This Starbucks Medicine Ball Recipe is just the thing for those chilly months, and when you’re feeling under the weather. With citrus mint and peach tea, lemon, and honey, this honey citrus mint tea comes together quickly – it’s comforting AND delicious!

This Medicine Ball Tea, my own Starbucks copycat recipe, is perfect comfort when we’re feeling under the weather, or when we simply want to relax on a chilly evening. I love that as long as we have tea bags, honey, and fresh lemons, we can make this delightful tea whenever we want!
Why We ❤️ This Starbucks Medicine Ball Recipe
I started ordering this Starbucks drink in the airports many years ago, whenever I’d fly in the evening, and especially during the winter. Starbucks now calls it “honey citrus mint tea” on their menu, but I love it just the same. Here’s why we make this tea:
- Comforting. This is the perfect soothing drink for a cold winter’s evening. Also, when we’re feeling rough, with a cough, sore throat, and/or congestion, the hot tea and honey offer comfort and the fresh lemon gives a bright, sunshiny boost of vitamin C.
- Less $$. Homemade drinks always save money. Definitely a win.
- Easy to double. It’s easy to keep extra already-made tea on hand by simply doubling the ingredients (no need to double the tea bags). Then just store the extra tea in the fridge and use it up over the next few days, rewarming as much as you like.
What Is A Medicine Ball Drink?
Medicine Ball tea is a drink that appeared on the Starbucks “secret menu” way back in 2017 and eventually became so popular that they added it to their regular menu.
On the menu, it’s now called “Honey Citrus Mint Tea” but almost everyone knows it as “medicine ball” or “Starbucks cold buster”.
The drink was first made with Teavana brand jade citrus mint tea and peach tranquility tea, plus steamed lemonade and honey. Besides changing the original name of the tea, Starbucks recently changed the drink itself, using different tea bags. Also, Teavana teas are no longer available for consumers to buy.
So…my recipe reflects the original Starbucks Medicine Ball drink, using mint tea and peach tea, plus honey and fresh lemon – it’s delicious!
This drink actually reminds me of a non-alcoholic Hot Toddy, just with mint tea added. Both drinks are perfect for the cold months – and easy to make!
Recipe Ingredients
You only need a few ingredients to make a Starbucks medicine ball drink at home. Scroll down to the printable recipe card for the exact measurements.
- Water
- Lemon juice – Freshly squeezed lemon juice offers bright, fresh flavor.
- Honey – For a touch of sweetness and soothing. I like to use a good quality local honey.
- Tea – This drink was originally made with Teavana brand Jade Citrus Mint Tea and Peach Tranquility Tea – however, this brand is no longer available to consumers. I now use 1 mint tea bag and 1 peach tea bag in their place.
Does Starbucks Medicine Ball Have Caffeine?
Yes, a Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea does contain caffeine – however, it’s very minimal.
According to Starbucks nutrition data, a 16-ounce Medicine Ball (now called Honey Citrus Mint Tea) contains a small amount of caffeine, 16-25 mg.
Easy Variations
This medicine ball recipe is pretty standard but there are a few additions you can make:
- Add peppermint syrup. I know that some people like to order this drink at Starbucks with a pump of peppermint syrup.
- Add some ginger. For my homemade medicine ball, I like to add a couple slices of fresh ginger to the tea while heating it up and while the tea is steeping. I LOVE spicy ginger!
- Use lemonade. The original Starbucks version uses “steamed lemonade”, aka lemonade that’s been warmed up. I opt for freshly squeezed lemon juice in my version because it tastes fresher and I don’t regularly have lemonade on hand. But if you do have lemonade, certainly give it a try.
- Make it sweeter. Depending on my mood, I sometimes stir in a bit more honey than the recipe card calls for. This is especially lovely when using a beautiful local honey. (Of course, you can always adjust to make it less sweet – just add a smaller amount of honey.)
- Add a fresh lemon wheel. When ready to drink, add a fresh slice of lemon to your mug. This is not only pretty, but it also adds more lemon scent and flavor.
How to Make a Starbucks Medicine Ball
Here’s how to make this Starbucks copycat recipe at home in just a few minutes.
- Heat the water. Bring water to almost boiling on the stovetop.
- Add the lemon and honey. As the water is heating up, stir in the lemon juice and honey.
- Steep the tea. When water is almost boiling, turn heat down to low. Add the tea bags. Let steep for 2 minutes.
- Enjoy. Pour the tea into your mug(s). If you want the tea to continue steeping, add the tea bags as well (I always add the tea bags to my mug). Enjoy hot.
Can I Make This In The Microwave?
Yes, you can make this honey citrus mint tea in the microwave if you want.
Just add the water to your mug and heat until very hot but not boiling. Stir in the lemon juice and honey, then add the tea bags. Steep and then remove the tea bags or leave them in if you want.
I do prefer the stovetop method, however, as it gives me a hotter cup of tea once the steeping is done.
Serving Suggestions
For the full benefits of this Starbucks cold buster tea, you should drink it while it’s still hot, or at least very warm. The hot temperature aids in breaking up congestion.
If you want, you can also add a slice of fresh lemon to your tea after it finishes steeping, and add more honey if you want it sweeter.
More Warming Drinks for Winter:
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Medicine Ball (Starbucks copycat)
Ingredients
- 20 ounces water
- 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 mint tea bag
- 1 peach tea bag
Instructions
- In a small saucepan on the stovetop (or in the microwave), heat water to almost boiling. Then turn heat down to low.
- While heating up, stir lemon juice and honey into the water.
- After turning the heat down, add the tea bags to the pan (leaving the strings/tags outside the pan). Let steep for 2 minutes.
- Pour tea into a large mug (or 2 smaller mugs). Add the tea bags to the mug to continue steeping, if desired.
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