Starbucks Medicine Ball Recipe: How to Make the “Cold Buster” at Home (Better & Cheaper)

Stop overpaying for sugar water. Here is the exact barista recipe, the best tea swaps, and a low-sugar hack to actually boost your immunity.

The Starbucks Medicine Ball started as an underground secret menu item around 2016. Customers shared photos on Instagram, baristas fielded unusual requests, and one store manager reported selling 20 of these drinks per day ^[1].

Starbucks noticed. By 2017, the company added it to the official menu under the name “Honey Citrus Mint Tea” ^[1][2].

But there is a problem with the in-store version.

A Grande contains 30g of sugar and 130 calories ^[3]. That amount of refined sugar can temporarily suppress white blood cell activity, according to research published in Frontiers in Immunology ^[4].

So the very drink you order when you feel sick may work against your immune system.

This guide provides the exact 1:1 copycat recipe for your kitchen. You will learn which tea brands substitute for Teavana products (since those retail stores closed in 2018) and you will get a “True Medicine” version with less sugar and more actual immune support.

What Exactly is in a Starbucks Medicine Ball?

The official drink uses four components that Starbucks baristas cannot deviate from.

1. Teavana Jade Citrus Mint Tea contains green tea, spearmint, lemon verbena, and lemongrass ^[5]. This tea provides the caffeine and minty “sinus opening” sensation.
2. Teavana Peach Tranquility Tea is a caffeine-free herbal blend with apple, rose hips, candied pineapple, chamomile flowers, peach, and licorice root [6]. This tea adds fruity sweetness and throat-soothing chamomile.
3. Steamed Lemonade separates this drink from regular tea. Starbucks uses a concentrated lemonade, steamed like milk, which adds tartness and 13.5g of sugar per Grande serving ^[7]. Regular cold lemon juice will not produce the same effect.
4. Honey Blend is where many people get confused. Starbucks uses a honey syrup blend, not raw honey squeezed from a bottle. This blend adds another layer of sweetness.

The flavor profile combines minty cooling with sweet, fruity comfort. You taste spearmint on the inhale, citrus in the middle, and peach on the finish. The warmth coats your throat while steam opens your sinuses.

The Exact Starbucks Medicine Ball Recipe (Copycat)

Starbucks Medicine Ball (Copycat)

A soothing hot tea drink that combines mint and peach teas with lemonade and honey. This copycat version recreates the popular Starbucks remedy for cold and flu symptoms.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Steeping Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Beverage

Cuisine American

Servings 1

Calories 120 kcal

Equipment

• 1 saucepan For boiling water
• 1 Separate container or small pot For heating lemonade
• 1 16 oz mug Grande size
• 1 Measuring cup For accurate liquid measurements
• 1 spoon For stirring honey
• 1 Instant-read thermometer (optional) To ensure lemonade reaches 180°F

Ingredients

  

• 3.7 grams Jade Citrus Mint Tea 1 sachet, or Tazo Zen as substitute
• 3.7 grams Peach Tranquility Tea 1 sachet, or Celestial Seasonings Country Peach Passion as substitute
• 177 ml Water Boiling temperature
• 177 ml Lemonade Simply Lemonade or Newman's Own recommended heated to 180°F
• 15 ml Honey Adjustable to taste
• 1 pump Peppermint syrup Optional, for extra cooling effect

Instructions

 

Heat the Liquids

• Pour 0.75 cup water into a saucepan and bring it to a full boil over high heat.
• While the water heats, pour 0.75 cup lemonade into a separate container.
• Heat the lemonade until it simmers but does NOT boil. You want the lemonade warm at around 180°F. Boiling lemonade concentrates the acid and creates bitterness. Cold lemonade drops the water temperature too quickly and prevents proper tea extraction.

The Double Steep

• Place both tea bags (Jade Citrus Mint and Peach Tranquility) in your 16 oz mug.
• Pour the hot boiling water over them first.
• Add the warm lemonade next.
• Allow the teas to steep for 3 to 5 minutes.
• The mint compounds from Jade Citrus Mint release best between 175°F and 185°F. Higher temperatures turn green tea bitter. Both tea bags are necessary because the Jade Citrus Mint opens your sinuses with spearmint and lemongrass while the Peach Tranquility soothes your throat with chamomile and provides the signature fruity sweetness.

Sweeten and Serve

• Remove both tea bags after steeping is complete.
• Add 1 tablespoon honey AFTER removing the bags, not during brewing.
• Honey loses some antimicrobial properties when exposed to temperatures above 95°F for extended periods. Stirring it into already steeped tea preserves more benefits than cooking it in boiling water.
• If using optional peppermint syrup, add 1 pump now.
• Stir well and serve immediately while hot.

Notes

• You can adjust the honey amount based on your sweetness preference. Start with 1 tablespoon and add more if needed after tasting.
• The temperature of your lemonade matters significantly. Use an instant read thermometer to check that it reaches 180°F but does not boil. This ensures proper flavor extraction without bitterness.
• If you cannot find Jade Citrus Mint tea, Tazo Zen green tea works as a substitute. For Peach Tranquility, use Celestial Seasonings Country Peach Passion tea.
• Store your tea bags in an airtight container away from moisture and light to preserve the essential oils in the mint and herbs.
• This drink works best when consumed immediately while hot. The warmth helps open sinuses and soothe throat irritation. You can make a larger batch by doubling or tripling the recipe proportions.
• Do not microwave the lemonade and water together. Heating them separately gives you better temperature control and prevents the lemonade from becoming bitter.
• The peppermint syrup is optional but adds an extra menthol cooling sensation that some people find helpful for congestion. You can use Torani or Monin brand peppermint syrup.

Keyword Cold Remedy Tea, Copycat Starbucks, Honey Citrus Mint Tea, Jade Citrus Mint, Medicine Ball Drink, Peach Tranquility, Starbucks

The “Teavana Problem”: Best Tea Substitutes

Starbucks closed all 379 Teavana retail stores in 2018 ^[9]. You can still find Teavana boxes at some grocery stores and Amazon, but they cost $8 to $12 for 15 sachets. Budget-friendly alternatives exist.

Jade Citrus Mint Substitutes:

• Best Match: Tazo Zen Green Tea. The ingredients list is nearly identical, with green tea, lemongrass, spearmint, and lemon verbena. Reddit users have confirmed the taste profile matches closely ^[10]. Cost: approximately $4 for 20 bags.
• Budget Option: Bigelow Green Tea with Mint. This lacks the lemon verbena notes but provides the green tea and mint base. Cost: approximately $3 for 20 bags.

Peach Tranquility Substitutes:

• Best Match: Celestial Seasonings Country Peach Passion. This caffeine-free herbal tea contains orange peel, rosehips, chamomile, hibiscus, and natural peach flavor ^[11]. The flavor profile is slightly different (more hibiscus, less pineapple) but works well in the Medicine Ball context.
• Alternative: Bigelow Perfect Peach. A simpler peach tea that works if Country Peach Passion is unavailable.

The Lemonade Fix:

• Simply Lemonade and Newman’s Own Lemonade come closest to the Starbucks concentrate.

Avoid anything labeled “lemon drink” or “lemon-flavored,” as these often contain little actual lemon juice. Minute Maid Lemonade works in a pinch but tastes sweeter.

The “True Medicine” Ball: A Low-Sugar, High-Immunity Upgrade

The standard Starbucks version contains approximately 30g of sugar from lemonade and honey blend ^[3]. (That equals nearly 8 teaspoons of sugar in one drink.) Research published by the NIH shows that high sugar intake can reduce protective Th17 immunity ^[4].

If you want a drink that ACTUALLY supports your immune system, swap these ingredients.

Swap Lemonade For: Fresh squeezed lemon juice (½ lemon, approximately 2 tablespoons) plus warm water. This eliminates 13g of processed sugar while keeping the Vitamin C and citrus flavor.

Swap Sugar For: Raw Manuka honey (1 teaspoon). Manuka honey exhibits antibacterial activity against common pathogens including Staphylococcus aureus, according to research in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine ^[8].

Choose honey rated UMF 10+ or higher. For keto or low-carb diets, use liquid Stevia instead.

Add a Booster:

• 2 to 3 slices of fresh ginger (anti-inflammatory properties)
• A dash of cayenne pepper (clears sinuses through capsaicin)
• 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar (supports gut bacteria)

Macro Comparison:

The “True Medicine” version tastes less sweet and more tart. You will notice the ginger and citrus more prominently. Think of it as the adult version, less comfort food, more functional beverage.

How to Order a Medicine Ball at Starbucks (App and In-Store)

You will NOT find “Medicine Ball” anywhere in the Starbucks app. The company renamed it for legal reasons, as the word “medicine” implies therapeutic claims they cannot make.

App Instructions:

1. Open the Starbucks app
2. Navigate to “Hot Teas”
3. Select “Honey Citrus Mint Tea” ^[2][12]
4. Choose your size (Tall, Grande, or Venti)
5. Customize if desired

Customization Tips:

• “Light Lemonade” reduces sugar by approximately 6g
• “Extra Honey” adds sweetness if you find it too tart
• “Add Peppermint” (one pump) creates extra sinus-clearing menthol

In-Store Script:

Walk up to the counter and say: “Can I get a Honey Citrus Mint Tea? And please add one pump of peppermint.”

Most baristas recognize “Medicine Ball” or “Cold Buster” if you slip and use those terms. However, some newer employees may not know the unofficial names. Using “Honey Citrus Mint Tea” guarantees you get the right drink.

Why request the peppermint pump?

Menthol acts as a mild decongestant, and the cooling sensation provides immediate relief for an irritated throat. Starbucks originally offered this addition, and most locations still accommodate the request.

Cost Breakdown: Homemade vs. Starbucks

A Grande Honey Citrus Mint Tea at Starbucks costs $4.25 to $5.39, depending on your location ^[13][14]. Venti sizes push toward $6.

The Homemade Cost:

Making this drink at home saves approximately $4.50 per cup. If you drink one Medicine Ball daily during a two-week illness, that equals $63 saved. Extend that through flu season (December through February), and you could save over $150.

The “True Medicine” version costs slightly more because of Manuka honey (approximately $0.50 per teaspoon) and fresh ginger.

Total cost: approximately $1.25 per serving. Still less than half the Starbucks price, with genuinely better ingredients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Words

Stock up on Jade Citrus Mint tea (or Tazo Zen) and Peach Tranquility (or Country Peach Passion) BEFORE you get sick. Nothing feels worse than dragging yourself to the grocery store with a fever.

Keep these items in your pantry from October through March, and you will always have a warm, soothing drink ready when you need it.

Have a secret ingredient you add to your sick-day tea? Drop it in the comments.