Starbucks Honey Citrus Mint Tea Recipe (Copycat Medicine Ball)

This Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea recipe is perfect for colder days. It only takes a few ingredients to make a copycat Honey Citrus Mint Tea!

A glass of honey citrus mint tea garnished with a lemon slice and fresh mint sits on a light surface, with another glass and a pitcher of lemon water in the background.

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If there’s one downfall to fall and winter, it’s the fact that we know cold and flu season is just around the corner. This Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea recipe has been on repeat in my house to help combat it!

The best part about it is that it just gives peak cozy vibes, even if you’re not feeling under the weather or using it as a cold buster. It’s hard to beat the citrusy lemonade mixed with the mint green tea and herbal tea bags.

Starbucks realized how many people loved ordering the Medicine Ball and moved it from their secret menu to their permanent menu. You’ll find it listed as the Honey Citrus Mint Tea.

If you’re into Starbucks DIY drinks, don’t miss my vibrant Copycat Purple Drink. It’s a pastel, refreshing summer pick that’s just as Instagram-worthy.

Note from the Author

2025 Update: When I first shared this recipe back in 2019, Starbucks was still using the classic Teavana tea bags. Since those aren’t available anymore, I’ve updated this copycat version with new tea options and more tips to help you recreate the comfort of the original at home.

A clear pitcher of lemonade with lemon slices inside, placed on a gray surface. Next to the pitcher are a bunch of fresh mint leaves and a halved lemon. The background is a white tiled wall.

Step by Step Instructions

Making a Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea at home is easy. The full recipe with measurements is in the card below, but here’s a quick step-by-step guide to help you brew your cozy cup just right!

Sip and enjoy. Pour into your favorite mug, curl up, and soak in all those cozy, citrusy vibes.

Heat the lemonade and water. Combine equal parts lemonade and water in a small saucepan or microwave-safe mug. Warm until steamy, but don’t let it boil.

Steep the tea bags. Add one mint green tea bag and one peach herbal tea bag. Let them steep for 3–5 minutes, depending on how strong you like it.

Add honey. Stir in 2–3 teaspoons of honey until fully dissolved. Adjust to taste for extra sweetness or soothing power.

Optional: Add peppermint. If you love that extra minty zip, stir in a splash of peppermint syrup or a tiny drop of peppermint extract.

A black saucepan filled with hot water has two triangular tea bags steeping—one with orange and green herbs—creating a soothing medicine ball copycat brew. The pan rests on a light gray surface.

A glass mug filled with light herbal tea, resembling Starbucks Honey Citrus Mint Tea, with a tea bag inside and two tags—one green and one yellow—hanging over the side, set on a light, textured surface.

Recipe Testing Notes and Tips

Want to turn this into a nightcap? Check out my Mint Hot Toddy for a cocktail spin on soothing mint drinks

The original recipe uses Teavana Jade Citrus Mint Tea and Teavana Peach Tranquility Tea, but both are harder to find if available at all. Look for a Mint tea, but not a peppermint tea. Any peach herbal tea should work to replace it, especially if it’s got honey notes.

Adjust sweetness to taste. Start with 2 teaspoons of honey and add more if needed. If you’re using a sweeter lemonade, you may want to dial it back.

Want to sweeten things up differently? My guide on How to Make Simple Syrup lets you add sweetness that dissolves perfectly.

Don’t boil the lemonade. Heating it too much can make the citrus taste bitter. Aim for steamy whether you’re using the stove or microwave.

A spoon drizzling honey into a clear glass mug filled with golden copycat medicine ball tea, set on a light-colored surface with a white background.

Looking for another cozy Starbucks copycat? Try out this Dolce Latte!

Looking for a copycat coffee drink instead? Try out this Starbucks Iced Americano!

Try one of these teas!

Bigelow Perfect Peach Tea

Buy Now →

Celestial Seasonings Country Peach Passion Tea

Buy Now →

TAZO Zen

Buy Now →

Twinings Green Tea with Mint

Buy Now →

A glass mug filled with yellow medicine ball tea, garnished with a slice of lemon and a sprig of fresh mint, viewed from above on a light gray background.

Recipe FAQs

What ingredients do you need to make a copycat medicine ball?

You’ll only need a few ingredients to make the Starbucks Medicine Ball at home: Water, Lemonade – Simply Lemonade is a great option, Mint tea bags, Peach tea bags, and Honey

What teas replace Jade Citrus Mint Tea in the copycat recipe?

If you can’t find Teavana’s Jade Citrus Mint Tea, no worries as there are some great alternatives that still capture that bright, minty green tea vibe. Look for a mint green tea blend with hints of lemongrass or citrus. A few solid swaps include Tazo Zen or Twinings Green Tea with Mint.

The key is to avoid pure peppermint tea. Jade Citrus Mint has a more balanced, herbal-citrus profile that complements the peach tea without overpowering it.

What teas replace Peach Tranquility in the copycat recipe?

Look for any peach herbal tea that includes soft fruit or floral notes. A great backup is Celestial Seasonings Country Peach Passion or Bigelow Perfect Peach. You’ll want something caffeine-free and naturally sweet to keep that cozy, fruity balance with the mint tea.

Bonus points if it includes chamomile, apple, or hibiscus to mimic the soothing vibe of the original blend.

Does it matter how you heat the lemonade for the copycat Starbucks medicine ball recipe?

If you’re a coffee connoisseur and have an espresso machine at home, you can steam the lemonade using the steam wand.

When I’m feeling up for it, you can make a big batch on the stove to just gently simmer and warm it up.

When I’m feeling under the weather, I stick the water and lemonade into a microwave friendly mug like a Pyrex and heat it up!

The flavors should all be pretty similar regardless of the way that you heat up the lemonade and water together.

How do you order a Medicine Ball from Starbucks?

If you’re looking to order it in person or on the app, you’ll just want to look for the Honey Citrus Mint Tea.

However, Starbucks actually updated the recipe in mid-2024–2025 so the Honey Citrus Mint Tea now uses the Chamomile Mint Blossom tea rather than the Jade Citrus and Peach Tranquility.

Does it actually help with a cold or flu?

It sadly won’t cure any cold or flu, but it can definitely help with a sore throat with the honey!

It’s hard to beat holding a warm tea when you’re sick! The mint and peach flavors will just make you feel better smelling it.

Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea Recipe

Yield: 1 cup

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

This Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea recipe is perfect for colder days. It only takes a few ingredients to make a copycat Honey Citrus Mint Tea.

Ingredients

1 cup water
1 cup lemonade
1 Mint Tea bag
1 Peach Herbal Tea
1 tbsp honey

Instructions

Heat your water and lemonade together in whatever way you're feeling up to. I usually add them to a small saucepan and bring it to a simmer, but you can also just microwave them in a large mug or Pyrex.
Steep your tea bags for about 3-5 minutes. Remove the tea bags then add in honey and stir until it's dissolved.

Notes

If desired, you can stir in some peppermint syrup or extract.
To swap for the Teavana Jade Citrus Mint tea, try Tazo Zen or Twinings Green Tea with Mint.
To swap for the Teavana Peach Tranquility tea, try Celestial Seasonings Country Peach Passion or Bigelow Perfect Peach.