If you've ever tried the Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea, you're going to love this Honey Citrus Mint Tea recipe!
Using simple ingredients that are easy to find at the grocery store (no Teavana teas needed), you can re-create this coffee house classic in the comfort of your own home – and on a budget!
Whenever I am out and about for errands or work, I like to grab myself a hot drink at the local coffee shop. When my husband comes along, he likes to try out different teas (being a tea guy), and I finally convinced him to try the nostalgic Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea several years ago.
Starting first as a secret menu item, Starbucks baristas urged the company to make it a regular menu item, and sure enough, they added it to the menu. On the menu, it's known as "Honey Citrus Mint tea" and comes either hot or iced.
Once I got my husband on the honey citrus mint train, I instantly regretted it because boy are those pricey! Whew! I knew that I needed to come up with a budget-friendly version that we could make at home instead.
And you know what? Not only can you recreate this popular drink in the comfort of your own home, but it tastes even better than the original! Best of all? It's really not that hard to do, and no special equipment is needed.
Why You'll Love It:
- Can be served hot or iced. This honey citrus mint tea recipe isn't just for a cold day! Serve it over ice for some hot weather refreshment.
- Cozy and comforting. Whenever we get a little bit of a sore throat, I like to make one of these with fresh lemon and honey. The combination of simple ingredients and herbal tea brings so much comfort.
- Caffeine-free. Looking for a warm drink just before bed? The types of tea used in this recipe are all caffeine-free!
You Will Need:
- Lemonade: The secret to the Starbucks classic is steamed lemonade. For this recipe, we warm water and lemonade together to replicate the method at home (no steaming wand needed). I like to use store-bought lemonade, but you can use my single-serving lemonade if you prefer to make your own.
- Tea bags: I wanted to create this recipe using teas widely available at most grocery stores. Teavana teas are the "authentic" way to make the recipe, but they are increasingly hard to find and have been discontinued in some countries. Instead, I've tested this using many options, and the following is the perfect combo:
- Tazo "Zen"
- Peach (We like Country Peach Passion by Celestial Seasonings)
- Chamomile
- See the recipe card for suggestions on using Teavana teas instead.
- Honey: This adds sweetness and flavor. Starbucks uses a "honey syrup", but I recommend using real honey just because. Why not make it BETTER if you can?
How to Make Starbucks' Medicine Ball Tea
- Heat the lemonade and water. Add ¾ cup of lemonade and ¾ cup of water to a microwave-safe bowl and heat in the microwave in 30-second intervals until hot and steamy. Alternatively, you can warm it on the stovetop in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Drizzle 2-3 teaspoons of honey into the bottom of a large tea mug.
- Pour the hot lemonade and water into the tea mug, and stir gently with a spoon to dissolve the honey.
- Add the tea bags to the mug, and poke them under the water.
- 1 Tazo "Zen" tea bag
- 1 peach tea bag
- 1 chamomile tea bag
- Allow to steep for 5 minutes. After the time is up, squeeze the tea bags and remove them from the tea.
- Take a sip and adjust the sweetness to your taste.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh lemon slices (if desired).
Starbucks Iced Medicine Ball Tea
Fill a large tumbler with ice and pour the warm, steeped tea over the ice. As the ice melts, it will cool the tea.
If a lot of ice melts, add a few more cubes before serving!
More Ways to Make It:
With Teavana teas: Use 1 bag of Jade Citrus Mint and one bag of Peach Tranquility tea in place of those used in the written recipe.
Sugar-free: Use sugar-free lemonade (or homemade lemonade made with sweeteners), and substitute the honey for sugar-free "honey," a honey-flavored syrup made with sweeteners. It's very hard to find, but can sometimes be found at supplement stores.
Without lemonade: If you don't have lemonade on hand, you can make my homemade single-serve lemonade with lemon juice and sugar (or sweetener) to use instead. It's great in a pinch!
With peppermint syrup: If you like a little extra minty flavor, try adding a pump of peppermint syrup at the same time you add the honey. Yum!
Can I make a large batch? Yes! If you really love this tea, you can make a large batch of the recipe and keep it refrigerated for 3-4 days, then just warm it as needed (or serve over ice for an iced version).
Expert Tips
- Warm the lemonade – don't boil it! Lemon will taste very bitter if it's heated too much, so it's important that you warm your lemonade and water mixture just until it's hot enough to steep tea. If using the microwave, use intervals and stir in between. If using the stovetop, use low heat and watch closely.
- Real honey is best. The Starbucks version uses a honey-flavored syrup, which makes sense because businesses have to watch their overhead. At home, it's easier to find honey (and it's probably cheaper too). Not only that, it tastes amazing, and is a natural sweetener with natural flavors that's easy to find.
- Dissolve the honey. Add the honey to the mug before you add the warmed lemonade and water. The hot liquid helps to dissolve the honey, preventing it from sticking to the bottom of the mug.
More Copycat Recipes:
If you loved this Starbucks copycat recipe for honey citrus mint tea (AKA Medicine Ball tea, cold buster tea, or medicine bomb), let me know by leaving a 5-star review in the recipe card or comment below! You can also tag me on Instagram @dashfordinner.
Honey Citrus Mint Tea (Starbucks Medicine Ball Recipe)
Ingredients
- ¾ cup lemonade store-bought or homemade
- ¾ cup water
- 2-3 teaspoons honey
- 1 Tazo “Zen” tea bag or Teavana Jade Citrus Mint
- 1 peach tea bag* we use Country Peach Passion by Celestial seasonings
- 1 chamomile tea bag
Instructions
- Heat the lemonade and water. Bring the lemonade and water to a simmer in a saucepan over medium heat, or microwave in 45-second intervals until steamy and hot.
- Add the honey. Pour the honey into the bottom of a large heat-proof mug or cup.
- Pour in the hot water and lemonade and stir to dissolve the honey into the hot liquid.
- Steep. Add the listed tea bags (1 Tazo “Zen” or Teavana Jade Citrus Mint, 1 peach tea bag, and 1 chamomile tea bag – if the peach tea is not “Peach Tranquility by Teavana*) and steep for exactly 5 minutes.
- Remove the tea bags. Once the 5 minutes are up, remove the tea bags and squeeze out any extra liquid. Taste and add more honey if you prefer a sweeter flavor.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons sugar (or sweetener of choice)
- ¼ cup very hot (or boiling water)
- ½ cup cold water
Nutrition
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Dorothy Bigelow
This recipe is ever better than the one you get at Starbucks. A lot more real honey flavor and super concentrated. We have loved making it at home, and it costs WAY less when you break it down to cost per serving.