Starbucks Medicine Ball Recipe: 5-Minute Cold Buster (copycat)
The first time I ordered a Medicine Ball at Starbucks, I was fighting off a cold and desperate for anything that felt soothing. I didn’t expect to actually love it enough to keep ordering it long after I felt better — or to realize how easy it is to make at home for a fraction of the price.
This Starbucks Medicine Ball recipe walks through exactly how to recreate it, including a real comparison of water-to-lemonade ratios for cutting the sugar without losing the flavor, the actual trick for steeping two different teas together at one compromise temperature, and an honest look at what this drink can and can’t do for a cold.
Quick Summary
This Starbucks Medicine Ball recipe combines warm lemonade, honey, and two steeped tea bags — one green tea, one herbal — into a soothing hot drink. It takes about 5 minutes start to finish. This recipe also covers a Water + Lemonade vs. Pure Lemonade comparison for a lower-sugar version, a Tea Combination comparison, and an honest section on whether this drink actually helps with a cold.
Recipe Snapshot
| Prep Time | Steep Time | Servings | Calories |
| 2 minutes | 3 minutes | 1 | 165 per serving |
What Is a Medicine Ball?
The Medicine Ball is a Starbucks drink that started as a customer-created secret menu order before becoming an official menu item called the Honey Citrus Mint Tea. It’s made by combining steamed lemonade with hot water, honey, and two tea bags — Jade Citrus Mint green tea and Peach Tranquility herbal tea — steeped together in the same cup.
Ingredients
- ½ cup lemonade
- ½ cup hot water, just under boiling
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 green tea bag (mint-flavored, such as jade citrus mint)
- 1 herbal peach tea bag
- Fresh lemon slice, for serving (optional)
Tools You’ll Need
- Small saucepan or microwave-safe mug
- Mug
- Spoon
Starbucks Medicine Ball Recipe, Step by Step
1. Warm the lemonade. Heat the lemonade in a small saucepan over medium heat, or in a microwave-safe mug for about 45 seconds, until steaming but not boiling.
2. Add the hot water. Pour the lemonade into a mug and add the hot water — aim for water just under boiling, around 190°F, which works well for both the green and herbal tea.
3. Stir in the honey. Add the honey and stir until fully dissolved.
4. Steep both tea bags together. Add both the green tea bag and the herbal tea bag to the mug at the same time. Let them steep for 3-4 minutes, or longer for a stronger flavor.
5. Serve. Remove the tea bags, add a fresh lemon slice if desired, and drink while warm.
Water + Lemonade vs. Pure Lemonade
Recipes vary widely on how much lemonade to use, and it makes a real difference in sugar content:
| Ratio | Sugar Impact | Best For |
| Half Water + Half Lemonade (this recipe) | Meaningfully less sugar while keeping the citrus flavor | A lighter, still-flavorful everyday version |
| Pure Lemonade (no water) | Highest sugar content, closest to the original Starbucks version | The most accurate copycat flavor |
| Water + Fresh Lemon Juice (no lemonade) | Lowest sugar, tarter and less sweet | Cutting sugar significantly, with honey providing most of the sweetness |
If you want to go even lighter than the half-and-half ratio in this recipe, replace the lemonade entirely with 2-3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice plus water, and adjust the honey to taste. It won’t taste identical to the original, but it comes very close while cutting a significant amount of sugar.
Tea Combination Comparison
The classic Starbucks version pairs a green tea with a fruity herbal tea, but the exact blend can vary based on what you have on hand:
| Combination | Flavor Profile | Best For |
| Mint Green Tea + Peach Herbal Tea (this recipe) | The closest match to the original, bright and fruity with a cooling mint finish | The most accurate copycat flavor |
| Mint Green Tea Only (double bag) | Stronger, more assertively minty and slightly more bitter | A more intensely minty version |
| Herbal-Only (no caffeine) | Softer, fruitier, no cooling mint note | Anyone avoiding caffeine entirely |
Since green tea and herbal tea technically call for slightly different water temperatures, steeping them together in water just under boiling (around 190°F) is a practical middle ground that works well for both without needing two separate steeping steps.
Does the Medicine Ball Actually Help With a Cold?
No single drink cures a cold, but a few of the ingredients here have some real basis for easing symptoms. Staying hydrated is genuinely linked to feeling better faster during a cold, and honey has been studied as a cough suppressant, particularly for nighttime coughing. Warm liquids in general can also feel soothing on an irritated throat simply due to the temperature and moisture.
Lemonade adds a modest amount of vitamin C, though not nearly enough on its own to meaningfully shorten a cold — its main contribution here is flavor and the psychological comfort of a warm, citrusy drink. This is best thought of as a comforting, hydrating way to feel a little better while you rest and recover — not a substitute for medical care if symptoms are severe or persistent.
Variations to Try
Iced Medicine Ball
Brew the tea normally using the full amount of hot water, then pour over ice instead of serving hot. Add a splash of extra cold water or lemonade to account for the ice melting.
Extra Strong Medicine Ball
For a bolder flavor, use two tea bags of each type instead of one, and steep for the full 5 minutes.
Caffeine-Free Medicine Ball
Swap the green tea bag for a second herbal tea bag, such as chamomile or an herbal mint blend, to remove the caffeine entirely while keeping the soothing quality.
Ginger Medicine Ball
Add a few thin slices of fresh ginger to the mug along with the tea bags for extra warmth and a peppery kick, which pairs especially well with a sore throat.
Vegan Medicine Ball
Swap the honey for an equal amount of maple syrup or agave syrup — maple adds a slightly deeper, caramel-like note, while agave stays closer to neutral and closest to honey’s mild sweetness.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using boiling water straight off the stove. Water that’s too hot can make green tea taste bitter — aim for just under boiling, not a rolling boil.
- Oversteeping. Leaving the tea bags in for much longer than 5 minutes can turn the drink bitter, especially the green tea component.
- Using low-quality lemonade. Since lemonade is one of only a few ingredients here, a thin or overly artificial-tasting lemonade will be noticeable in the final drink.
- Adding honey to boiling-hot liquid. While not a food safety issue, very high heat can dull some of honey’s natural flavor — stirring it in once the liquid has settled to a strong steam, not a rolling boil, preserves more of its taste.
What’s in a Starbucks Medicine Ball?
The official Starbucks version (called Honey Citrus Mint Tea on the menu) contains steamed lemonade, hot water, a packet of honey, and two tea bags — Teavana Jade Citrus Mint green tea and Teavana Peach Tranquility herbal tea.
Storage
This drink is best made fresh and enjoyed immediately, since the tea will continue to steep and turn more bitter if left sitting. If you’d like to prep ahead, warm the lemonade mixture separately and steep the tea just before serving.
Nutrition (per serving)
| Nutrient | Amount |
| Calories | 165 kcal |
| Protein | 0.2g |
| Carbohydrates | 42g |
| Fat | 0g |
| Sugar | 38g |
| Sodium | 15mg |
Nutrition values are estimates and will vary depending on the specific brand of lemonade and honey used.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a medicine ball drink made of?
A Medicine Ball is made of warm lemonade, hot water, honey, and two tea bags — one mint green tea and one peach herbal tea — steeped together.
How do you order a Medicine Ball at Starbucks?
Ask for a Honey Citrus Mint Tea, or specifically request steamed lemonade, hot water, honey, and one Jade Citrus Mint and one Peach Tranquility tea bag if ordering it as the original secret-menu combination.
Does the Starbucks Medicine Ball have caffeine?
Yes, a small amount — the green tea component contains roughly 20-30mg of caffeine, while the herbal peach tea is naturally caffeine-free. For a fully caffeine-free version, see the Caffeine-Free Medicine Ball variation above.
What’s a good substitute for lemonade in a Medicine Ball?
Fresh lemon juice mixed with a bit of extra water and honey works well as a lower-sugar substitute — see the Water + Lemonade vs. Pure Lemonade comparison above for exact ratios.
Is honey citrus mint tea good for a sore throat?
Many people find it soothing thanks to the warm liquid and honey, which has some real evidence behind it as a cough suppressant, though it isn’t a medical treatment for the underlying cause of a sore throat.
Can I make a diy medicine ball without the exact Starbucks tea brand?
Yes — any mint-forward green tea and any fruity herbal tea, such as peach or apricot, will get you very close to the original flavor. The specific brand matters far less than having one green tea and one fruity herbal tea steeped together.
Related Recipes
Starbucks Medicine Ball
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Warm the lemonade until steaming but not boiling.
- Pour into a mug and add the hot water (around 190°F).
- Stir in the honey until dissolved.
- Add both tea bags and steep together for 3-4 minutes.
- Remove the tea bags, add a lemon slice, and serve warm.
Notes
- Water just under boiling (around 190°F) works well for steeping both the green tea and herbal tea together.
- For less sugar, replace the lemonade with fresh lemon juice and extra water.
Disclaimer: This is an independent copycat recipe and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Starbucks. This drink is high in natural sugar from the lemonade and honey and is not a substitute for medical treatment — if you have a persistent sore throat, fever, or cold symptoms, consult a doctor. Honey should never be given to children under 1 year old due to the risk of infant botulism. This article is for informational purposes only and isn’t a substitute for personalized advice from a doctor or registered dietitian.
Jonas Mitchell is a home baker and recipe developer at RecipeValley, focused on approachable, kitchen-tested desserts and everyday recipes. He does not hold a clinical nutrition credential, and his content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice from a doctor or registered dietitian.
