The first chilly week of fall always sends me looking for something warm, citrusy, and a little sweet, and this copycat Starbucks Medicine Ball is exactly that. It’s green mint tea and peach tea steeped in a mix of hot water and warm lemonade, finished with a spoonful of honey. Cozy, bright, and ready in about 10 minutes.
The best part? You don’t need the exact tea bags Starbucks uses. In this Starbucks medicine ball recipe, I’ll show you the classic version, plus simple swaps with teas you can find at almost any grocery store, a caffeine-free option, and an iced version for warmer days.
| This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The recipes and ideas shared here are not designed to treat, prevent or cure any condition. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication, or managing a health condition, speak with a licensed healthcare provider before changing your diet. |
This is a homemade copycat recipe. Jello and Wellness is not affiliated with Starbucks.
What Is a Starbucks Medicine Ball?
The “Medicine Ball” started as a customer creation that got so popular Starbucks added it to the menu under an official name: the Honey Citrus Mint Tea. According to Starbucks’ own menu page, today’s version combines a green tea blend with spearmint, lemongrass, and chamomile, steamed lemonade, and a honey blend.
The original, and the one most copycat recipes (including mine) are based on, used two tea bags: a green tea with citrus and mint, and a caffeine-free peach herbal tea. As Food Network explains, both are steeped in half hot water and half steamed lemonade, then sweetened with honey.
And despite the nickname, there’s no actual medicine in it. It’s simply a warm, comforting tea drink, which is exactly why I love it on cold, gray days.
Ingredients
- Green tea with mint: 1 tea bag. A green tea blended with spearmint and lemongrass tastes closest to the original.
- Peach herbal tea: 1 tea bag of any caffeine-free peach tea.
- Water: 1 cup (8 oz).
- Lemonade: 1 cup (8 oz) of your favorite store-bought or homemade lemonade.
- Honey: 1 to 2 tablespoons, to taste.
- Optional garnish: a lemon slice and a sprig of fresh mint.
How to Make a Starbucks Medicine Ball at Home
- Heat the water. Bring 1 cup of water to a boil, then let it cool for about a minute. Green tea can turn bitter in boiling water, so slightly cooler water gives a smoother cup.
- Warm the lemonade. Heat the lemonade in a small saucepan over medium heat (or in the microwave in 30-second bursts) until hot and steamy, but not boiling.
- Steep the tea. Place both tea bags in a large mug (at least 16 oz), pour in the hot water, and steep for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Combine. Remove the tea bags, pour in the warm lemonade, and stir in the honey until dissolved.
- Serve. Taste, add a little more honey if you like, and garnish with a lemon slice and a sprig of mint.
This makes about 16 ounces, roughly te size of a grande.
Starbucks Medicine Ball Without Teavana
The tea bags used in the original drink can be hard to find in stores now, but that’s no reason to skip this recipe. Here’s how to swap each part with what’s easy to find:
| Original ingredient | Easy swap | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Green tea with citrus and mint | Any green tea blended with spearmint and lemongrass (Tazo Zen is a common one) | Green tea + spearmint on the label |
| Or, if you can’t find a blend | 1 plain green tea bag + 1 spearmint or peppermint tea bag | Steep both together |
| Peach herbal tea | Any caffeine-free peach herbal tea | “Peach” and “herbal” or “caffeine-free” |
| A hint of chamomile | Add half a chamomile tea bag | Pure chamomile flowers |
| Lemonade | Juice of ½ lemon + 1 tablespoon honey + water | Fresh lemons |
That chamomile tip is my favorite little upgrade: the original peach tea blend includes chamomile, and a small amount brings back that soft, floral note. If you have loose chamomile at home, my guide on how to make chamomile tea shows how much to use.
Does a Starbucks Medicine Ball Have Caffeine?
Yes, a little. The green tea is the only part with caffeine. Food Network notes that the green mint tea used in the original contains about 20 mg of caffeine per 8 ounces, compared with around 95 mg in an 8-ounce cup of coffee. The peach herbal tea is caffeine-free.
How to Make It Caffeine-Free
Swap the green tea for a caffeine-free spearmint or peppermint herbal tea, and keep the peach tea as is. You’ll lose a bit of the grassy green tea note, but it still tastes bright, minty, and cozy, which makes it a lovely evening option. For another caffeine-free wind-down drink, my chamomile tea latte is a creamy favorite.
A Lighter Medicine Ball
Between the lemonade and the honey, this drink can be on the sweet side. To lighten it up:
- Use less lemonade: try ½ cup lemonade and 1½ cups hot water instead of equal parts.
- Swap in fresh lemon: skip the lemonade and add the juice of half a lemon instead.
- Start with less honey: add 1 teaspoon, taste, and only add more if you need it.
Iced Medicine Ball
When it’s warm outside, this works beautifully cold. Steep both tea bags in 1 cup of hot water for 4 minutes, stir in the honey while it’s hot, and let it cool. Fill a tall glass with ice, add the cooled tea and 1 cup of cold lemonade, stir, and garnish with mint.
Make a Big Batch
To make four servings, steep 4 of each tea bag in 4 cups of hot water, then stir in 4 cups of warm lemonade and honey to taste. Store the tea (without ice) in a sealed pitcher in the fridge for up to 2 days, and reheat individual mugs on the stove or in the microwave.
What to Order at Starbucks
If you’d rather grab one while you’re out, ask for a Honey Citrus Mint Tea, the name it’s listed under on the Starbucks menu. Menus and ingredients can change by location and season, so it’s always worth asking your barista.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
- Honey and babies: never give honey to babies under 12 months old. Make theirs without it, or better yet, skip this drink for little ones.
- Chamomile allergies: peach herbal blends often contain chamomile. If you’re allergic to ragweed or daisy-family plants, check the label and see the precautions in my chamomile tea guide.
- Sugar: lemonade and honey both add sugar, so use the lighter version above if you’re watching your intake.
Warm drinks like this one are also one of my go-to ways to stay comfortable on gray, stuck-inside days, like the cozy sippers in my guide to staying hydrated during wildfire smoke. For more ideas, browse all my wellness drinks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Medicine Ball called at Starbucks?
It’s on the Starbucks menu as the Honey Citrus Mint Tea. The “Medicine Ball” name started as a customer nickname.
What is in a Starbucks Medicine Ball?
The original combines a green tea with citrus and mint, a caffeine-free peach herbal tea, half hot water and half steamed lemonade, and honey.
Can I make a Medicine Ball without Teavana tea?
Yes. Use any green tea blended with spearmint and lemongrass (or plain green tea plus a mint tea bag) and any caffeine-free peach herbal tea.
Is the Medicine Ball caffeine-free?
No. The green tea adds a small amount of caffeine. For a caffeine-free version, replace the green tea with a spearmint or peppermint herbal tea.
Can I make a Medicine Ball ahead of time?
Yes. Make a batch, store it in a sealed pitcher in the fridge for up to 2 days, and reheat individual servings.
Copycat Starbucks Medicine Ball (Honey Citrus Mint Tea)
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink (16 oz) 1x
Description
A cozy homemade version of the Starbucks Medicine Ball (Honey Citrus Mint Tea) with green mint tea, peach herbal tea, warm lemonade, and honey.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (8 oz) water
- 1 cup (8 oz) lemonade
- 1 green tea bag with mint (or 1 green tea bag + 1 mint tea bag)
- 1 peach herbal tea bag
- 1–2 tablespoons honey
- 1 lemon slice and 1 mint sprig, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil, then let it cool for about 1 minute.
- Heat the lemonade until hot and steamy, without boiling.
- Place both tea bags in a large mug, pour in the hot water, and steep for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Remove the tea bags, add the warm lemonade, and stir in the honey.
- Garnish with a lemon slice and mint, and serve hot.
Notes
For a caffeine-free version, use a spearmint or peppermint herbal tea instead of green tea. For an iced version, let the sweetened tea cool, then pour over ice with cold lemonade.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Steeping
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 drink
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 48g
- Sodium: 15mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: starbucks medicine ball recipe, copycat medicine ball, honey citrus mint tea, medicine ball tea