The Famous Honey Citrus Mint Tea
When you’re feeling under the weather, a warm, comforting beverage can make all the difference. For years, Starbucks customers have turned to a special creation known informally as the "Medicine Ball" or "Cold Buster" to help soothe cold and flu symptoms. This drink became so widely requested that Starbucks officially added it to their menu under the more descriptive name: Honey Citrus Mint Tea. It is a simple yet powerful blend of ingredients designed to provide comfort and relief.
Ingredients That Provide Comfort
The Medicine Ball is a harmonious blend of several components, each contributing to its soothing effect. The core ingredients include:
- Teavana Jade Citrus Mint Green Tea: This green tea blend contains spearmint, lemon verbena, and lemongrass. Green tea provides a small boost of antioxidants, while the mint and lemon can help soothe a scratchy throat and clear congestion.
- Teavana Peach Tranquility Herbal Tea: This caffeine-free herbal tea adds a fruity and floral flavor, with notes of peach, chamomile, and pineapple. It complements the mint and citrus perfectly, creating a balanced and pleasant taste.
- Steamed Lemonade: The warmth from the steamed lemonade helps to break up congestion and adds a significant dose of Vitamin C, an antioxidant that can support the immune system. The sweet and tart flavor is a key part of the drink's appeal.
- Honey: Honey has long been recognized for its ability to coat and soothe a sore throat and calm coughs. It provides natural sweetness and adds a comforting thickness to the tea.
- Hot Water: Used to steep the tea bags and dilute the steamed lemonade, creating the perfect warm temperature for sipping.
Benefits for Cold and Flu Symptoms
While the Honey Citrus Mint Tea is not a medical cure, its individual components work together to provide noticeable relief from common cold and flu symptoms. The warmth of the drink is a major factor, offering instant comfort for a sore throat and helping to open up stuffy sinuses. The combination of honey and lemon is a classic home remedy for a reason, providing a dual-action effect of coating the throat and providing a dose of Vitamin C. Green tea's anti-inflammatory properties can also help reduce some of the discomfort associated with a cold. Keeping yourself well-hydrated is crucial when sick, and this delicious drink makes it easy to increase your fluid intake.
Customizing Your Order for Sickness
One of the best things about the Honey Citrus Mint Tea is its flexibility. You can easily customize your order to better suit your needs when sick.
- Add a pump of peppermint syrup: Some customers opt for a pump of peppermint syrup to enhance the minty flavor and provide a stronger, sinus-clearing aroma.
- Adjust the sweetness: If you are concerned about the sugar content, you can ask for less lemonade or skip the honey. The Peach Tranquility tea provides some natural sweetness.
- Caffeine-Free Version: While the Jade Citrus Mint tea contains a small amount of green tea caffeine, you can ask for a caffeine-free mint herbal tea instead if you need to rest.
Starbucks vs. Homemade Medicine Ball
While ordering at Starbucks is convenient, making a homemade version can be more cost-effective and allows for more control over the ingredients. Here's a comparison:
| Feature | Starbucks Medicine Ball | Homemade Medicine Ball |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Can be pricey, especially for larger sizes. | Significantly cheaper per serving. |
| Convenience | Grab-and-go from any Starbucks location. | Requires a few simple ingredients at home. |
| Ingredients | Teavana Jade Citrus Mint, Teavana Peach Tranquility, Honey Blend, Steamed Lemonade, Hot Water. | Use store-bought mint and peach teas, lemonade, and honey. Can substitute with fresh ingredients like lemon slices or mint leaves. |
| Customization | Can request less syrup or lemonade. | Complete control over sweetness, tea strength, and added ingredients like fresh ginger or turmeric. |
| Nutrition | Can be high in sugar due to the lemonade. Grande size is about 30g of sugar. | Can be made with low-sugar lemonade or fresh lemon juice for a healthier alternative. |
For a simple, at-home version, you can combine a mint tea bag and a peach tea bag, steep them in half hot water and half hot lemonade, and add honey to taste. You can learn more about copycat recipes and variations from sites like A Beautiful Mess.
Conclusion
When you're asking, "what is the hot drink at Starbucks when sick?", the answer is undoubtedly the Honey Citrus Mint Tea, also known as the Medicine Ball. This popular beverage offers a delicious and comforting way to soothe cold symptoms, from a sore throat to congestion. Its blend of mint, peach, citrus, and honey is a welcome relief when you're feeling down. Whether you choose to order it from the official menu or make a customized, budget-friendly version at home, it remains a go-to choice for staying hydrated and finding a little comfort during sick days.
