Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea, also known as Honey Citrus Mint Tea, is meant to boost the immune system 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 little healthier but just as soothing for cold symptoms. My Starbucks Medicine Ball recipe is made with simple ingredients, much less sugar than the original, and a must-have hot drink on those days when you just don’t feel so good.
What is a Starbucks Medicine Ball?
Medicine Ball is a tea offered by Starbucks that started in 2017 and could only be found as a secret Starbucks menu item. It is now on the regular menu and is known as ‘Honey Citrus Mint Tea’. The original ingredients of the Starbucks Medicine Ball were Teavana Calming Peach Tea and Teavana Jade Citrus Mint Tea, steamed lemonade and a dash of honey. Currently, since Teavana teas are no longer available, Starbucks is using different, undisclosed tea bags. The website says it contains an “infusion” of apple, green tea, rosehip, lemon, lovage, mint, natural chamomile flowers, licorice, lemongrass, and natural flavors. It is served as a hot drink.
Below is a list of ingredients according to the Starbucks menu.
AN INFLUENCE FROM [WATER, APPLE, GREEN TEA, ROSE HIPS, LEMON VERBENA, SPEARMINT, NATURAL FLAVOR, CHAMOMILE FLOWERS, LICORICE, LEMONGRASS]LEMONADE [WATER, LEMON JUICE, SUGAR, LEMON OIL]HONEY MIXTURE [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 back on sugar. According to the Starbucks website, the Honey Citrus Mint tea has 30 grams of sugar due to the steamed lemonade. Although my version is not as sweet, it is actually beneficial for the body when it is fighting a cold. Plus, as you can see from the ingredient list, there are some other questionable items to avoid when we’re sick.
Another good reason to make your own Medicine Ball tea is to save money! At $4.60 for 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 adjust my herbal tea selection to what I’m feeling at the moment. There are so many really great options that work just as 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. Freshly squeezed lemon juice is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants that make it extremely beneficial for the immune system.
The last reason is that you can easily have all these ingredients on hand and make a Medicine Ball whenever you want in the comfort of your own home!
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Herbal Tea Options:
Instead of peach tea and mint green tea, I usually opt for organic herbal tea, Neck coat. You can easily find it at your local grocery store. Contains a blend of spearmint, slippery elm bark, eucalyptus, marshmallow root and licorice. Throat Coat Tea can be used on its own, but adding lemon and raw honey really turns it into a cold tea! I will say, this is not a tea I would choose if I wanted something nice and warm. It has a very medicinal taste.
According to Traditional Medicinals: For generations, slippery elm played an important role in Native American herbal medicine, as did eucalyptus in the herbal medicine of the Australian Aborigines. This unique blend harnesses the enduring power of both traditions to create an arsenal of support for both neck and chest. A harmonious fusion of herbal wisdom.
I also use green tea because it is such a beneficial tea with its powerful antioxidant properties. Then again, if you’re looking for something that tastes good, you might prefer a tastier tea Chamomile with cinnamon apple.
You could also use plain chamomile tea, plain peppermint tea, and/or Rosehip Hibiscus Tea.
Really any tea combination works as long as it’s herbal.
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Starbucks Medicine Ball Recipe Ingredients:
*Both Mint Green Tea and Country Peach Passion Tea are easily found at most grocery stores and much cheaper from Amazon.
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Ingredients
- 1 tea bag Country Peach Passion Tea
- 1 tea bag mint green tea
- The juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1/2-1 tbsp. raw honey
Instructions
- Add 1 tbsp. raw honey in your favorite mug.
- Add the 2 tea bags.
- Brew the teas with boiled water.
- Using a lemon juicer add the juice of half a lemon.
- Stir and enjoy!
Notes
- *Both Mint Green Tea and Country Peach Passion Tea are easily found at most grocery stores and much cheaper from Amazon.
Optional ingredients and ingredient substitutes:
- If you crave a sweeter drink, you can add more honey according to your preference.
- I like to add fresh mint to my tea as it is steeped. You can also add a drop of organic peppermint essential oil.
- Another optional ingredient is a few slices of ginger in your tea to increase the medicinal value, however, be aware that ginger is spicy and can 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 are looking for a highly medicinal tea, instead of raw honey you can use manuka honey which is full of incredible benefits. Be warned, while it’s so good for you, it has a tea tree flavor 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. The cold season is approaching and this hot drink is a great way to support the immune and respiratory systems. For health benefits, be sure to choose my lower sugar option and skip the Starbucks version!
xx, Jenny
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