“It’s delicious!”
When asked about Starbucks’ “Medicine Ball” that’s the earnest commentary Jenny Hagendorf, MS, RDN, LD, CSOWM, in San Antonio, had to share about the buzzy beverage.
But is it really that good for you? And could it possibly help give you relief from cold and flu symptoms?
Keep reading to discover what a Medicine Ball at Starbucks is, how to make a copycat version at home and what nutritionists have to say about its potential health benefits.
What is a Starbucks Medicine Ball?
You may wonder what is in a Medicine Ball at Starbucks before you start gulping down this alleged elixir on your next trip to the popular coffee chain. First things first, let’s break down what exactly is in this drink so many are ordering as of late.
“The Starbucks Medicine Ball (now formally known as the Honey Citrus Mint Tea) is a hot beverage that contains lemonade, green mint herbal tea, peach herbal tea, and honey,” offers Hagendorf, describing the fan-favorite drink at the largest coffee chain in the world (in Texas alone, there are said to be 1,315 Starbucks stores or one Starbucks per every 22,050 people, according to data company ScrapeHero). If you would like to order the Medicine Ball from Starbucks, ask for it by its formal name — Honey Citrus Mint Tea — at a Starbucks store or order it by that name on the Starbucks app. On the app, you can also customize the drink by deciding how much honey, how much lemonade, and whether you want to add cinnamon powder, etc. to your beverage.
“During cold and flu season the Starbucks Medicine ball is the hot secret menu order,” adds Adrien Paczosa, RD, LD, CEDRD-S, chief clinical officer and founder of Nourish, a national telehealth company with headquarters in Austin, Texas. Next time you find yourself at a Starbucks or have a colleague or a friend going on a Starbucks run, you might want to consider test-driving the hot beverage yourself and ordering a Medicine Ball at Starbucks. FYI: The Starbucks Medicine Ball price is said to be upwards of $3.15 per Starbmag.com, and prices may vary by location.
A woman laying on a sofa and blowing her nose.
Can the Medicine Ball at Starbucks help you if you have a cold or the flu?
As always, consult with your primary care physician or trusted healthcare professional if you have a cold or the flu (or symptoms associated with either). In short, no drink is going to cure your cold or flu magically. Still, experts say, a Medicine Ball from Starbucks may help alleviate certain symptoms. The reason is trifold: “Hot fluids, honey, and lemon are known to be natural cough remedies. Lemon is also a source of vitamin C which is a necessary vitamin for an optimal immune system. Green tea serves as an anti-inflammatory ingredient and has shown to have beneficial effects against a variety of disease,” says Hagendorf, who cautions that while she wouldn’t rely on the beverage entirely for cold and flu relief, “it can be a fun approach to getting well and staying hydrated.”
Echoing Hagendorf, Paczosa notes that if you choose to go for this Starbucks Medicine ball, it will not prevent or treat your cold, yet it may provide some relief from your symptoms and help you stay hydrated. “The warm beverage does contain some vitamin C, from the lemonade, antioxidants and cough-suppressing support from the honey, along with hydration and immune support from the teas,” says Paczosa. Bottom line: The Medicine Ball Starbucks ingredients have healthy properties, but like any food or beverage, don’t consider it a cure-all.
Close-up of label for Teavana Peach Tranquility atop a container of brewed peach tea from a Starbucks cafe
How to make the Medicine Ball from Starbucks at home
If you would like to make your own Starbucks Medicine Ball tea at home Paczosa breaks down how to make a similar beverage:
1. Take one tea sachet of Teavana Jade Citrus Mint tea and one tea sachet of Teavana Peach Tranquility and steep them in 12 ounces of hot water from a tea kettle.
2. Add eight to 12 ounces of heated lemonade to a large mug (Starbucks steams their lemonade, but all you need to do is heat it, which you can do on your stove or from combining room temperature lemonade with the hot tea water if you don’t mind making the beverage a little less hot)
3. Drizzle in honey.
Hagendorf provides a similar copycat recipe for making the Medicine Ball from Starbucks at home, this time using a microwave. Here's what you'll need:
1. Gather your ingredients: Eight ounces of lemonade, eight ounces of water, one tablespoon of honey, one Teavana Jade Citrus Mint tea sachet, and one Teavana Peach Tranquility tea sachet.
2. Add lemonade and water to a microwavable mug and heat for 60 seconds until very warm.
3. Stir in your honey and steep your tea for about 3-4 minutes.
Depending on the individual, Hagendorf advises that you might want to modify your DIY Starbucks Medicine Ball. “To minimize the amount of added sugar, you can use less lemonade in the recipe or try True Lemon Lemonade for your lemonade base,” says Hagendorf. “To optimize the antioxidant value consider adding vitamin C rich lemon juice/peel or fresh mint for an anti-inflammatory digestive aid.”
Fresh or powdered turmeric might be a nice addition when making this beverage at home, too. “If you would like, add in some turmeric for the possible reduction of inflammation in the body linked to excessive coughing and sneezing, and possibly increasing antioxidant capacity to boost your immunity,” says Paczosa. The potent plant also adds a jolt of zingy flavor.
A pot of tea sits at the Teavana "tea bar" on October 24, 2013 in New York City.
s the Medicine Ball at Starbucks healthy for you?
“Compared to other Starbucks beverages this drink is better than most as it provides some beneficial properties from the green tea,” says Hagendorf. “On the other hand, the beverage does have a handful of added sugar, so enjoying this as a treat would be the best approach to your health.” As with most guidelines about health, “everything in moderation” is a good attitude to have, and if you drink a version of the Starbucks Medicine Ball regularly, consider just having hot water or tea with lemon instead, and skipping the honey to avoid excess sugar.