Dutch Bros Shine Review: Honest Thoughts

Over the holidays, I hopped on a little adventure to see what Dutch Bros Shine was all about. It promises to turn your drink into a shiny delight, so how could I not?

Here’s my firsthand account of what I got out of it—from test driving the drink to which of Dutch Bros go-tos look the best with added ‘Shine’.

Topics Explored

1. What Is Dutch Bros Shine?
2. Shine Review
3. 10 Dutch Bros Shine Drinks

Shine Has Been Around Before

Shine isn’t a new thing at Dutch Bros.

It was first launched in June 2018, and during its time, people were adding a pop of shine to drinks like lemonades, teas, and Rebels⁽¹⁾ .

Shortly after it was launched, Shine was taken off the menu, which caused quite a stir among loyal Dutch fans.

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Honest Thoughts: What Does Dutch Bros Shine Taste Like?

Okay, so to be upfront, I wasn’t even sure what ‘Shine’ was until I randomly saw it in the Dutch Bros app. I decided to give it a go as soon as I could.

I chose a vanilla cold brew with Shine, a drink I’m familiar with, to really notice any difference.

Taste

With the added ‘Shine’, straight away, the first thing I noticed was that it was way sweeter than the regular brew.

But flavor-wise, it was the same vanilla cold brew.

I was a bit surprised—I guess I was expecting a unique flavor to match the sparkle, but it was just the sweeter version of a drink I was already used to.

Ingredients

So, I knew there was something different about the sweetness and found out it came with liquid cane sugar. To be exact, it was Torani cane sugar syrup with added glitter.

I asked my bro-ista more about the ‘Shine’, and found out it’s made up mainly of dextrose and food-safe glitter (same as the stuff you find on cakes).

And this combo is supposed to sweeten your drink and give it that glimmer.

Cost

Adding Shine in your drink is extra, and it costs a dollar more. But it’s not available with every drink, mostly just clear drinks and iced ones.

After I tried it, I felt like it was more of a one-time thing rather than something I’d drop another buck for.

Although it was initially fun, the glitter eventually disappeared to the bottom of my cup, and I wasn’t as into it as before.

Nutrition

I’m not totally sure about the health aspect of eating glitter, but one thing’s for sure: Shine brings a good amount of sugar into your drink.

It’s around 80 to 100 calories, depending on your cup size.

It’s also not possible to make Shine sugar-free, so if you’re watching your sugar or counting calories, you might want to take a pass on it.

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Dutch Bros Shine Drinks

Dutch Bros suggests five select drinks that are perfect for adding Shine, but it doesn’t end there.

Plenty of other drinks on the menu can get a touch of sparkle, too. Here are my takes on the most popular picks and how Dutch Bros Shine levels them up.

1. Electric Berry with Shine

Description:

Electric Berry Lemonade is this mix of sweet, tangy, and bright, combining blue raspberry and lime into an iced lemonade.

By adding Shine to it, the drink gets a sparkle-twist and turns every sip—elevated by the shiny swish of glitter.

2. Midnight Rebel with Shine

Description:

Midnight Rebel is this bold drink with the tang of blackberry and the richness of pomegranate.

It’s full of spirited berry flavor, and Dutch Bros Rebel Energy to power it up.

Drenched with Shine, the drink’s dark purple hues are glowing and match its gutsy taste.

3. Laser Cat Lemonade with Shine

Description:

Laser Cat Lemonade is raspberry and coconut synergy with a kick—a mix known for its tropical taste.

It’s a drink that already stands out for its unique taste. Now add Shine and it brings a brand new sheen to the scene. The raspberry pinks swirl and the coconut shimmers in new, shiny light.

4. Grapefruit Black Tea with Shine

Description:

The Grapefruit Black Tea is unique in its robust black tea flavor combined with the tangy taste of grapefruit.

A mix of bitter and sweet flavors, with grapefruit zest that gives it an exciting kick—perfect for anyone partial to fruity teas.

5. Tropical Green Tea with Shine

Description:

Dutch Bros’ Tropical Green Tea is a bright and easy-sipping tea.

You won’t get too much of the tea’s grassy notes but you’ll experience a burst of tropical flavors from the passionfruit and coconut syrups.

Its sweet and tangy taste will transport you to a tropical paradise with every sip.

YOU MAY LIKE: Don’t Skip These 10 Dutch Bros Tea Drinks

6. Starry Night Rebel with Shine

Description:

Starry Night Rebel combines blue raspberry and blackberry to give a sweet but tangy kick.

Adding Shine to this already-lively drink gives it an extra visual pop and turns it into as much of a feast for the eyes as it is for the taste buds.

7. Double Rainbro with Shine

Description:

The Double Rainbro is a drink that’s all fun and games!

It brings together strawberry, peach, and coconut, making a drink that’s both creamy and tangy, and sweet and fruity.

When Shine comes into the picture, the drink gets turned up a notch, and the already-lively, fruity flavors get a big boost from the added sparkle.

YOU MAY LIKE: Strawberry Drinks at Dutch Bros

8. Tigers Blood with Shine

Description:

And we have another bonus round: it’s Tiger’s Blood!

This one’s all about the wild flavors, with strawberry and coconut syrup mixed through the signature Dutch Bros lemonade.

It’s another tropical beverage, with a mix of creamy, sweet, and tangy that’s really refreshing. Adding Shine takes this colorful drink and turns it into what I call ‘the taste and sight sensory overload’.

9. Vanilla Cold Brew with Shine

Description:

Then we have the Vanilla Cold Brew that I talked about earlier.

Smooth, rich cold brew and sweet and creamy vanilla make this drink a top choice for those after a drink that’s both comforting and classic.

Shine adds a bit of dazzle but doesn’t change the beloved flavor, giving this coffee a bit of an extra-special look on top of satisfying flavor.

10. Peach Tea with Shine

Description:

Last but not least there’s the Peach Tea on the list.

Peach Tea is the ultimate hot day sipper, mixing up juicy peach flavors with tea’s light floral notes.

When Shine hits this fruity favorite, it transforms this tea into a special, sparkly drink.

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Final Thoughts On Dutch Bros Shine

And that’s the final rundown on the Dutch Bros Shine. 

It’s a definite thumbs up on the visual front, but once that visual appeal settles, it comes with an extra sweetness and caloric add-on that makes it a one-time deal.

So while it’s a cool change of pace, I don’t think I’d go for it again. But for anyone wanting to switch up their usual coffee run, Shine may well be a day-brightener.