The Starbucks Tea Built To Soothe Your Throat

Cold and flu season is upon us and, as everyone knows, one of the best remedies you can find when you're feeling under the weather is a nice cup of hot tea. Whether it's a cold or allergies, nothing soothes your throat and provides necessary hydration like tea. That's because, according to Medical News Today, all forms of tea contain high levels of antioxidants, which come with anti-inflammatory and mild pain-killing properties, and some even include antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. 

When you're dealing with an illness with no real cure beyond time and remediating measures, simply getting your throat to stop hurting can feel like a miracle. While virtually any hot cuppa can help with this issue, Starbucks fans created a drink they believe to be the perfect concoction of ingredients to pick you up when you're under the weather. It was so well-received that the coffee giant promoted it from secret menu item to a permanent, official offering.

The Medicine Ball, also known as the Cold Buster (per Better Homes & Gardens) has been a fan favorite and a go-to home remedy for cold, allergy, and flu patients for years and was officially added to the Starbucks menu as Honey Citrus Mint Tea in 2017 (per The Krazy Coupon Lady).

Whether you know it as Honey Citrus Mint Tea or the Medicine Ball — which Better Homes & Gardens notes many baristas still recognize it as — this drink is a perfect concoction of soothing ingredients. According to the Starbucks website, the drink is made of a combination of Jade Citrus Mint Green Tea and Peach Tranquility Herbal Tea steeped in a combination of hot water and steamed lemonade with a spoon of honey. By request, as one barista told Mashed, some customers also like to add one pump of peppermint syrup.

As Medical News Today explains, honey, in addition to being a natural sweetener, contains antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties and citrus juices like lemon are anti-inflammatory antioxidants that promote saliva production, which can make swallowing easier. Additionally, Healthline notes that peppermint and spearmint are high in vitamins and antioxidants, and contain menthol, which provides a cool, soothing sensation and is often used to ease nasal congestion. 

Together, these ingredients make a powerful concoction that, even if it has no true medicinal value, can be enough to get you back on your feet when you're feeling under the weather. Plus it tastes good! As Taste of Home describes it, the primary flavor is peach, which makes the drink both soothing and incredibly sweet.