Yes, a Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea contains caffeine, although it’s minimal. For instance, a 16 ounce Medicine Ball contains 16-25 mg of caffeine according to Starbucks nutrition data. Specifically, the caffeine comes from the Jade Citrus Mint green tea bag. The other tea bag is herbal and therefore is caffeine-free.
Another thing we wondered was, does starbucks medicine ball work?
The Medicine Ball won’t cure anything . Courtesy of Starbucks A seasoned barista famously told us that not only won’t Starbucks’ Medicine Ball—which Starbucks refers to as Honey Citrus Mint Tea—cure anything at all, it’s basically lemonade and pure sugar, so it can actually do more damage than good.
Last fall, a new drink off the Starbucks secret menu — the Medicine Ball — gained buzz for its ~restorative cold-fighting powers~ and delicious sweet, minty taste. The drink got so popular, in fact, that Starbucks recently added it to its official menu.
That’s precisely what happened with the supposedly cold and flu-fighting “medicine ball,” which Starbucks refers to as Honey Citrus Mint Tea. The chain’s enthusiasts swear by it as a remedy to ease cold and flu symptoms, or even fend them off entirely. Question is, does it really live up to the hype? Here’s my take as a nutritionist.
It is anti-inflammatory, has been shown to ease a sore throat and reduce coughing (when consumed as is, in place of cough syrup), and it may help fight bacteria and viruses. All in all, some good stuff in this drink may ease unpleasant symptoms and bolster immunity. Now for the not so good news. The medicine ball is loaded with sugar .
How much does it cost to order medicine balls at Starbucks?
Ordering was nonetheless pretty easy, as the manager behind the bar knew exactly what drink we were talking about and how to make it. For two Medicine Balls (one with peppermint, one without), the total came to $6.97 .
How to make your own medicine ball drink at home?
DIY it and make your own medicine ball drink at home. Steep organic green, chamomile, mint, and turmeric teas, add some fresh grated ginger, a teaspoon of either raw organic honey or pure maple syrup, and a pinch of black pepper (the latter is needed in order to absorb the beneficial curcumin found in turmeric).
You might be asking “How much sugar is in a medicine ball of lemonade?”
The medicine ball is loaded with sugar. The lemonade contains it, as does the honey, which add up to a whopping 30 grams total , or 7.5 teaspoons. That’s one and a half teaspoons over the recommended maximum of six teaspoons of added sugar daily for women—and that’s just in this one drink.