RD, LD, CDCES Holly Ellison Diabetes Care Center
If you are feeling a little under the weather, this warm concoction of teas, lemon, mint and honey is incredibly soothing to a sore throat. It’s not magic, or a cure, however this warm drink may help relieve congestion, plus it gives you a boost of hydration that can aid in faster recovery.
The Starbucks Medicine Ball started out as a secret menu item and then became so popular that it joined the official menu (now called Honey Citrus Mint Tea). I really love having all the ingredients for this tea on hand because I can save so much money by making the drink at home. Even though by the name, it sounds like something you’d drink only when you are sick, my family loves it so much that I make a batch weekly!
Copycat Recipe: Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea
Ingredients
Serves: 2 drinks
- 2 cups (16 ounces) water
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (or the juice of about 1 small lemon)
- 1 peppermint green tea bag
- 1 peach herbal tea bag
- 1 tablespoon pure honey
- 1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract
Instructions
- Heat the water and lemon juice in a small saucepan on the stovetop. Alternatively, you can heat the liquids in a large mug in the microwave or use a tea kettle.
- Bring the water to a barely-there simmer.
- Add the two tea bags to the liquid and let them steep in the hot water for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Stir in the honey and peppermint extract.
- Pour the hot tea into your favorite mug and enjoy!
Tips
Make it a double batch! Sometimes I like to make this recipe for more than one person at a time or to have extra on hand to quickly heat up throughout the week. To do this, double the ingredients, except you still only use 1 peppermint green tea bag and 1 peach herbal tea bag.
How to store: First, cool it down to room temperature. Then, transfer it to an airtight container and store in refrigerator, away from strong odors, and consume within 3-4 days.
A little package of the ingredients and recipe dropped off on the front porch of someone who was feeling sick or needing encouragement would be a thoughtful way to show you care.
Nutrition Information
Serving Size: 1 drink (8 ounces)
Calories: 72
Fat: 0 g (Sat Fat: 0 g)
Sodium: 2 mg
Carbohydrate: 19 g (Sugar: 16 g)
Protein: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Recipe adapted from The Real Food Dietitians
