This Starbucks medicine ball recipe is something you can find on the starbucks secret menu. It’s sometimes referred to as the “Cold Buster” and is now officially on the menu as Honey Citrus Mint Tea. This is an ultra comforting hot drink for when you’re feeling stuffy from a cold or need something to soothe an off-feeling stomach. It’s a must during flu season but honestly, I also love this drink even when I’m feeling great—it’s delicious!
While it’s great to order this at Starbucks if you’re out and about, I like making it at home even more as you can use fresh herbs and customize the flavor and sweetness level to your liking.
Related Try more Starbucks copycat recipes: London Fog drink, Pink Drink, Paradise Drink, Mango Dragon Fruit Refresher, Strawberry Acai Refresher, Egg White Bites and homemade Frappuccino.
Ingredients
- Hot Water
- Lemonade bottled or made from a mix
- Mint Tea Any type of mint or spearmint tea. Starbucks specifically uses Jade Citrus Mint green tea.
- Peach Tea Starbucks uses Peach Tranquility tea. Any type of peach tea will work great.
- Honey or agave.
- Lemon freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- Mint fresh mint leaves.
If you want a no-sugar added option for the lemonade, I recommend using water and True Lemon, which is simply crystalized lemon. I like adding this to drinking water, too.
What does Medicine Ball taste like?
The Medicine Ball (officially known as Honey Citrus Mint Tea on the Starbucks menu) tastes like a warm, sweet citrus and mint tea drink.
How to make Starbucks Medicine Ball Drink
To a large mug, add the lemonade mix, tea bags, honey, lemon slices, and mint leaves.
Heat the water to around 200°F (93°C) and pour into the mug. This will likely mix the honey and lemonade mix, but if you see any give the mixture a few stirs with a spoon to mix everything together well.
Allow to the tea to steep in hot water for 3-4 minutes. Sip as soon as it’s cool enough to enjoy. This also smells amazing in addition to being delicious.
Tips for Making
- If you are using pre-made (bottled) lemonade instead of water and a mix, you should heat the lemonade along with the water in this recipe.
- Honey can be soothing for a sore throat, but if you want to avoid all added sugars you can skip it or use less than this recipe calls for.
- While peach tea makes this Medicine Ball recipe more like the Starbucks version, you can use other fruit herbal teas if you prefer, like orange, pineapple, lemongrass, lemon verbena or chamomile.
- If you use herbal teas your drink will be caffeine-free. Of course, if you prefer the added caffeine, be sure to choose teas that contain caffeine. You could use or add a green tea bag for some anti-inflammatory properties.
How to Order a Starbucks Medicine Ball
The Medicine Ball started out as a secret menu item. If you you want to order this drink at Starbucks the official menu name for it is Honey Citrus Mint Tea. If you are about to order and you can’t remember that name, don’t stress. Most baristas at Starbucks recognize the name Medicine Ball as that is how the drink originated.
Benefits of Starbucks Medicine Ball
- A hot beverage is good for coughs as they can help sooth soreness
- Honey is also good for sore throats and coughs as it can help sooth soreness
- Lemon contains vitamin C and antioxidants — both can boost your immune system.
- Mint can help with digestive health as well as with allergies.
- Given this beverage does not contain caffeine you can drink this anytime of day or night; and being well hydrated has many health benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are lemons good for you?
Lemons contain high amounts of vitamin C and can also be soothing to sore throats.
Is fresh mint good for you?
Mint may be helpful in aiding in digestion, soothing upset stomachs, or helping sooth cold symptoms.
Does herbal tea have caffeine?
No, herbal teas do not contain caffeine.
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Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 2 teaspoons lemonade mix
- 1 mint tea bag
- 1 peach tea bag
- 2 teaspoons honey
- ½ lemon
- 5 mint leaves
Instructions
- To a large mug, add the lemonade mix, tea bags, honey, lemon slices, and mint leaves.
- Heat the water to around 200°F (93°C) and pour into the mug.
- This will likely mix the honey and lemonade mix but if you see any give the mixture a few stirs with a spoon to mix everything together well.
- Allow to steep for 3-4 minutes.
- Sip as soon as it’s cool enough to enjoy. This also smells amazing in addition to being delicious.
Notes
Nutrition
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
I love ABM podcast, and love that this recipe from their site popped up when I searched for a medicine ball recipe! Love how adaptable it is. We have some sick people I need to make it for ASAP! Thanks Emma and Elsie!
My husband and I were recently sick and I remembered I had heard this mentioned on the ABM podcast (which I’m getting caught up on while I work on my summer sewing list-yay!). We made it every day for 2 weeks straight! It is great for a stubborn cold. We ran out of peach tea and used lemon ginger, it was great as well. This is such a flexible, easy, and soothing recipe!
Delicious, easy to make, and so soothing for my sore throat!
Absolutely delicious and easy recipe to follow and make. Thank you!!
My husband and I are loving this! Thank you!
Perfect for the little colds in the Fall!
Love this recipe, I omitted fresh Mint leaves but it was still delicious and so soothing for a cough/cold. Thanks for sharing!
My son is in bed with a cold and I’ve just made this for him 🙂 we don’t get lemonade mix here in New Zealand so I’ve just used lemon juice and a touch of rind. Here’s hoping he’s on the mend soon!
Great recipe, love this! I cheated and used bottled lemon juice and omitted the fresh mint leaves and it was still amazing.
Ran straight for this recipe as soon as the leaves started changing!
Starbucks’ Medicine Ball (Honey Citrus Mint Tea) is a game-changer! Soothing, delicious, and perfect for colds or anytime.as i read it on starbmenu co uk . A must-try!”
I ordered my favorite Starbucks tea- Honey Citrus Mint. I was so disappointed to find out Starbucks has changed the recipe. They no longer make it like the recipe.
This is my new favorite tea!
I started making this at the office as an afternoon treat. I use Publix lemonade as a sub to mix and it works well. Hits the spot and I save money. Win-win! ☺️
I’ve never actually had the Starbucks version of this but I made it after hearing Emma mention it on the podcast and absolutely loved it! I made it for my husband when he was unwell recently too and he really enjoyed it even though the only hot drink he will ever have is traditional English tea.
I love to make this drink when I have a cold, it helps my throat feel better.
Perfect for a sick day.
I love this drink! It’s the best when I have a scratchy throat. Thanks so much!
Love this as a non-caffeinated evening pick me up!
Holy guacamole! I’ve tried to recreate the medicine ball from other recipes but found it too artificial tasting. The freshness of the lemon and mint are everything! Adding to my regular tea rotation!