Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea: What It Is and Does It Work

If you’ve scrolled through TikTok during cold season, you’ve likely seen someone clutching a steaming cup of Starbucks’ so-called “Medicine Ball.” But the viral drink has an official name — Honey Citrus Mint Tea — and it’s been on the menu since 2018. We dug into the ingredients, the ordering tricks, and the science (or lack of it) behind the soothing brew.

Official name: Honey Citrus Mint Tea ·
Calories (Grande): 130 ·
Sugar (Grande): 30 g ·
Caffeine (Grande): 16 mg ·
Price (Grande, US): ~$4.95 ·
Popularity spike: 2020–2021 TikTok viral

Six facts sum up what you need to know at a glance.

What is the tea in the medicine ball at Starbucks?

The drink that customers call the Medicine Ball is officially a tea-based beverage. Starbucks sells it as Honey Citrus Mint Tea, combining two different tea bags steeped in a mixture of hot water and steamed lemonade, finished with a packet of honey.

Official name: Honey Citrus Mint Tea

• Starbucks menu lists it as Honey Citrus Mint Tea (Starbucks Menu)
• The name “Medicine Ball” is a customer-coined term that spread through social media (YouTube)

Ingredients inside the drink

• One bag of Teavana Jade Citrus Mint Green Tea (Starbucks Menu)
• One bag of Teavana Peach Tranquility Herbal Tea (Starbucks Menu)
• Steamed lemonade and hot water, plus a honey packet (Starbucks Menu)

Why customers call it “Medicine Ball”

• The nickname emerged from the belief that the warm combination soothes cold symptoms (The Real Food Dietitians)
• TikTok viral videos in 2020–2021 popularized the term, not Starbucks itself (YouTube)

How do you order a medicine ball tea from Starbucks?

Whether you’re at the counter or on the app, ordering is straightforward once you know the official name.

Ordering in-store: verbal request

• Simply ask for a “Honey Citrus Mint Tea” — baristas will recognize the term “Medicine Ball” too (Savoring the Good)
• Specify the size: Tall, Grande, or Venti; hot only (Starbucks Menu)

Ordering on the Starbucks app

• Search for “Honey Citrus Mint Tea” — “Medicine Ball” will not appear as a menu item (Starbucks Menu)
• Customize by adding extra honey or requesting a different tea bag (Balancing Motherhood)

Customizations and size options

• Grande is the default medium size; sugar and calorie counts scale with size (Starbucks Menu)
• You can request no honey or substitute sugar-free sweeteners (The Real Food Dietitians)

Does Starbucks medicine ball tea actually work?

The question at the heart of the hype: can a tea from a coffee chain replace a trip to the pharmacy? The short answer is no — but the ingredients do offer some comfort.

Anecdotal evidence from users

• Countless TikTok users claim it relieves sore throat and congestion (YouTube)
• Reddit threads describe it as “the only thing that helps when I’m sick” (The Real Food Dietitians)

Scientific perspective on ingredients

• Warm fluids can temporarily soothe a sore throat and thin mucus (general medical consensus, no specific citation needed as common knowledge)
• Honey has antimicrobial properties and may suppress cough (The Real Food Dietitians)
• No clinical trials have tested the Medicine Ball itself as a cold remedy (The Real Food Dietitians)

Comparison with other home remedies

• Similar to a hot toddy but without alcohol — the combination of lemon, honey, and hot liquid is a traditional remedy (Lovely Little Kitchen)
• The 16 mg caffeine in a Grande is less than a cup of green tea, so it won’t dehydrate (Starbucks Menu)

What does Starbucks call their medicine ball now?

Starbucks has never used the nickname on its official menu — and likely never will.

History of the name change

• The drink debuted as a secret menu item in the mid-2010s, ordered by custom combination (A Farmgirl’s Dabbles)
• Starbucks added it to the permanent menu in 2018 as Honey Citrus Mint Tea (Starbucks Menu)

Why Starbucks does not list it as “Medicine Ball”

• The company avoids medicinal claims in product names (common regulatory practice)
• “Medicine Ball” could imply health benefits the drink does not have (The Real Food Dietitians)

How to find it on the menu today

• Look under “Hot Teas” on the Starbucks app and website (Starbucks Menu)
• It is listed alongside other tea blends, not in a separate “wellness” category (Starbucks Menu)

Is a Medicine Ball good for a sore throat?

For temporary relief, yes — but with important caveats.

What the ingredients do for a sore throat

• Honey coats the throat and may reduce cough frequency (The Real Food Dietitians)
• Hot liquid increases blood flow and soothes irritated tissues (common knowledge, supported by medical consensus)
• Mint and peach flavors add a pleasing taste that encourages hydration (Lovely Little Kitchen)

Limitations and when to see a doctor

• No evidence it fights viral or bacterial infections (The Real Food Dietitians)
• If sore throat persists more than a week or comes with fever, consult a healthcare provider

Comparison to other Starbucks sick drinks

• The Hot Lemonade with Honey is a simpler alternative with less sugar (Starbucks Menu)
• The Medicine Ball’s caffeine content is low (16 mg), making it suitable for rest (Starbucks Menu)

Specs table: Starbucks Honey Citrus Mint Tea (Grande)

Eight data points, one pattern: the drink is low on caffeine but high on sugar.

Bottom line: At 130 calories and 30 g sugar, the Grande Medicine Ball is a treat, not a health drink. Its 16 mg caffeine makes it a low-stimulant option.

Pros and cons of the Starbucks Medicine Ball

How to make a copycat Starbucks Medicine Ball at home

You can replicate the drink with four common ingredients in about 10 minutes.

Ingredients

• 1 bag mint green tea (Jade Citrus Mint or similar) (The Culinary Compass)
• 1 bag peach herbal tea (Peach Tranquility or similar) (The Culinary Compass)
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup lemonade
• 1–2 tablespoons honey (Balancing Motherhood)

Steps

1. Heat water and lemonade together in a saucepan until steaming (do not boil) (The Real Food Dietitians)
2. Pour into a mug and add both tea bags (The Real Food Dietitians)
3. Steep for 3–5 minutes (Balancing Motherhood)
4. Remove tea bags, stir in honey to taste (Lovely Little Kitchen)
5. Optional: add 1–2 drops peppermint extract for extra mintiness (The Real Food Dietitians)

Bottom line: Making it at home costs about $0.50 per cup and cuts the sugar by half if you control the honey.

What’s confirmed vs. what’s still unclear

Quotes from different sources

“We start with steamed lemonade and hot water, then steep two tea bags — Jade Citrus Mint Green Tea and Peach Tranquility Herbal Tea — and finish with a touch of honey.”

— Starbucks official menu description (Starbucks Menu)

“This tea is a comforting warm beverage, but it’s not a medical treatment. The honey and lemon can soothe a sore throat, but you still need to see a doctor if symptoms persist.”

— Registered dietitian, The Real Food Dietitians (The Real Food Dietitians)

“I swear by it when I feel a cold coming on. The warmth and honey just make me feel better — even if it’s placebo, I don’t care.”

— User on Reddit r/Starbucks

The final takeaway

The Starbucks Medicine Ball — officially Honey Citrus Mint Tea — is a pleasant, low-caffeine warm beverage that offers temporary comfort for a sore throat. But its 30 g of sugar per Grande and lack of proven medical benefits mean it’s a treat, not a treatment. For anyone nursing a cold in the U.S., the choice is clear: enjoy it as a soothing drink, but reach for real medicine when you need recovery.

For those curious about other seasonal offerings, the Starbucks fall menu 2025 includes a variety of warm beverages that complement the Medicine Ball tea.

Frequently asked questions