and even my usual go-to, the perky green tea, in favor of something more indulgent. Sure, it was hot out and I was excited for a drink to quench my thirst, but I also wanted something that would feel like a special treat, and so I opted for the oat milk base.
About three seconds after I’d placed my order, an extremely efficient employee handed it to me, and right away I could spot the differences from my typical Refresher base. The oat milk made my drink opaque and lent it a noticeably thick texture that looked closer to a smoothie than a tea. The first sip stood apart as well; it was creamy and full-bodied, with the oat milk bringing out the blueberry’s sweetness rather than its tartness. I can’t say that this drink didn’t taste like blueberry, but the blueberry was more of an aftertaste that made itself apparent once the initial onslaught of the oatmilk’s nutty sweetness had faded. Said another way: this Refresher didn’t evoke eating a handful of fresh fruit so much as it did eating a blueberry-filled baked good. In that way, it reminded me of 2022’s Blueberry Muffin Kit Kat; I recall some initial confusion about why that flavor had specifically been based on a muffin instead of just the berries themselves, but our reviewer for that product noted a cakey note that gave additional depth, and I noticed that same complexity here. That all being said, I didn’t feel like I was chugging straight sugar—despite its richness, the drink still felt light and zippy enough to allow me to fantasize that I was basking in an ocean breeze alongside my Blueberry Breeze. That worked for me!
I suspect the flavor would have been tangier and juicier with a different base, and I appreciate that flexibility. Whether I want to perk myself up before a day in the office, hydrate on a long walk, or relive the nostalgia of my childhood lemonade stand, there will be a Blueberry Breeze Refresher for any occasion. I’m usually one-and-done when it comes to limited-time seasonal variants, but this drink accommodates my desire for novelty and adaptability so well that I can see myself reaching for another whenever I’m feeling blue this summer.
Purchased Price: $4.56
Size: Medium
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (w/Green Tea) 130 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 15 milligrams of sodium, 32 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 28 grams of sugar (including 28 grams of added sugar), and 1 gram of protein.
