TikTok star Charli D'Amelio debuted a super sweet 'Charli' cold brew recipe with Dunkin' Donuts and it tastes like a sugar high

Kat TenbargeSep 3, 2020, 02:37 IST

Each caramel swirl pump has 12 grams of sugar, and a medium-sized "The Charli" drink has 3 pumps.Instagram/@charlidamelio, Kat Tenbarge

Charli D'Amelio, the 16-year-old who's the most-followed TikToker with nearly 80 million fans on the app, has become the unofficial face of Dunkin' Donut's influencer advertising.
While Dunkin' didn't previously sponsor D'Amelio, they made the relationship official on Wednesday, when she revealed "The Charli," a new menu item her fans can order on the coffee chain's app.
"The Charli" is a medium cold brew with whole milk and 3 pumps of the brand's caramel flavor swirl, and with 36 grams of sugar it tastes (and feels) like a sugar high.

TikTok star Charli D'Amelio has made her coffee loyalty clear to her 80 million fans on the app (as well as her dozens of millions of fans across platforms) for months. D'Amelio's love for Dunkin' Donuts' cold brew has been such a strong facet of her personal brand that her fans affectionately refer to the pairing with the name: "Chunkin."

D'Amelio's unsponsored pro-Dunkin' posts have netted the company over 294 million free TikTok views, Business Insider previously reported. In exchange, the teen previously got her own Dunkin' merchandise and the company sent her a custom cold brew tap for her home.

But on Wednesday, D'Amelio and Dunkin' announced they were making the partnership official. D'Amelio debuted "The Charli," her own custom menu item, which is her favorite cold brew recipe. Fans can order "The Charli" on the app, which is just what this reporter did the morning of the debut.

The presentation of "The Charli" is charming, with fun social media branding and a little thrill that accompanies the Instagram-friendly "ChrliCldBr" sticker that appears on the drink. But the recipe is, understandably, something a 16-year-old would sip for a sugary treat, and not an everyday morning pick-me-up.

"The Charli" is D'Amelio's first official Dunkin' Donuts partnership, which her fans have affectionately nicknamed "Chunkin."

Dunkin' is using the debut of "The Charli" to encourage customers to use its mobile app. Screenshot/Dunkin' Donuts Mobile App

The drink itself isn't a new creation, but is modeled after D'Amelio's favorite order, which is a cold brew with whole milk and 3 pumps of caramel flavor.

The drink needed a little additional mixing, but it appeared similar to how it looked in D'Amelio's photos. Kat Tenbarge for Insider

"The Charli" has just 200 calories but 36 grams of sugar, and it tastes like sweet leftover cereal milk.

"The Charli" tasted good, but it was a little too sugary for me. Kat Tenbarge/Insider

The experience of drinking "The Charli" can best be described as a sugar high, but the real draw is fan loyalty to D'Amelio.

Dunkin' rolled out "The Charli" with a flurry of social media posts celebrating its debut. Rachel Framingheddu Murray/Dunkin’ via Getty Images

The RealReal is my favorite site to shop for used designer clothes and shoes — here's how to score great deals and make the most of your free membership

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

TikTok star Charli D'Amelio debuted a super sweet 'Charli' cold brew recipe with Dunkin' Donuts and it tastes like a sugar high

"The Charli" is D'Amelio's first official Dunkin' Donuts partnership, which her fans have affectionately nicknamed "Chunkin."

The drink itself isn't a new creation, but is modeled after D'Amelio's favorite order, which is a cold brew with whole milk and 3 pumps of caramel flavor.

"The Charli" has just 200 calories but 36 grams of sugar, and it tastes like sweet leftover cereal milk.

The experience of drinking "The Charli" can best be described as a sugar high, but the real draw is fan loyalty to D'Amelio.