I hope this Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea recipe finds you all healthy and full of good cheer! Even though by the name, it sounds like something you’d drink only when you are sick, I love it so much that I treat myself to one every day!
If you do find yourself feeling a little under the weather, this mixture of teas, lemonade, and honey is incredibly soothing to a sore throat, so I can understand how it got its name.
The Starbucks Medicine Ball started out as a secret menu item and then became so popular that it joined the official menu (now called Honey Citrus Mint Tea). If you are looking for a non-coffee option on a chilly day to warm you up, this is the perfect drink for you.
But it’s really easy to make at home too, especially since the exact tea Starbucks uses is available at the grocery store. I never would have thought of steeping two different flavors of tea in one drink together, but the jade citrus mint and the peach tranquility combined are heavenly!
What is in a Medicine Ball from Starbucks?
The Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea is made from 5 simple ingredients – water, lemonade, honey, Jade Citrus Mint Green Tea, Peach Tranquility Herbal Tea
How can I make it at home?
The first step is to warm up the lemonade. I just add it to a mug, and microwave for about a minute. Then add very hot water and stir in some honey.
Then, add the tea sachets. We are steeping two types of tea, one is herbal and one is green tea. They have different water temperature recommendations, so I just try to meet in the middle with water that is about 190 degrees.
This is the temperature it comes out of my Keurig at, so that makes it easy. Add both tea sachets and allow them to steep for 2-4 minutes.
I have used other similar flavored teas that were not quite as good quality as the Teavana teas, and though they tasted fine, I do prefer the Teavana. It is worth a little extra cost, especially since you are making it at home and saving as a result.
And just a note to those who are sensitive to caffeine: while the herbal peach tea is caffeine-free, the green tea in the jade citrus mint does have about 20 mg of caffeine.
I really love having all the ingredients for a Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea on hand. Everyone I’ve made it for just loves it, and it’s so simple!
A little package of all the ingredients and the recipe dropped off on the front porch of someone who was feeling sick or needing some encouragement would be such a thoughtful way to show you care.
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #lovelylittlekitchen
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Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Steep
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea is the most delicious, slightly sweet, soothing cup of tea you’ve ever tasted! So easy to make at home.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces lemonade
- 8 ounces water
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 jade citrus mint tea sachet
- 1 peach tranquility tea sachet
Instructions
- Add lemonade to a microwavable mug, and heat for 45 seconds until very warm.
- Add very hot water (just under boiling, or 190 degrees) to the lemonade in the mug.
- Add one tablespoon of honey, and stir to dissolve.
- Add both tea bags, and allow to steep for 2-4 minutes, or to desired strength.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Serving
- Calories: 163
- Sugar: 42g
- Sodium: 20mg
- Fat: 0.1g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0.2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Jo says
It’s delicious!- my girls and I loved it!
Jackie says
Starbucks will never get my $4.19 again lol, this recipe is absolutely identical to Starbucks and absolutely delicious 🤤
Julie says
Jackie, I agree! Thanks for letting me know how much you enjoy it!
Christy Kincaid says
Identical to Starbucks! I’ll get to enjoying daily! Thanks so much!
Deborah says
My daughter lives in Buffalo, NY, she swears by this and now that she works from home, she makes it everyday for herself. She is telling me to try it also.
Julie says
I’m glad she likes it. It’s very soothing and comforting!
Megan Rouse says
I love it and it taste so very good!!! Thanks for the recipe!!
Meka says
Thank you! My son is coming down with a sore throat and this is just the thing. He loves it and I don’t have to go out to Starbucks.
Lavonda says
I love it and Starbucks will not get my money for this again. My daughter is starting to feel under the weather do the weather so I made her some and she is really enjoying it too. I will be drinking it everyday.😊😊
EJ says
Where does the 42g of sugar come from, the lemonade??
Also has anyone tried just squeezing like maybe half of a lemon into the tea instead of using the lemonade?
Candace says
EJ – It likely will vary depending on the brand of lemonade you use. If you use Simply Lemonade brand (available at most major grocery chains), it’s about 28g. Conversely, the juice from one fresh lemon is around 1g of sugar. Also, 1 tbsp of honey has about 17g of sugar, putting you at about 45g. You could always use less honey.
I’ve not done what you’re proposing but I would guess it would be quite tart. If this calls for 8oz of lemonade, you’d need about 3-4 oz of lemon juice mixed with about 4oz of water to equate. According to Google, that’s 3-4 lemons. Could you do it and make it healthier? Definitely. It would probably just taste a little different and be a bit more work. Which, if you’re making it just to make it isn’t bad. If you’re making it because you don’t feel well, you’re probably not going to want to go to that kind of trouble.
Tiffany says
This is sooo good! Thanks for sharing! I forgot to buy lemonade and used half a crystal light packet and I liked it. I think the packet said 0g sugar so then you would probs just have the sugar amt in the honey EJ.
Glenda says
I follow the recipe but omit The lemonade and substitute half of a squeezed lemon instead . Not overly sweet and saves lots of grams of sugar. Taste is identical… just not as syrupy sweet. I add addt’l honey if necessary. Thanks for sharing this wonderful copycat.❤️
Glenda
Toya says
The lemonade has to be steamed, but i guess you can squeeze 2 lemon inside of a cup and warm it inside of the microwave….
Staci says
I’m having the hardest time finding the Teavana Peach Tranquility tea at any store near me. I have tons of Walmarts and Targets around with no luck. Does anyone have any advice on where to find it?
Becky says
You can order the kit on Amazon minus the lemonade. It has both teas and honey sticks. Starbucks usually adds a pump of peppermint flavor to theirs. It really helps clear the sinuses.
Glenda says
Target carries all the teavanna teas
Alicia says
Order on Amazon 🙂
Pmarc says
I was having the same problem but found both teas on Amazon.
Angie says
I substituted the lemonade w/Crystal Light Lemonade and it was DELICIOUS 😋
Linda Ponce says
Great idea! That’s what I’m going to get. I housesit a lot and that would make it so much easier for me rather than buying and carting around a jug of lemonade. Thanks for posting!!!
Steph says
We are all under the weather in our house, and I remembered drinking many medicine balls a couple years ago (when I likely had covid, before we knew what covid was!). I just bought the ingredients to make this recipe and it came out great! I’d much rather make these at home than spend my money at Starbucks 🙂
Toya says
Couldn’t find any of the tea in the brand suggested. I used Bigelows perfectly mint, perfect peach and certified green tea. I used organic honey and Santa Cruz organic lemonade. It came out perfectly delicious and I only spent $4 because I had all ingredients but 2 of the teas already at home!
Kimberly says
I am not allowed to have caffeine at this time due to meds I am on
What can I substitute for the Jade virus mint even if it’s more than one type of tea
Thank you
Kindra says
Not sure if you ever got a response…. I use mint majesty as a no caffeine replacement for the jade citrus and it comes out perfectly delicious!
Dani says
How would I adjust the portions of ingredients if I only want to make say 12 oz? 6+6 lemonade and water and everything else the same? Thanks
Trish says
This is amazing and tastes just like Starbucks. Used Kirkland brand organic lemonade and Teavana brand teabags. Thanks for the recipe… just subscribed!
Mona says
The Teavana is not in a “box” it’s in a tall plastic container with a peach colored plastic lid ..same goes for the jade tea with a Green plastic colored lid.. I finally found mine at Wal-Mart.
Linda Ponce says
I didn’t know WalMart has these teas. Wow! Who would’ve thought?! Are they cheaper? So expensive on Amazon where I have a Subscription to the teas.
Lisa McCarty says
This was delicious! Used more water than lemonade to make it less sweet as I already dilute the Simply Lemonade normally. Medicine Balls at Starbucks are my favorite! So glad I can now make them at home! Thank you!
Cheryl Ramsey says
Am I supposed to use 8 oz of water and 8 oz of Lemonade?? Is the amount correct?
Julie says
Yes.
Cece says
Teas good and even the honey but 42g of sugar which is equivalent to just above 10 tsp would not be good specially if you are sick.. this would cause so much more inflammation specially if you are drinking it on the daily to “feel better.” Also if you drink it just to drink it it will too cause inflammation in your baby not to mention spike your glucose and cause so many other things. I would leave the lemonade out or just squeeze one lemon in the tea with a little bit of honey it’s not a refined sugar and it has many benefits for us specially when we are sick.
Emma says
I loved this!!!!! I always loved the Honey Mint Citrus and this one is just as good, maybe even better!!!
Dana says
I love this tea. Unable to tell the difference between this and Starbucks. My question is, can this be made in a bigger batch instead of just one cup at at time? If so, could you please tell me the measurements? Thank you!