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Fast-casual restaurant group Sweetgreen has rolled out a refreshed Housemade Beverage lineup across 120 locations, introducing two new flavour profiles, reformulated legacy recipes, and an expanded cup architecture.
The update introduces Tropical Black Tea and Fresh Blackberry Basil alongside reformulated iterations of the chain's Signature Lemonade and Ginger Greens. Alongside recipe development, the business has introduced a larger 24-fluid-ounce (approx. 710ml) serving format, complementing its foundational 16-ounce cup offering across participating restaurants.
The beverage overhaul responds to rising transactional attachment within the chain's restaurant estate. According to internal sales metrics, the share of orders containing a beverage has expanded by nearly 25% since Sweetgreen first introduced its housemade drink platform, positioning scratch-made beverages as a primary driver of check growth and afternoon snacking traffic.
"At Sweetgreen, we're always exploring new ways to bring bold, delicious flavours to the menu," said Nicolas Jammet, Co-Founder and Chief Concept Officer of Sweetgreen. "We made them slightly less sweet so the blackberry, basil and ginger come through first, and every drink is crafted to complement the meal. A drink is often the last thing someone adds to their order, and we want it to be one of the parts they look forward to most."
Clean-Label Formulations
The beverage range aligns with Sweetgreen's core culinary sourcing philosophy, preparing drinks on-site daily using whole fruits, fresh vegetables, botanical herbs, and organic agave nectar as an alternative to refined corn syrups:
đ„„ Tropical Black Tea: A bold black tea base infused with tropical fruit flavours and toasted coconut notes, formulated entirely without sweeteners.
đ« Fresh Blackberry Basil: Combines tart, juicy blackberry puree with fresh, aromatic basil leaves and light agave sweetening.
đ Signature Lemonade: A reformulated classic citrus blend, recalibrated with reduced sweetness to emphasise bright, crisp lemon acidity.
đ„Ź Ginger Greens: A cold-blended recipe combining sweet apple juice, leafy spinach, and zesty fresh ginger root.
By reducing aggregate sugar levels across the reformulated drinks, culinary developers aim to enhance flavour definition while designing recipes intended to pair with savoury warm bowls and dressed salads without overwhelming the palate.
Sweetgreen Refreshes Housemade Beverage Lineup
October 20, 2026
