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I usually think of the Medicine Ball as the Starbucks drink I order when I want something warm and soothing.
The Medicine Ball Starbucks drink, aka Honey Citrus Mint Tea, is jam-packed with health-boosting ingredients.
The mint and citrus come through quickly, and the honey keeps it easy to sip.
When I feel a cold coming on, I go for a hot one and notice the citrus first, then the mint at the end.
Here’s how to order it and make one at home.
What is the Starbucks Medicine Ball? (Ingredients explained)
A traditional Starbucks Medicine Ball combines warm tea, honey, citrus, and mint, which is why people often order it when they feel under the weather.
That gives you a rough idea of the drink, but what’s actually in a Medicine Ball at Starbucks?
There are 5 Starbucks Medicine Ball ingredients in the baseline recipe, but as is the case with all Starbucks drinks, it can be customized to certain preferences and dietary restrictions.
Here’s the Medicine Ball recipe with no add-ons or alterations:
Key takeaways
- 1Teavana Jade Citrus Mint Green Tea
- 2Teavana Peach Tranquillity Herbal Tea
- 3Steamed Lemonade
- 4Hot Water
- 5Honey
At Starbucks, the cup is usually filled halfway with steamed lemonade and topped off with hot water, which keeps the drink light enough that the tea still comes through.
Then, a Teavana Jade Citrus Mint Green Tea bag is added as well as a bag of Teavana’s popular Peach Tranquility Herbal Tea.
The drink is finished with 2 pumps of honey, or more depending on the size ordered, and some people add an optional pump of peppermint syrup.
How to order a Medicine Ball at Starbucks
How to order Medicine Ball in the store
The Medicine Ball is the most popular hot tea offered at Starbucks, so if you’re ordering in the store or drive-thru line, just ask for a Medicine Ball Tea, and the barista will know exactly what to do.
If the barista isn’t familiar with it, list out the ingredients or ask for the drink by its current name: the Honey Citrus Mint Tea .
How to order Medicine Ball on Starbucks app
Ordering in the Starbucks app is a bit different.
The app name can be confusing because it is listed as a custom drink, not as “Medicine Ball” on the menu.
In the past, I had to build the order manually in the app to make sure every ingredient was included.
These days, the app makes the process easier than it used to be.
It ’s now officially listed on the app under the ‘Hot Tea’ category as the Honey Citrus Mint Tea.
Once you’ve selected that, just choose any add-ons or omissions before placing the mobile order at your local Starbucks store.
Make your own medicine ball at home (DIY copycat recipe)
Like most handcrafted drinks at Starbucks, the Medicine Ball isn’t considered a necessarily ‘cheap’ beverage.
A small one can still feel pricey once you order it regularly, especially if you’re buying it as a habit rather than a one-off treat.
That feels steep for tea, even if it is a comforting order!
The good news is that there’s a budget-friendly alternative, and that’s making it at home.
The copycat Starbucks Medicine Ball recipe is simple: Jade Citrus Mint Tea, Peach Tranquility Herbal Tea, lemonade, honey, and water.
For a single serving, here’s what you’ll need:
You can use similar tea flavors if you can’t find Teavana bags, but Teavana’s signature blends are still the closest match I’ve tried.
Most of the ingredients can be found at major grocery store chains, but Teavana bags can also be found through Amazon.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on what to do to make a copycat Starbucks Medicine Ball at home:
- 1Add the lemonade to a microwavable mug. Heat for 45 seconds until very warm. This will have the same effect as steaming.
- 2Add hot water (slightly cooler than boiling water, or 190 degrees) to the mug with lemonade.
- 3Add 1 tablespoon of honey, stirring to dissolve.
- 4Add both tea bags and allow to steep for 2-4 minutes, or to desired strength.
- 5If using peppermint syrup, add 1 teaspoon to the mug and stir.
- 6Allow the homemade Medicine Ball to cool slightly, sip, and let your taste buds sing!
What is the Starbucks Medicine Ball good for?
Lemon, honey, and green tea are the ingredients that give this drink its cold-season reputation.
Lemon is high in vitamin C, but the more immediate effect here is flavor: it adds brightness and keeps the drink from tasting too sweet.
Then there’s green tea, which is packed with antioxidants that are responsible for promoting fat loss, improving brain function, and lowering the risk of heart disease.
Honey can make the drink feel soothing, especially if your throat feels scratchy, and it also rounds off the tartness.
Temperature matters too. A hot tea can feel more comforting than the ingredients alone suggest.
A warm herbal tea may feel calming to sip, but I wouldn’t treat it as a medical fix.
For me, the Honey Citrus Mint Tea earns the Medicine Ball nickname because it feels like the kind of drink people reach for when they want something soothing.
Starbucks Medicine Ball drink nutritional facts (Is it healthy or not?)
Still curious about the nutritional value of the Medicine Ball tea?
According to Starbucks nutrition facts, the 16-ounce Grande size has 130 calories, 30 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of fat.
Calorie-wise, 130 is fairly moderate for a sweetened Starbucks tea, especially compared with many drinks on the regular menu.
Zero grams of fat is also nice, but 30 grams of sugar is still fairly high. Most of that comes from the lemonade and honey.
If you want to cut back on some of this sugar, the best way to do that is to make your Medicine Balls at home.
If you want to cut the sugar, you can use sugar-free lemonade or fresh lemon juice in water. You can also leave out the honey, though the drink will taste much sharper without it.
But does the Starbucks Medicine Ball help to cure a cold? I’d be careful with that language. It’s a warm drink with a few ingredients people associate with cold-season comfort, but that’s not the same as treating an illness.
Chamomile flowers and chamomile pollen, licorice root, rose hips, and other herbs are often linked with herbal wellness drinks, but they are not part of this recipe.
What the Medicine Ball does have is lemon, honey, Peach Tranquility, and mint, which can make it feel soothing. The warmth is probably the biggest comfort factor.
Next time you’re feeling under the weather, it can be a nice comfort drink, but I wouldn’t call it a cold buster.
FAQs
Can you get an iced Medicine Ball from Starbucks?
Technically, you can order an iced Medicine Ball from Starbucks, but I’ve always found the hot version works better for this drink.
Can I have a Medicine Ball from Starbucks while pregnant?
It depends on who you ask about pregnancy and a Medicine Ball from Starbucks. Many health professionals say an occasional cup may be fine, but others recommend avoiding herbal teas during pregnancy.
What’s a good alternative drink from Starbucks when you’re sick?
A good alternative from Starbucks when you’re sick is hot teas and green teas. They are a great drink during the cold and flu season for alleviating a cold, cough, or flu, and according to a 2020 MSNBC post , “the Medicine Ball does provide a few of the recommendations that can help a cold, especially if you have a mild sore throat. That includes fluid, some vitamin C and a bit of honey.”
How much does Starbucks Medicine Ball cost?
A Starbucks Medicine Ball usually starts around $3.15, though prices vary by location and season.
Try this delicious combination today!
Even if it’s not a cure-all, the Medicine Ball is still one of the more comforting tea-based drinks on the menu.
Lemon juice, green tea, and honey are the main draws here, and the Teavana flavors of Jade Citrus Mint Tea and Peach Tranquility give the drink its signature taste.
If ordering from a local Starbucks isn’t possible, making a Medicine Ball at home is easy enough.
