Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea Ordering Guide
Starbucks’ Medicine Ball is one of its most popular custom drinks. Even though its name sounds more like gym equipment than tea, it is meant to prevent colds and flu.
My decision to try the Medicine Ball at Starbucks came as a result of watching the temperature drop.
What is a Medicine Ball?
When someone says social media trends are fleeting, they mention the Starbucks Medicine Ball. An off-menu creation circa 2016, the drink gained popularity after fans shared pictures on Instagram. One Starbucks location manager realized that his baristas made 20 or more Medicine Balls daily, so he codified the recipe in the company’s internal messaging system. The drink remains popular, and Instagram users continue to post homages to it eight years after it gained internet popularity. Starbucks introduced Honey Citrus Mint Tea to its official menu in 2017.
Nutrition Facts
| Amount Per Serving | Value | % Daily Values* |
| Calories | 100 | |
| Total Fat | 4.00g | 5% |
| Saturated Fat | 2.500g | 13% |
| Trans Fat | 0.000g | |
| Cholesterol | 15mg | 5% |
| Sodium | 90mg | 4% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 10.00g | 4% |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.0g | 0% |
| Sugars | 9.00g | |
| Protein | 7.00g |
What’s in a Starbucks Medicine Ball?
These ingredients give the popular beverage its flavor:
- This tea has a citrus mint taste with a hint of jade
- Tea with peaches for tranquility
- Lemonade with steamed water
- There is hot water
- A honeycomb
Jade Citrus Mint and Peach Tranquility tea bags are steeped in hot water, lemonade, and honey, and sweetened with honey. The Jade Citrus Mint green tea contains lemon verbena, lemongrass, spearmint, and approximately 20 milligrams of caffeine per 8 ounces. It contains lemon verbena, lemongrass, and spearmint. 8 ounces of coffee contain 95 mg of caffeine. Peach Tranquility is a caffeine-free herbal tea blended with peaches, candied pineapple, chamomile, lemon verbena, and rose hips.
You can customize your Starbucks order. Some people request extra honey, mint-infused simple syrup, or swap out teas.
Benefits of the “Medicine Ball” tea:
- This plant-based drink is rich in vitamins A, C, E, K, and B, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, and magnesium. These antioxidants aid immune function.
- The compound EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) is the most significant component of green tea because it protects cells from damage and helps treat diseases.
- Honey’s antioxidants and vitamins, along with its anti-bacterial and antiviral properties, boost your immune system and keep you healthy.
This health drink combines these ingredients with lemonade and water flavors.
How to Order a Medicine Ball at Starbucks
As Starbucks doesn’t mention the medicine ball on its menu, it’s better to order it as Honey Citrus Mint Tea. Your barista may recognize the nickname Medicine Ball or Cold Buster used by Instagrammers in the late 2010s. If you stick to the official moniker, however, you are more likely to get the exact combination of tea, lemonade, and sweeteners you expect.
Even so, standing at Starbucks, you won’t have trouble remembering the name Honey Citrus Mint Tea. “More people call it Medicine Ball because that’s how it started,” says Deshaun Green, the shift supervisor at a Starbucks in Tuckahoe, New York. However, Starbucks employees make it with confidence no matter what its name is.
What does a Medicine Ball taste like
Medicine balls at Starbucks taste very sweet without added honey or flavored syrup. Starbucks’ website says 8 fluid ounces of its lemonade (or half the liquid of a Grande Medicine Ball) contain 13.5 grams of sugar. It is entirely up to you whether you enjoy the flavor profile or prefer a bitter brew. If your tastes tend toward the latter, but you want to try a Medicine Ball at Starbucks, ask your barista if they can make one without honey or with less lemonade.
Starbucks Medicine Ball Review
Medicine Ball tea is delicious. I love peach and it’s the dominant flavor, so it was an immediate hit for me. It also masks the bitterness of green tea, making it almost pleasant to finish. It was a welcome respite from the weather outside, and it felt like a comforting hug with every sip. If I had a cold, I would probably try it again.
This drink overpowers the other flavors, so I wouldn’t recommend it if you aren’t a peach fan. I didn’t taste much lemonade or mint, and there was just a tiny hint. It has been suggested that peppermint syrup is added to counteract this. Since I enjoy the fresh flavor, I’m planning to add it next time.
It can also be overwhelming with the sweetness. I had to space out my venti for over a half hour to cope. That said, I wouldn’t hesitate to order it again with a healthy shot of mint, perhaps.
Why Do We Love It?
- When you’re feeling under the weather or your allergies hurt, this is the appropriate drink for you.
- You can make it in just a few minutes, and it’s simple to prepare.
- This is a thoughtful gift. I love leaving one on the porch for a friend who is unwell. It is always well received.
- If you stock up on these ingredients, your drinks will cost a fraction of what Starbucks charges.
