Starbucks Medicine Ball tea a.k.a Honey Citrus Mint Tea is meant to boost immunity as well as soothe a sore throat during flu season. It contains two different types of tea, honey and lemonade and is served hot. I’m making my own version of the medicine ball and mine will be a bit more healthy but just as soothing of cold symptoms. My Starbucks Medicine Ball recipe is made with simple ingredients, way less sugar than the original and a must have hot drink on those days you’re just not feeling that great.
What is a Starbucks Medicine Ball?
The Medicine Ball is a tea Starbucks offers that originated in 2017 and could only be found as a Starbucks’ secret menu item. It is now listed on the regular menu and known as “Honey Citrus Mint Tea”. The original Starbucks Medicine Ball drink ingredients were Teavana peach tranquility tea and Teavana jade citrus mint tea, steamed lemonade and a dash of honey. Currently, since Teavana teas are no longer available, Starbucks uses different tea bags that have not been disclosed. The website says it contains an “infusion” of apple, green tea, rosehips, lemon, verbena, spearmint, natural chamomile flowers, licorice, lemongrass and natural flavors. It is served as a hot drink.
Below are a list of the ingredients according to the Starbucks menu.
AN INFUSION OF [WATER, APPLE, GREEN TEA, ROSE HIPS, LEMON VERBENA, SPEARMINT, NATURAL FLAVOR, CHAMOMILE FLOWERS, LICORICE, LEMONGRASS], LEMONADE [WATER, LEMON JUICE, SUGAR, LEMON OIL], HONEY BLEND [HONEY, WATER, NATURAL FLAVORS, POTASSIUM SORBATE, XANTHAN GUM, CITRIC ACID]
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Why Make Your Own Medicine Ball?
My number one reason for making my own Medicine Ball at home is to cut way back on the sugar. According to the Starbucks website, Honey Citrus Mint tea has 30 grams of sugar due to the steamed lemonade. While my version isn’t as sweet, it’s actually beneficial to the body when battling a cold. Plus, as you can see from the ingredient list, there are a few other questionable items we should avoid while sick.
Another great reason to make your own Medicine Ball tea is to save money! At $4.60 for a 16 oz. herbal tea, I think I’ll pass. Making a Medicine Ball at home for a fraction of the price is the way to go!
I also like to customize the herbal tea selection to what I’m feeling in the moment. There are so many really great options that work equally well with lemon and honey!
By making your own Medicine Ball tea, you can make your tea as healthy as possible by using fresh lemons and high quality honey. Fresh squeezed lemon juice is high in vitamin C and antioxidants making it extremely beneficial to the immune system.
The last reason is that you can easily have all these ingredients on hand and make a Medicine Ball any time you want in the comfort of your own home!
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Herbal Tea Options:
Instead of the peach tea and green mint tea, I usually choose the organic herbal tea, Throat Coat. It can be found easily at your local grocery store. It contains a blend of spearmint, slippery elm bark, eucalyptus, marshmallow root and licorice. Throat Coat Tea can be used on it’s own but adding lemon and raw honey really turn this into a cold buster tea! I will say, this is not a tea I’d choose if I wanted something yummy and cozy. It has a very medicinal taste.
According to Traditional Medicinals: For generations, the slippery elm tree has played an important role in Native American herbal medicine, much as eucalyptus has in Australian Aboriginal herbal medicine. This unique blend taps into the enduring power of both traditions to create an arsenal of support for both the throat and the chest. A harmonious fusion of herbal wisdom.
I also use green tea because it is such a beneficial tea with it’s powerful antioxidant properties. Again, if you’re looking for something that tastes good, you might prefer a tastier tea like Apple Cinnamon Chamomile.
You could also use plain chamomile tea, plain peppermint tea and/or Rosehip Hibiscus Tea.
Really any combination of tea works as long as it’s herbal.
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Starbucks Medicine Ball Recipe Ingredients:
- 1 tea bag of Country Peach Passion Tea (find it HERE)
- 1 tea bag of Peppermint Green Tea (find it HERE)
- The juice of 1/2 a lemon
- 1/2-1 tbsp. raw honey
*Both Peppermint Green Tea and Country Peach Passion Tea are easily found at most grocers and much cheaper than Amazon.
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Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea Recipe
Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea a.k.a Honey Citrus Mint Tea is meant to boost immunity as well as soothe a sore throat during flu season. It contains two different types of tea, honey and lemonade and is served hot. I'm making my own version of the medicine ball and mine will be a bit more healthy but just as soothing of cold symptoms. My medicine ball tea recipe is made with simple ingredients, way less sugar than the original and a must have hot drink on those days you're just not feeling that great.
Ingredients
- 1 tea bag of Country Peach Passion Tea
- 1 tea bag of Peppermint Green Tea
- The juice of 1/2 a lemon
- 1/2-1 tbsp. raw honey
Instructions
- Add 1 tbsp. of raw honey to your favorite mug.
- Add the 2 tea bags.
- Steep the teas with boiled water.
- Using a lemon juicer add the juice of half a lemon.
- Stir and enjoy!
Notes
- *Both Peppermint Green Tea and Country Peach Passion Tea are easily found at most grocers and much cheaper than Amazon.
Optional Ingredients and Ingredient Substitutes:
- If you’re craving a sweeter drink you can add more honey to your liking.
- I like to add fresh mint to my tea as it’s steeping. You could also add a drop of organic peppermint essential oil.
- Another optional ingredient is a couple slices of ginger to your tea to up the medicinal value however, be aware ginger is spicy and could burn a sore throat.
- If you don’t have fresh lemons on hand, you can use lemon juice but keep in mind that fresh is always best.
- You can add more or less lemon juice.
- If you’re looking for a highly medicinal tea, instead of raw honey you can use manuka honey which is packed full of incredible benefits. Be aware, while it is so good for you, it has a tea tree like taste that isn’t as palatable as regular raw honey.
My homemade Starbucks Medicine Ball recipe is the perfect healthy hot tea drink on a cold day. Cold season is upon us and this cozy drink is a great way to support the immune and respiratory system. For health benefits, be sure to opt for my lower-sugar option and skip the Starbucks version!
xx, Jenni
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