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    Home » Cocktails & Drinks » Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea (Copycat - Medicine Bomb)

    Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea (Copycat - Medicine Bomb)

    Published: Sep 10, 2020 · Modified: Feb 26, 2023 by Sula · This post may contain affiliate links · 54 Comments

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    September is here, which traditionally means back to school. And somehow, that always seems to translate into the beginning of cold and flu season. I’m willing to bet that this will still be true, even in a social distancing world. When my children were little, I swear they were just mobile Petri dishes, happy to share their germs with every other kid in their orbit.

    What is Medicine Ball tea?

    Lucky for us all, an enterprising barista at Starbucks came up with a drink called the “Medicine Ball” which is intended to help us all fight the common cold. Several years ago, the company recognized the popularity of this “secret menu” drink and decide to put it on the menu, calling it Honey Citrus Mint Tea. Which is actually too many words to remember, IMO, they probably should have just stuck with “medicine ball” – or even "medicine bomb" - it’s so much easier!

    It’s a combination of steamed lemonade and 2 types of herbal tea, with a little honey added in. It is delicious, and very easy to make at home!

    copycat starbucks medicine ball or bomb tea surrounded by books and a plant

    Starbucks Medicine Ball (Medicine Bomb) tea ingredients

    Starbucks owns the Teavana brand of teas, so it should come as no surprise that this is the brand they use in their stores. I did the same, but also tried this drink with other types of tea, which I will describe below.

    Here are the ingredients needed:

    Peach Tea: Starbucks uses Teavana Peach Tranquility tea. Can I just say, I LOVE this tea! When I open the container, my nose is met by the fragrance of sweet peach, fruity apple and pineapple with lemon and chamomile. Making herbal tea from one of these tea bags is a true delight!

    Peach tea alternatives used

    The peach flavor is one of the most dominant in the Starbucks Medicine Ball tea, so this is a pretty important ingredient. But I did try this using another brand: Celestial Seasonings Country Peach Passion tea.

    This tea also works very well, and I consider it a completely acceptable alternative.

    Some peach tea brands include a touch of cinnamon. Some just say "spice" in the ingredients. I do NOT recommend any of these to make this medicine bomb. The cinnamon just clashes with the other flavors in the drink.

    Green Tea: Starbucks use Teavana Jade Citrus Mint tea. As green teas go, this one is quite interesting. It is flavored with spearmint, lemon verbena and lemongrass. The taste of mint is just a hint, but definitely there. So, when I looked for an alternative, I tried to find one with the same flavors.

    I found it in Tazo Tea Zen, which is described as “green tea, bright lemongrass & crisp spearmint.” It’s such a close match I almost wonder who did it first. But I took this ingredient one step further. Because I was really trying to locate the mint flavor in the final medicine ball drink, and had trouble tasting it. I decided to try with a different green tea, which did not have any mint flavor included.

    Green tea choices used to make this drink

    I have lots of teas from The Republic of Tea, and their Immunity tea seemed like a good choice. Since we are trying to ward off illness and such. 😀

    To my surprise, I found the final drink just as good. I didn’t miss the mint at all! So I think the more important tea is the peach, and that most any green tea will work for your copycat medicine ball drink.

    Lemonade: I don’t know what Starbucks uses for lemonade, so I decided to use one of the more available grocery store brands: Simply Lemonade. It’s a sweet and delicious lemonade that works great in this drink. What’s unusual is that you do warm it up, probably so you don’t cool down the tea too much. As much as it might seem a little weird to make hot lemonade, the end result is worth it.

    Pretty much any standard lemonade is a sugar bomb, so I also tried the light version of Simply Lemonade. I did miss the extra sugar a little. But I still enjoyed the drinks made with this lemonade. I haven’t tried it yet with sugar free lemonade, but it’s even easier to just add some hot water and a squeeze of lemon for a completely sugar free version.

    Honey: the final ingredient is honey, and Starbucks uses 2 of their honey packets. I used one tablespoon of honey, which was very good. Then, in the interest of reducing the sugar load, I tried this without the honey. And I still love the drink!

    I personally think this copycat drink does not need any honey, with one exception: if you actually have a cold. I recently had a summer cold which resulted in a scratchy throat and I can tell you, the honey does make a difference then. And let’s face it: if you’re feeling under the weather, a few extra calories of sugar are well worth it if they make you feel better.

    Group of ingredients tried for making the Medicine ball copycat tea

    How does this copycat tea compare to the Starbucks version

    Whenever you make a copycat, you have to be prepared for slight differences. But every once in a while, the copycat is better. And this is one of those times!

    Having ordered the Starbucks Medicine Ball -er- Honey Citrus Mint tea several times, I would describe the taste as somewhat medicine-y, almost metallic. I’m going to guess it’s due to whatever lemonade they use. It’s probably less noticeable when you have a cold.

    The copycat? I love it! Its fresh and delicious and thoroughly enjoyable. I drink it just because I love it. I have also tried it without lemonade and poured over ice to make an iced herbal tea – loved that too! If you include the lemonade and serve it cold, it’s basically an herbal tea version of an Arnold Palmer, a very popular mix of iced tea and lemonade.

    I really think you can’t go wrong with this drink!

    Does the Medicine Ball or Medicine Bomb actually help fight a cold?

    In theory, by including citrus and the healing properties of green tea, you could make a case for this. I have to admit, I don’t think there’s enough to really make a difference, vitamin and mineral-wise. But this is certainly consistent with one of the oldest remedies out there: hot tea with lemon.

    Most types of tea contain antioxidants, which have an anti-inflammatory effect that reduces pain and discomfort. Drinking tea helps improve hydration, and drinking warm liquids definitely helps to soothe a sore throat.

    Honey has traditionally been added to sweeten the taste of tea, but it is now thought to help in other ways as well. Honey contains both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory compounds. A recent review on the effects on children aged 2-5 years concluded that honey could be as effective or more effective than cold medications such as dextromethorphan and diphenhydramine. (Medical News Today)

    How to make Starbucks Medicine Ball tea

    Did you realize that different teas vary in their recommendations for brewing time and temperature? The peach tea recommended temperature is 205F, which is just barely below the boiling point. This tea should steep for 5 minutes. Green tea (both Tazo and Teavana) calls for 175F for 2-3 minutes.

    How do we deal with this? Here is what I do. Get your cup of water to the boiling point (I microwave for 2 minutes or so. Place the peach tea bag into the water and let it steep for about 2½ to 3 minutes. Then add the green tea. The water has cooled off some by this point. Steep an additional 2 to 3 minutes, then remove the tea bags.

    Warm up the lemonade – I do a one-minute burst in the microwave – and mix the liquids together. Add a little honey if desired. This results in a 16 ounce drink – the size of a Grande at Starbucks.

    pin for medicine ball tea aka medicine bomb

    Give this Medicine Ball tea a try – and have the ingredients on hand for whenever a cold hits!

    starbucks medicine bomb or ball tea
    5 from 104 votes
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    Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea (Copycat)

    aka Medicine Bomb - this tea will warm you and soothe your sore throat!
    Prep Time2 mins
    Cook Time5 mins
    Total Time7 mins
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 1
    Calories: 179kcal
    Author: Sula

    Ingredients

    • 8 oz water heated to boiling
    • 8 oz lemonade
    • 1 peach tea bag Teavana Peach Tranquility or similar
    • 1 green tea bag Teavana Citrus Jade Mint or similar
    • 1 Tablespoon honey optional

    Instructions

    • In a large cup, pour almost boiling water over peach tea bag and allow to steep for 2 ½ to 3 minutes.
    • Add green tea bag and continue steeping for 2 to 3 additional minutes. Remove tea bags.
    • Heat lemonade for one minute in microwave, then add to tea and mix.
    • Add honey, if desired.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 179kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 1g | Sodium: 27mg | Sugar: 44g

    Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.

    More ideas for cold season

    If you're feeling under the weather, nothing warms like a nice bowl of soup. Here are a few to try:

    • Cheesy Potato Soup
    • Split Pea Soup
    • Spicy Mushroom and Noodle Soup
    • Hamburger Barley Soup
    • Bone Broth
    « Zucchini Casserole with Ground Beef
    Keto Coleslaw »

    Filed Under: Cocktails & Drinks

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cindy Mom, the Lunch Lady

      January 13, 2021 at 5:41 pm

      5 stars
      This sounds so delicious and comforting. I will keep it in mind next time I am under the weather!

      Reply
      • Sula

        January 14, 2021 at 6:51 am

        You don't have to wait until you feel sick - this tea is yummy all the time!

        Reply
    2. Gina Abernathy

      January 13, 2021 at 4:33 pm

      5 stars
      I love hot tea--year round! This would be great if you are feeling a little under the weather. So soothing.

      Reply
      • Sula

        January 13, 2021 at 4:39 pm

        I'm a year-round tea drinker too. It's so good!

        Reply
    3. Christina

      January 13, 2021 at 1:09 pm

      5 stars
      I always use peppermint tea & honey with my kiddo when he has minor GI upset or a cold, I never thought of the addition of citrus, but sounds like a great combo! I'll be giving this a go next time around, pinned for easy reference.

      Reply
      • Sula

        January 13, 2021 at 4:38 pm

        I'm having some right now - it's delicious!

        Reply
    4. Kalin

      January 13, 2021 at 7:39 am

      5 stars
      This sounds great! I didn't even realize this was on Starbucks's menu but will have to try both and compare. Lately it feels like I've been drinking tea nonstop since it's been colder!

      Reply
      • Sula

        January 13, 2021 at 8:04 am

        Me too - I love tea, but even more so in cold weather!

        Reply
    5. Jeannie

      January 13, 2021 at 7:17 am

      5 stars
      thank you for all the infos. I love tea, and you elaborate it all. I would drink tea usually before sleeping, I guess this will be relaxing too. Hope to try soon.

      Reply
      • Sula

        January 13, 2021 at 7:18 am

        Oh yes, this is delicious and relaxing!

        Reply
    6. Scarlet

      September 30, 2020 at 7:40 am

      I love tea this time of year. I drink it 2-3 times a day when the weather cools down so I'll be trying this medicine ball tea soon!

      Reply
      • Sula

        September 30, 2020 at 8:22 am

        I think you will love it!

        Reply
    7. Lata Lala

      September 20, 2020 at 2:40 am

      5 stars
      This tea sounds perfect for the upcoming cold weather here in this part of the world. We keep drinking turmeric milk during winter season as medicine.
      Your recipe sounds so good and worth trying.

      Reply
      • Sula

        September 20, 2020 at 8:48 am

        Oh yes we all need warm liquids during cold season!

        Reply
    8. Katie

      September 20, 2020 at 1:14 am

      5 stars
      Looks so good! Can’t wait to try this one.

      Reply
      • Sula

        September 20, 2020 at 8:48 am

        It's a favorite of mine!

        Reply
    9. Sara

      September 20, 2020 at 12:28 am

      5 stars
      I had never heard of this tea before, glad I came across it. Sounds like the perfect thing to help fight and sooth the winter time blues.

      Reply
      • Sula

        September 20, 2020 at 8:49 am

        Yes it really is very comforting!

        Reply
    10. Anita

      September 19, 2020 at 11:23 pm

      5 stars
      This is so delicious and so easy to make at home, and it tastes almost the same. 🙂

      Reply
      • Sula

        September 20, 2020 at 8:49 am

        Yes and no trip to the drive through! 🙂

        Reply
    11. Jersey Girl Cooks

      September 19, 2020 at 11:09 pm

      5 stars
      So good! I will be drinking this all winter!

      Reply
      • Sula

        September 20, 2020 at 8:49 am

        Me too!

        Reply
    12. Mama Maggie's Kitchen

      September 16, 2020 at 11:42 pm

      5 stars
      This looks incredibly delicious. Yum!

      Reply
      • Sula

        September 17, 2020 at 6:46 am

        I hope you enjoy it, only not with a cold. 🙂

        Reply
    13. Chef Dennis

      September 15, 2020 at 8:02 pm

      5 stars
      I've never heard of Medicine Ball Tea. I'll be making it a surprise for my wife and know shes going to love it!

      Reply
      • Sula

        September 15, 2020 at 9:46 pm

        She will - it's delicious!

        Reply
    14. Sarah James

      September 15, 2020 at 8:41 am

      5 stars
      Your tea sounds delicious, can't wait to try it. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Sula

        September 15, 2020 at 2:57 pm

        You're welcome and I hope you try it soon!

        Reply
    15. Capri Lilly

      September 14, 2020 at 8:18 pm

      5 stars
      This tea sounds perfect for the upcoming cold weather

      Reply
      • Sula

        September 14, 2020 at 9:55 pm

        It really is!

        Reply
    16. Taleen | Just As Tasty

      September 14, 2020 at 1:50 pm

      5 stars
      This is such a handy recipe to have. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Sula

        September 14, 2020 at 4:49 pm

        You are welcome. I hope you get a chance to enjoy it without having a cold!

        Reply
    17. Emily

      September 14, 2020 at 10:47 am

      5 stars
      I made this tea just to give it a try and I would honestly drink this all the time! But, I’m definitely saving this recipe for cold season since my child is just like how yours were...a walking germ pool 🤣

      Reply
      • Sula

        September 14, 2020 at 4:50 pm

        I actually DO drink it all the time LOL. I'm hoping it has some preventive properties. 🤣

        Reply
    18. Alexandra

      September 11, 2020 at 6:22 pm

      5 stars
      I love this. Perfect for warming you up and making you feel better!

      Reply
      • Sula

        September 12, 2020 at 6:22 am

        I agree! It's so comforting and delicious!

        Reply
    19. Blake Moon

      September 10, 2020 at 1:44 pm

      5 stars
      It may be copycat, but it tastes like the real deal to me!

      Reply
      • Sula

        September 10, 2020 at 2:34 pm

        Delicious right?

        Reply
    20. Big Trouble

      September 10, 2020 at 9:07 am

      5 stars
      This sounds delicious even when I DON'T have a cold! Perfect for this untimely chilly weather, too! Thanks, Sula!

      Reply
      • Sula

        September 10, 2020 at 11:16 am

        You're very welcome! It really IS delicious, I just bought my third box of peach tea so I can continue having it!

        Reply
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