Can Starbucks’ ‘Medicine Ball’ drink cure a cold? (2024)
When it comes to the sniffles or a scratchy throat, some coffee-house fans are turning to a consumer-created beverage at Starbucks: the Medicine Ball. Originally a “secret,” off-menu drink, it was officially added to the Starbucks menu in 2017. And its popularity continues to grow. If you order it now, you’ll need to ask for “honey citrus mint tea”, but most baristas still know it as the Medicine Ball.
I stopped by a Starbucks to try one for myself. The barista who served me was quite familiar with the drink by both names, and first asked me if I was feeling under the weather. She said most people ask for a Medicine Ball by name, and that the hot, caffeine-free drink is popular all winter long.
So what’s in it? The barista readily shared the official Starbucks recipe, and it’s easy to replicate at home.
Here’s the basic recipe, for a 16-ounce, 130 calories drink:
I skipped the optional pump of peppermint syrup on my barista’s advice. She said the syrup made the drink much sweeter with a really strong minty taste, adding “there already is a nice mint flavor from the tea.”
The taste was great! It reminded me of a hot “Arnold Palmer” (iced tea and lemonade mixed). But can it really help cure a cold?
While it’s not specifically what the doctor ordered, the Medicine Ball does provide a few of the recommendations that can help a cold, especially if you have a mild sore throat. That includes fluid, some vitamin C and a bit of honey.
So, while it won’t prevent or treat a cold, it’s a tasty hot drink (that’s not coffee based!) and provides some short-term symptom relief that you can purchase or even make at home more economically.
If you like the idea of this beverage, but don’t want the extra calories, skip the honey (or add a low calorie sweetener) and try sugar-free lemonade to drop the calories to almost nothing.
Enjoy this one with or without a cold! I did!
Madelyn Fernstrom, Ph.D. is NBC News’ health editor. Follow her on Twitter @drfernstrom.
Despite the name, the Medicine Ball isn't going to cure your cold. But it does help to relieve some common symptoms. The warmth of the tea and lemonade
lemonade
limonade f (plural limonades) lemonade; a serving of lemonade. a soda with a hint of lemon flavoring with sugar that is popular in France; a serving of this soda.
The Medicine Ball or Cold Buster is made with Jade Citrus Mint Green Tea, Peach Tranquility Herbal Tea, hot water, steamed lemonade, and a hint of honey. To jazz it up, some customers also order a pump of peppermint syrup for extra flavor in their sniffles-busting beverage.
Sore Throat Relief: The warmth and soothing properties of this tea can provide relief for a sore throat, making it a comforting choice when you're not feeling your best. Relaxation: The combination of mint and citrus creates a calming and relaxing experience, making it an ideal choice for moments of tranquility.
The medicine ball, which is jade, citrus, mint tea and peach tranquility with half lemonade and the rest water. Steamed oat almond or skim milk with a peach passion tea. Bring your own chamomile tea and pop it in some steamed milk. One shot of decaf espresso with steamed milk.
How do you order a medicine ball in person? Ask for a “medicine ball” or “Honey Citrus Mint Tea.” Honey Citrus Mint Tea is the official name of the medicine ball, so you can just request that at the counter or drive-thru window.
What Is A Medicine Ball? Starbucks' Medicine Ball is made by filling a venti cup with half hot water and half steamed lemonade, adding both a bag of Peach Tranquility tea and Jade Citrus Mint tea, and finishing it with a touch of honey.
Despite the name, the Medicine Ball isn't going to cure your cold. But it does help to relieve some common symptoms. The warmth of the tea and lemonade combo can help clear and soothe your stuffy sinuses.
After a little research, I found that a customer actually concocted this tea drink and it was previously on the Starbuck secret menu, but because of the popularity it had, the company made it an official drink – Honey Citrus Mint Tea.
You won't see the words medicine ball on any Starbucks menu, so it's best to order the drink is to use its official name: Honey Citrus Mint Tea. It's possible your barista will recognize nicknames like Medicine Ball or Cold Buster, another way that Instagrammers referred to the drink in the late 2010s.
It's also sometimes known as the Cold Buster because it consists of a venti cup with one bag of Jade Citrus Mint Tea and one bag of Peach Tranquility Tea, half-filled with hot water and half-filled with steamed lemonade. You finish it off with honey and a pump of peppermint, if you feel so inclined.
According to the Starbucks website, the drink is made of a combination of Jade Citrus Mint Green Tea and Peach Tranquility Herbal Tea steeped in a combination of hot water and steamed lemonade with a spoon of honey.
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The benefits of drinking Starbucks Medicine Ball tea when you are sick are largely due to the hydration that you may get, the soothing effects of drinking a warm beverage, the antioxidant and throat-coating benefits of honey for a sore throat, the nasal decongestant effects of the steamy hot beverage, and the ...
But while it sounds healthy, the reality is… it's not as healthy as you'd think. In fact a small Starbucks medicine ball contains over 30 grams of cane sugar! This recipe removes the refined sugar from the medicine ball and gives it a healthier twist… making it actually live up to the name of medicine ball!
And so it also was with the Medicine Ball, a drink that you may have heard someone with the sniffles order. Instead of christening the drink with the name it got famous with, Starbucks now calls it a Honey Citrus Mint Tea, and it's been put on the menu alongside Frapps and Refreshers.
You can order the Starbucks Medicine Ball at the Starbucks drive-thru or in store. If your barista doesn't know what it is, you can list out the ingredients, or ask for a Honey Citrus Mint Tea like I did. (That's right, the Medicine Ball has been added to the official Starbucks menu.)
Open the app and navigate to the order section. From there, go to the menu and select “hotties.” In this category, you'll find the green teas. Scroll through the options until you see the honey citrus mint tea or the medicine ball. You can review the ingredients and customize your order as desired.
Introduction: My name is Pres. Lawanda Wiegand, I am a inquisitive, helpful, glamorous, cheerful, open, clever, innocent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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