We can trace honey used medicinally back to 2,000 BC, and it has been consistently used throughout the years and through many cultures. It also happens to be one of the main ingredients of the Starbucks Medicine Ball.
Here’s everything you need to know and how to order a medicine ball on the Starbucks app, medicine ball recipe and more!
An iconic classic of the Starbucks menu, the Starbucks Medicine Ball is a cult favorite. The Medicine Ball is very popular as an at-home fix for common colds, as it blends together soothing ingredients. It is also a flavorful and warm drink for any time of year.
What is a Starbucks Medicine Ball?
Tea, honey, and lemon are the core ingredients of the Medicine Ball, and each of them has a long history of medicinal use.
After being a secret menu item for several years, the drink was added to the full menu a few years ago as the Honey Citrus Mint Tea. This drink is packed with natural remedies for when you’re feeling under the weather.
Fans of the Medicine Ball claim that the drink can help calm sore throats, coughs, congestion, and headaches. The Medicine Ball has been touted for years as a great at-home immune booster.
Medicine Ball Flavors
Not only is the Medicine Ball a wonderfully soothing cold remedy, but is also known for being super delicious!
The lemonade, fruity teas, and sweet honey work together to create a great beverage whether or not you are feeling unwell. Tea and steamed lemonade are the base of this drink and are combined with honey to create an amazing citrus experience.
The History of the Medicine Ball
This ultra-popular beverage has humble beginnings. This drink started out as an Instagram trendy drink. As the Medicine Ball gained popularity as a secret menu item, store managers began reporting multiple orders of the drink every day in their stores.
Apparently, Starbucks corporate took notice. The Medicine Ball became a main menu item almost overnight, and today, it is still sold as the Honey Citrus Mint Tea even in the Starbucks App. Here is a quick breakdown of the Honey Citrus Mint Tea or Medicine Ball:
Starbucks Medicine Ball Calories
This drink is relatively low calorie compared to some beverages. According to the Starbucks website, a Grande Honey Citrus Mint Tea with no alterations comes in at 130 calories. To cut back on calories at home, reduce the amount of honey or swap the lemonade for lemon juice and water.
Caffeine Content
The Honey Citrus Mint Tea comes in at just 16 mg of caffeine. In an average cup of coffee, there is 80-100 mg of caffeine, so this is comparably very little. The caffeine levels are so low that many people consider it to be essentially caffeine-free.
The low levels of caffeine will help keep you related without giving you that shaky feeling. Insomnia and sickness are terrible together! If you are feeling unwell, try to stick to low or no caffeine beverages.
How to Order a Medicine Ball On The Starbucks App
If you are under the weather, here’s how to order a Medicine Ball on the Starbucks app.
Although social media dubs this drink as the “medicine ball,” its official menu name is “Honey Citrus Mint Tea.”
- You’ll find this tea in the “Hot Teas” section located in the “Green Teas” sub-category.
- Simply select Honey Citrus Mint Tea.
- Choose your preferred size.
- Customize your medicine ball to include no lemonade, light lemonade, regular lemonade or extra lemonade.
The default medicine ball in a grande size contains two teabags and two pumps of honey, which you can adjust to your liking.
Done! Now you know how to order a medicine ball on the Starbucks app like a pro!
How To Order A Medicine Ball At Starbucks (In-store)
Your barista may also be familiar with the name “Medicine Ball”, but we think they hate that name. Just ask for a “Honey Citrus Mint Tea”.
Done!
Starbucks Medicine Ball Recipe
If you are REALLY under the weather, it may be best to make the medicine ball at home.
The Starbucks Medicine Ball recipe is relatively straightforward to make at any time. To make a Medicine Ball at home, you will need the following ingredients.
Steamed Lemonade
Sweet and tangy, lemonade can help to boost your immune system. Lemons are full of vitamin C. Honey and lemon juice are a well-known at-home remedy for a sore throat and are very tasty together. For making the Medicine Ball recipe, you will need about 3/4 of a cup of lemonade.
Starbucks uses a store blend for their lemonade, but any store-bought lemonade will do just fine. You can steam your lemonade using a standard steamer or you can warm your lemonade over the stove or in the microwave. The key here is just to get it warm enough to not cool the tea.
Hot Water
Warm your water in a kettle or over the stove. You will use the hot water to dilute your lemonade. The Medicine Ball is not overly strong with the lemonade, and the hot water will help cut through some of the sweetness. The hot water will also help to brew your teas. For making the Medicine Ball at home, you will need about 3/4 of a cup of water.
Jade Citrus Mint Green Tea And Peach Tranquility Tea
These two teas can be steeped together in your hot water and steamed lemonade mixture.
Green tea has been an ingredient in ancient medicines for thousands of years thanks to its high levels of natural antioxidants. Research into the extent of green tea’s health benefits is still underway, though this tea is sure to be soothing and relaxing. The Jade Citrus Mint Green Tea blends spearmint, lemon verbena, and lemongrass into green tea.
Peach Tranquility tea is great for relaxing. This tea is a blend of apple, rose hip, pineapple, chamomile, peach, and lemon for a fruity, flavorful blend. This tea adds even more vitamin C to the drink.
The peach and mint teas together create both great flavor and a great boost to your immune system. Just toss a teabag of each into the steamed lemonade and hot water blend.
Both of these tea blends are sold at Starbucks stores in value packages of 15, though if you cannot find them Teavana also sells similar blends. Any brand of tea will work, just make sure you are getting the correct flavors if you want your at-home version to have the same flavor profile as Starbucks.
For making the Medicine Ball recipe, you will need one bag each of Jade Citrus Mint Green Tea and Peach Tranquility Tea.
Honey
Honey is great for a sore throat or cold. Not only is honey tasty, but it is also often found in cough drops to get you feeling better quickly. Known for being soothing, honey can bring sweetness and relief to your throat.
Honey has been used for thousands of years to treat all sorts of diseases and can help calm a sore throat or cough. The honey plays nicely with the teas and the lemon and adds extra vitamins to the Medicine Ball.
Local honey works great for this recipe. Feel free to use whichever kind of honey you like best. Once your teas are brewed, add a spoonful or two of honey into the warm drink. The honey should melt right in.
Optional: Peppermint
A popular modification for the Medicine Ball is a boost of mint. Mint can help make your sinuses feel clearer and give you a rush of overall freshness. If you would like to add mint, simply add a shot of peppermint syrup in at the same time as the honey.
Copycat Starbucks Medicine Ball
The Starbucks Medicine Ball only has a few ingredients and is very easy to make. Here is a quick rundown of what you need to do to recreate the Medicine Ball at home.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cups steamed lemonade
- 3/4 cup hot water
- 1 bag of jade citrus mint green tea
- 1 bag of peach tranquility tea
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- 1 ounce of peppermint syrup
Instructions
- Heat your liquids- steam your lemonade and heat your water, then combine
- Brew your teas- add both the Jade Citrus Mint Green Tea and the Peach Tranquility tea to the hot liquids
- Add honey to taste
- Serve with a slice of fresh lemon
- Mint can help make your sinuses feel clearer and give you a rush of overall freshness. If you would like to add mint, simply add a shot of peppermint syrup in at the same time as the honey.
Notes
In the summer months, this drink is also great over ice! Simply skip the heating steps and serve with ice cubes. Those who are fans of Arnold Palmers will love this variation.
Order A Medicine Ball Today!
Whether you choose to make your Medicine Ball at home or order one from Starbucks, the Starbucks Medicine Ball is an all-around wonderful beverage. The balance of natural remedies of lemonade, teas, and honey will warm you up and can help you feel better.
Next time you feel a cold coming on, give this drink a shot!
Leave a Reply